Novatel Wireless Reports Record Third Quarter Results

SAN DIEGO, CA -- October 28, 2004--Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVTL), a leading provider of wireless broadband access solutions, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2004.

Revenues for the third quarter were $31.0 million, which is a 29% increase over $24.1 million reported in the immediately preceding quarter and a 285% increase over $8.1 million reported in the same period last year. Based on record gross margins of 33.2% and increasing operating leverage, net income applicable to common shareholders grew to approximately $4.9 million or $0.16 per diluted share - the highest in the Company's history. This compares to net income applicable to common stockholders of $3.2 million or $0.11 per diluted share in the immediately preceding quarter and a net loss applicable to common stockholders of $1.8 million or $0.22 per share in the prior year period.

Separately, Novatel Wireless today announced it will supply Vodafone, the world's largest mobile community, with its Merlin 3G UMTS Wireless PC Card modems for access to Vodafone's 3G network.

"Our record financial results, fourth quarter introduction of EV-DO and supply relationship with Vodafone position us for continued growth in 2005," commented Peter Leparulo, Chief Executive Officer of Novatel Wireless. "Sequential revenue growth of 29% reflects strong demand and follow-on orders for UMTS products. With the addition of Vodafone, we will now serve all the major carriers introducing UMTS in Europe and the United States. In the fourth quarter, we expect to enter volume production of EV-DO products. With these positive developments, we are increasingly becoming a pure-play 3G provider, with the broadest 3G product portfolio and firm purchase orders from many of the world's largest wireless carriers."

"Importantly, we are also leveraging this leadership position into new areas that gain further traction with our strong carrier distribution channels," added Mr. Leparulo. "We believe we are becoming a partner of choice with many of the world's leading carriers and are more closely aligning our development plans with their solidifying 3G plans."

Recent highlights include

• Today, the Company announced it will supply Vodafone with its Merlin 3G UMTS Wireless PC Card modems.
• Over the last three months, Novatel Wireless and Lucent Technologies (NYSE:LU) announced agreements to supply the Merlin U530 3G UMTS Wireless PC Card Modems to O2 in the UK, PTC (Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa Sp. z o.o.) in Poland, and Partner Communications in Israel. At September 30, 2004, Novatel Wireless had shipped UMTS products to 12 carriers in 16 countries around the world.
  
  
• AT&T Wireless announced the launch of their 3G UMTS Network using the Novatel Wireless Merlin U520 UMTS Wireless PC Card Modem.
• In September, Novatel Wireless received the globally-recognized ISO 9001:2000 certification.
• Earlier in the third quarter, Sprint (NYSE: FON) and Novatel Wireless announced that the Sprint PCS Connection Card by Novatel Wireless now comes packaged with a complete software solution, jointly developed by the two companies, that providing seamless access between Sprint's PCS Network and compatible Wi-Fi ZONES.

"Gross margins increased to a record 33.2% and operating expenses decreased to 18.1% as a percentage of sales," explained Dan Halvorson, Chief Financial Officer of Novatel Wireless. "Moving forward, we expect to continue building our R&D and sales and marketing effort to support our rapid growth. Operating margins of 15.2% and net income of $4.9 million were the highest in the Company's history and we currently expect to maintain operating margins at these levels. At September 30, 2004 our cash balance including investments was $89.8 million, reflecting impressive positive cash flow from operations of $10.8 million for the third quarter of 2004."

Novatel Wireless will host a conference call for analysts and investors today to discuss its quarterly results at 5:00 p.m. ET on October 28, 2004. For parties in the United States and Canada, call 1-800-219-6110 to access the earnings call. A live Web cast of the conference call will also be accessible from the "Investor Relations" section of the Novatel Wireless Web site (www.novatelwireless.com). Following the live Web cast, an archived version will be available on the Novatel Wireless Web site.

ABOUT NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.

Novatel Wireless, Inc. is a leading provider of wireless broadband access solutions. Novatel Wireless' MerlinTM PC Cards, ExpediteTM Embedded Modems, MobiLinkTM Communications Software Suite and Freedom Box Ruggedized Modems 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.

© 2004 Novatel Wireless. All rights reserved. The Novatel Wireless logo, Merlin, Merlin U530 , Merlin U520, Expedite, and Freedom Box are trademarks of Novatel Wireless, Inc. All other brands, products and company names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective holders.

Some of the information presented in this release, is forward-looking in nature within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although Novatel Wireless believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Novatel Wireless' expectations are set forth as risk factors in the Company's SEC reports and filings. Included among these factors are the future demand for wireless access to data, the future growth of wireless wide area networking, changes in wireless transmission standards and technologies, continued acceptance of and market demand for Novatel Wireless' products, dependence on intellectual property rights, dependence on a small number of customers, and the Company's general business and strategy, including plans and expectations relating to technology, product development, strategic relationships, customers, manufacturing, service activities, international expansion, sales initiatives and gross margin and cost containment initiatives. These factors, as well as other factors detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports and filings, could cause actual results to differ materially. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. Novatel Wireless assumes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For more information, contact:
Novatel Wireless
Dan Halvorson
Chief Financial Officer
(858) 320-8821
www.novatelwireless.com

The Blueshirt Group, Investor Relations
Chris Danne, Rakesh Mehta
(415) 217-7722
[email protected]
[email protected]