Zain in Kuwait Launches Novatel Wireless MiFi 2352 on 'One Network' Platform

SAN DIEGO, Dec 22, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVTL), a leading provider of wireless broadband access solutions, today announced that Zain, the leading mobile telecom provider in the Middle East and Africa, will launch the Novatel Wireless MiFi 2352(TM) Intelligent Mobile Hotspot initially in its Kuwait operation. Zain plans to extend this service to other operations in the future.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091222/AQ29510)

The MiFi 2352 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot represents a new category of mobile broadband device, supporting a rich application environment for both enterprise customers and consumers. The MiFi platform creates a portable, personal cloud of high-speed Internet connectivity that can be shared between multiple users and up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices such as laptops, MIDs, UMPCs, smartphones, cameras, gaming devices or portable media players. The MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot provides freedom from Wi-Fi hotspots, allowing users to bring Internet access anywhere and share that access with a set of devices.

"Zain has established itself as the leader in providing the most innovative mobility solutions to the Middle East and Africa," said Khaled Al Hajeri, CEO of Zain Kuwait. "As a company known for its many firsts in the mobile marketplace, we are delighted to introduce this unprecedented device that provides comprehensive and secure connectivity for a wide variety of devices, anywhere users go, delivering on our Zain brand promise of 'A wonderful world'."

"With its leading 'One Network' and broad customer base, Zain has the expertise and market leadership to ensure the success of the MiFi platform in Kuwait," said Rob Hadley, CMO, Novatel Wireless. "We look forward to working with Zain to provide our combined customers with the most cutting edge mobility solutions available in the Middle East."

For Zain Kuwait customers who travel to any of the other 20 Zain "One Network" countries, this service is additionally advantageous given they can use the new MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot at local Internet rates on an extremely fast Internet service.

Among the most innovative attributes of the MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot is an on-board Linux based operating system capable of delivering mobile software applications and media. These advanced capabilities add to the intelligence of the MiFi platform and enable support for applications such as automatic VPN connectivity and email synch. The internal (ROM) storage, up to 16GB of expandable memory via MicroSD, creates a flexible and robust platform capable of supporting a variety of location-based applications and enabling the storage of personal content such as music, video and pictures. The MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot does not require any type of installation or previously installed software. Users simply need to turn on the unit to connect to Wi-Fi enabled handsets or devices.

ABOUT ZAIN

Zain is a leading telecommunications operator across the Middle East and Africa providing mobile voice and data services to over 70 million active customers as of 30 September 2009 with a commercial presence in 24 countries.

Zain operates in the following countries: Bahrain, Burkina Faso, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, , Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. In Lebanon, the company manages 'mtc-touch' on behalf of the government. In Morocco, Zain owns 31% of Wana Telecom through a joint venture.

Zain offers innovative services in its markets such as 'One Network', the world's first borderless mobile telecommunications network enabling customers when abroad to receive calls and sms without charge and to make voice and data calls at local rates throughout 19 countries in Africa and the Middle East. This service allows a customer to top up airtime in their home country or from more than 1,000,000 outlets within Zain's 'One Network' footprint.

The Zain brand is wholly owned by Mobile Telecommunications Company KSC, which is listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (Stock ticker: ZAIN). Zain is listed in the Financial Times' Global 500 Index which ranks the world's largest companies based on market capitalization (http://www.ft.com/reports/ft5002008). Zain aims to become one of the top ten mobile operators in the world by end of the year 2011. For more, please visit www.zain.com or email [email protected]

ABOUT NOVATEL WIRELESS

Novatel Wireless, Inc. is a leader in the design and development of innovative wireless broadband access solutions based on 3G and 4G WCDMA (HSPA & UMTS), CDMA and GSM technologies. Novatel Wireless' USB modems, embedded modules, Intelligent Mobile Hotspot products and software enable high-speed wireless Internet access on leading wireless data networks. The Company delivers specialized wireless solutions to carriers, distributors, OEMs and vertical markets worldwide. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Novatel Wireless is listed on NASDAQ: NVTL. For more information please visit http://www.novatelwireless.com. (NVTLG)

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.

(C) 2009 Novatel Wireless. All rights reserved. The Novatel Wireless name, logo and MiFi are trademarks of Novatel Wireless, Inc. Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

    Contacts: Julie Cunningham     Cara Sloman
              Novatel Wireless     Nadel Phelan
              (858) 431-3711       (831) 440-2411
              [email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE Novatel Wireless, Inc.

http://www.novatelwireless.com

Copyright (C) 2009 PR Newswire. All rights reserved