Novatel Wireless HSDPA PC Cards And Express Mini Cards Gain GCF Compliance

SAN DIEGO, May 10, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Nasdaq:NVTL), a leading provider of wireless broadband access solutions, today announced that its Merlin U740(TM) PC Card Modem and Expedite EU740(TM) PCI Express Mini Cards for High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) networks have received industry compliance from the Global Certification Forum (GCF). Novatel Wireless' products passed testing on GCF version 3.20, encompassing the most exhaustive testing coverage performed on any HSDPA user equipment available in the market.

GCF is a partnership between network operators and terminal manufacturers, providing an independent program to ensure global interoperability of 2G and 3G mobile wireless terminals. GCF compliance involved several hundred product lab test cases and extensive field trials that measured the PC Card and PCI Express Mini Card performance on different 2.5 and 3G networks in multiple countries.

The testing conducted to achieve GCF certification ensures that the Merlin U740 and Expedite EU740 will have the highest quality, reliability and performance on HSDPA, UMTS, EDGE and GPRS networks throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Wireless operators benefit by knowing that GCF certified devices are optimized to perform reliably on their networks, maximizing the user experience and enhancing overall network performance.

"As a current member of GCF, Novatel Wireless knows the competitive advantage this certification offers, when it comes to providing carriers with the highest quality of wireless broadband solutions," said Dr. Slim Souissi, chief technology officer at Novatel Wireless. "We will continue to ensure our solutions meet GCF compliance standards so mobile workers can have the best possible user experience from any location at any time. Achieving this important milestone on multiple laptops using our embedded EU740 Mini Card is a testament to our technology leadership in the OEM space and our strong commitment to the success of this growing industry."

Novatel Wireless has the broadest HSDPA data product portfolio in the industry, including PC Cards, Mini PCI modules, Express Cards and Ovation consoles. The diversified product portfolio addresses the mobile enterprise, embedded laptop and fixed mobile convergence markets. Novatel Wireless was first to commercialize UMTS PC cards both in Europe and North America. Its Merlin PC Data Cards are currently available from 25 operators in 26 countries throughout Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and North America.

For further information on GCF certification, please visit http://gcf.gsm.org

ABOUT NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.

Novatel Wireless, Inc. is a leading provider of wireless broadband access solutions. Novatel Wireless' Merlin(TM) PC Cards, Expedite(TM) Embedded Modems, Freedom Box(TM) Ruggedized Modems, MobiLink(TM) Communications Software Suite, Ovation(TM) 3G Multimedia Application Consoles and Conversa(TM) Software Suite enable high-speed wireless access to personal, corporate and public information. The company delivers innovative 3G solutions to operators, distributors and vertical markets worldwide. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Novatel Wireless is listed on NASDAQ: NVTL. For more information visit www.novatelwireless.com. (NVTLG)

(C) 2006 Novatel Wireless. All rights reserved. The Novatel Wireless logo, Merlin, Merlin U630, Expedite, Freedom Box, MobiLink, Ovation, and Conversa are trademarks of Novatel Wireless, Inc. Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

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, as amended to date. 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 contained herein. These factors include risks relating to technological changes, new product introductions, 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 (available at www.sec.gov) and other regulatory agencies.

SOURCE: Novatel Wireless, Inc.

For Novatel Wireless, Inc.
Aida Causevic, 619-516-2559 
or
Noah Dye, 619-708-7413
[email protected]

Copyright Business Wire 2006

News Provided by COMTEX