Sprint Launches First EV-DO Revision A-Capable Mobile Broadband Card in the Nation; Card to Support Advanced Mobile Broadband Speeds When Available in 4Q 2006; Total Mobile Broadband Footprint to Cover 200 Million People by Year End

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. & SAN DIEGO, Aug 29, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Sprint (NYSE:S) and Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Nasdaq:NVTL) today announced commercial availability of the country's first EV-DO Revision A-capable device - the Novatel Wireless S720 Sprint Mobile Broadband Card. This milestone follows Sprint's recent announcement that it will begin upgrading the Sprint Power Vision(SM) Network - the nation's largest wireless broadband network currently covering more than 153 million people - to the faster EV-DO Revision A this year.

Designed for operation with compatible laptops as well as the soon-to-be-available Linksys Wireless G-Router for Mobile Broadband, the Merlin S720 will allow customers to connect to the Sprint Power Vision Network and remotely access audio, video and data applications at DSL-like speeds. The card operates on the current Sprint Power Vision Network and will support faster average download and upload speeds (450 -850 kbps and 300 - 400 kbps, respectively) of Sprint's upgraded network when it becomes available. Sprint plans to begin its roll out of EV-DO Revision A during the fourth quarter of 2006 with coverage expected to reach more than 40 million people by year end. Ultimately, Sprint plans to reach more than 200 million people in the United States with mobile broadband data services in 220 major metropolitan areas by the end of 2006.

"Sprint has reached its next leadership milestone in the mobile broadband arena once again delivering on the goals and promises made to our customers earlier this year," said Danny Bowman, vice president of product marketing for Sprint. "With the introduction of the nation's first EV-DO Revision A-capable device today we are ensuring that customers are able to take advantage of the nation's most advanced mobile broadband network to do what they want, when they want and where they want."

"Being first to market with a commercially available EV-DO Revision A-capable connection card underscores our leadership position and continuing commitment to working with Sprint in serving its customers," said Peter Leparulo, CEO of Novatel Wireless. "By delivering innovative, high-quality EV-Rev. A wireless products, Novatel enables Sprint to provide its customers with industry-leading wireless data capabilities."

The Merlin S720 will initially be sold through Sprint indirect and business sales channels and online at www.sprint.com for a suggested retail price of $249.99 and as low as $99.99 with a two-year subscriber agreement. Service plans for the card currently range from $39.99 per month for 40 MB to $79.99 per month for unlimited data usage. Customers signing a two-year subscriber agreement will be eligible to receive unlimited data usage for $59.99 per month (no separate voice plan required). Sprint plans to make a variety of compatible devices in varying form factors available later this year.

Sprint today has the most wireless broadband coverage of any carrier. The Sprint Power Vision(SM) Network now covers more than 153 million people and services customers in 220 major metropolitan areas. Additional information on Sprint's Mobile Broadband network including coverage maps showing current and future coverage, Mobile Broadband service plans, and the latest access devices can be found at http://powervision.sprint.com/mobilebroadband/.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of communications services bringing mobility to consumer, business and government customers. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two robust wireless networks offering industry leading mobile data services; instant national and international walkie-talkie capabilities; and an award-winning and global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.

About Novatel Wireless, Inc.

Novatel Wireless, Inc. is revolutionizing wireless communications. The company is a leader in the design and development of innovative wireless broadband access solutions based on 3G WCDMA (HSDPA & UMTS), CDMA and GSM technologies. Novatel Wireless' Merlin(TM) PC Cards, Expedite(R) Embedded Modules, MobiLink(TM) Communications Software Suite, Ovation(TM) 3G Multimedia Application Consoles and Conversa(TM) Software Suite enable high-speed wireless access. 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)

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the securities laws. The statements in this news release regarding the business outlook, expected performance, as well as other statements that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements. The words "estimate," "project," "forecast," "intend," "expect," "believe," "target," "providing guidance" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are estimates and projections reflecting management's judgment based on currently available information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. With respect to these forward-looking statements, management has made assumptions regarding, among other things, customer and network usage, customer growth and retention, pricing, operating costs, the timing of various events and the economic environment.

Future performance cannot be ensured. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include:

-- the uncertainties related to the benefits of the Sprint-Nextel merger, including anticipated synergies and cost savings and the timing thereof;

-- the uncertainties related to and the impact of the contemplated spin-off of Sprint Nextel's local communications operations;

-- the effects of vigorous competition and the overall demand for Sprint Nextel's service offerings in the markets in which Sprint Nextel operates and the impact of new, emerging and competing services technologies on its business;

-- the costs and business risks associated with providing new services and entering new markets;

-- the impact of any adverse change in the ratings afforded Sprint Nextel's debt securities by ratings agencies;

-- the ability of Sprint Nextel's Wireless segment to continue to grow and improve profitability;

-- the ability of Sprint Nextel's Local and Long Distance segments to achieve expected revenues;

-- the effects of mergers and consolidations in the communications industry and unexpected announcements or developments from others in the telecommunications industry;

-- the uncertainties related to Sprint Nextel's investments in networks, systems, and other businesses;

-- the uncertainties related to the implementation of Sprint Nextel's business strategies,

-- unexpected results of litigation pending or filed against Sprint Nextel;

-- a no significant adverse change in Motorola, Inc.'s ability or willingness to provide handsets and related equipment and software applications or to develop new technologies or features for Sprint Nextel's iDEN network;

-- the network performance, including any performance issues resulting from the reconfiguration of the 800 Megahertz band of the iDEN network that is contemplated by the Federal Communications Commission's Report and Order, released in August 2004 and supplemented thereafter;

-- the costs of compliance with regulatory mandates, particularly requirements related to the Federal Communications Commission's Report and Order and deployment of enhanced 911 services on the iDEN network;

-- equipment failure, natural disasters, terrorist acts, or other breaches of network or information technology security;

-- inability of third parties to perform to Sprint Nextel's requirements under agreements related to Sprint Nextel's business operations;

-- one or more of the markets in which Sprint Nextel competes being impacted by changes in political or other factors such as monetary policy, legal and regulatory changes or other external factors over which Sprint Nextel has no control; and

-- other risks referenced from time to time in Sprint Nextel's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, as amended, and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the subsequent quarterly periods.

Sprint Nextel believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations and speak only as of the date of this release. Sprint Nextel is not obligated to publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release. Sprint Nextel provides a detailed discussion of risk factors in periodic SEC filings, including its 2004 Form 10-K as amended, and will provide a similar discussion in its 2005 Form 10-K that is expected to be filed in March 2006. You are encouraged to review these filings.

SOURCE: Sprint

Sprint
Media Contact:
Amy Schiska-Lombard, 913-794-2947
[email protected]
    or
Novatel
Media Contact:
Carolyn McCartney, 858-320-8822
Fax: 858-812-3401
[email protected]
    or
Investor Relations:
Julie Cunningham, 858-320-8837
Fax: 858-812-3402
[email protected]

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