Novatel Wireless Chosen by Microsoft for Strategic Alliance

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - March 26, 2002 - Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Nasdaq:NVTL), a provider of wireless data access solutions, today announced its participation in the Microsoft Mobility Partner Advisory Council (MPAC). Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT), formed the council in an effort to bring the most innovative and successful solutions to market with like-minded companies investing heavily in mobility.

"Microsoft created the MPAC to support and encourage companies making significant inroads in the mobility space," said Mary Rose Becker, group-marketing manager for the Mobility Group at Microsoft Corp. "Novatel Wireless is an important part of the council because it provides products and services that help enterprise customers rapidly deploy Pocket PC-based solutions and, in turn, increase mobile users' productivity by keeping them connected to mission-critical data while in the field."

Novatel Wireless' Merlin^TM Wireless PC Cards and Expedite^TM Family of Wireless Embedded Modules enable wireless access to the Internet, email, and corporate LANs as well as providing enabling technology for vertical applications such as POS, ATM, AVL, Telemetry and other applications requiring wide-area networking. The products are currently based on the GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), CDMA 2000 (Code Division Multiple Access) and CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data) wireless WAN network that provides secure data communications at 53.6 kbps, 153 kbps and 19.2 kbps respectively. The current line of Merlin Wireless PC Cards are fully compatible with Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me), Windows 2000, Windows XP, Pocket PC and Pocket PC 2002.

"Consumers today want to access the Internet, share information and stay connected wherever they go. We are proud to be working with Microsoft to meet the needs of consumers today and into the future," said John Major, CEO of Novatel Wireless. "Our Merlin family of products combined with Microsoft Windows Powered Pocket PC devices deliver easy access to the Internet, e-mail and other corporate data thereby increasing productivity. We are looking forward to working with Microsoft and other companies invested in mobility to further enhance the wireless mobile experience."

ABOUT NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.

Novatel Wireless, Inc. is a leading provider of wireless data modems and software for use with handheld computing devices and portable personal computers. The company delivers innovative and comprehensive solutions that enable businesses and consumers to access personal, corporate and public information through email, enterprise networks and the Internet. Novatel Wireless also offers wireless data modems and custom engineering services for hardware integration projects in a wide range of vertical applications. The Novatel Wireless product portfolio includes the Minstrel® Family of Wireless Handheld Modems, Merlin^TM Family of Wireless PC Card Modems, Sage® Wireless Serial Modems, Lancer 3W^TM Family of Ruggedized Modems and Expedite^TM Family of Wireless Embedded Modems. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Novatel Wireless is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq: NVTL). For more information, please visit the Novatel Wireless web site: www.novatelwireless.com or call 888-888-9231.

The Novatel Wireless logo, Minstrel, Minstrel m500, Merlin, Sage, Lancer 3W and Expedite are trademarks of Novatel Wireless, Inc. Minstrel and Sage are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All other brands, products and company names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective holders..

In Regards to Novatel Wireless: This release may contain forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These factors include risks relating to international sales and potential foreign currency exchange fluctuations, technological changes, increased levels of competition, continued acceptance of Novatel Wireless' products and dependence on intellectual property rights. These factors, as well as other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, are discussed in more detail in Novatel Wireless' filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory agencies.