Lucent Technologies And Novatel Wireless Selected By Orange To Supply 3G UMTS PC Cards To Support Mobile High-Speed Data Services
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THURSDAY, 1ST JULY, 2004
LONDON AND SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU) and Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVTL) today announced an agreement with Orange to supply Merlin U530 third-generation (3G) Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) PC card modems to support Orange's 3G Mobile Office Card in the United Kingdom and France. Orange currently serves over 50 million customers across the world, including more than 33 million in France and the United Kingdom, combined.
The Merlin U530 Wireless PC Modem Cards -- jointly developed by Lucent and Novatel Wireless -- will enable Orange to offer businesses and personal customers such services as streaming video and audio, secure mobile access to corporate networks including e-mail with large attachments at speeds of up to 384 kilobits per second. The Orange 3G Mobile Office Card will be available to UK customers from July 19th 2004 and French customers during the Autumn of 2004.
"We are delighted to be announcing our first 3G-enabled proposition for the business market. The Orange 3G Mobile Office Card fulfills our customer demands for fast and reliable connectivity to corporate networks, email and the Internet," said Philippe Bernard, Vice President of Orange Business Solutions.
"This agreement demonstrates our continued partnership with Orange as the operator rolls out high-speed data services in the UK and France," said David Poticny, president Lucent Europe. "The announcement validates our view that high-speed data services over 3G UMTS networks mean time savings and increased efficiency for mobile enterprise customers. We are pleased to support Orange as they launch their first 3G UMTS business services."
"We appreciate this opportunity to demonstrate the advantages that 3G UMTS has to offer consumer and business customers," said Peter Leparulo, CEO of Novatel Wireless. "This collaboration with Lucent and Orange demonstrates the continued momentum behind our mobile high-speed data solutions, and the strong progress being made in bringing 3G UMTS services to European customers."
ABOUT LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES
Lucent Technologies designs and delivers the systems, services and software that drive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, Lucent uses its strengths in mobility, optical, software, data and voice networking technologies, as well as services, to create new revenue-generating opportunities for its customers, while enabling them to quickly deploy and better manage their networks. Lucent's customer base includes communications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. For more information on Lucent Technologies, which has headquarters in Murray Hill, N.J., USA, visit www.lucent.com.
ABOUT NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.
Novatel Wireless, Inc. is a leading provider of wireless broadband access solutions. Novatel Wireless Merlin PC Cards, Expedite Embedded Modems, and Freedom Box Ruggedized Modems enable high-speed wireless access to personal, corporate and public information via portable computers, handheld devices and vertical market applications. The company delivers innovative 2.5G and 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, 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.
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, 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.