Novatel Wireless Receives GPRS Product Order from Orange Israel
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – December 10, 2002 – Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVTL), a provider of wireless data access solutions, today announced that Orange Israel (Partner Communications Ltd.) has placed an initial purchase order of the Merlin G201TM dual-band GSM/GPRS Wireless PC Card Modem and granted certification on its countrywide network. The order represents the first commercial availability of the Merlin G201 in the fast-growing Israeli wireless market.
Partner Communications (Nasdaq: PTNR) operates under the international orangeTM brand name and has over 1.75 million subscribers, making it the second largest carrier in Israel. Israel was one of the very first countries to embrace advanced 2.5G wireless technology and boasts one of the highest wireless penetrations in the world, at 94% (Merrill Lynch, Wireless Matrix Penetration, Oct., 11, 2002). Orange Israel is the first GSM provider in Israel and recently reported year-over-year customer growth of over 35%. They have the strongest cumulative growth rate in subscribers and revenues in the Israeli market since the beginning of 2001.
“Novatel Wireless is proud to partner with Orange Israel, one of the most innovative operators around with over 200 roaming partners worldwide,” stated John Major, chairman and CEO for Novatel Wireless. "Over the last six months, we have greatly expanded our distribution network to most of the leading telecom markets in the world. Now, as we continue to see positive signs of a pick-up in 2.5G demand, our goal is to rapidly expand carrier certifications and add to our growing list of leading operator customers.”
Slightly larger than a credit card, the Merlin G201 enables users to connect on the move by offering wireless access to email, attachments, calendar information, contacts, lists, corporate networks, the Internet, voice calling and SMS messaging. The dual band (900/1800 MHz) GSM/GPRS PC card is available for the Type II PC Card slot of laptops and Pocket PC devices. It provides extensive and secure wireless data communications at speeds up to 53.6 kbps in General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) coverage areas and 14.4 kbps in Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) coverage areas.
Orange Israel will source the Merlin G201 from Wireless Vertical Link. For sales and product information, please visit the corporate web site at www.novatelwireless.com or contact:
Wireless Vertical Link
Joe Shayovitch
20 Hamaapilim Street
Ramat Hasharon
47240 Israel
Phone: (972-3) 549-2785
Fax: (972-3) 547-0691
E-Mail: joe@wlius.com
ABOUT NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.
Novatel Wireless, Inc. is a leading provider of wireless data modems and software for use with handheld computing devices and portable personal computers. The Company delivers innovative and comprehensive solutions that enable businesses and consumers to access personal, corporate and public information through email, enterprise networks and the Internet. Novatel Wireless also offers wireless data modems and custom engineering services for hardware integration projects in a wide range of vertical applications. The Novatel Wireless product portfolio includes the MerlinTM Family of Wireless PC Card Modems, ExpediteTM Family of Wireless Embedded Modems, Minstrel® Family of Wireless Handheld Modems, Lancer 3WTM Family of Ruggedized Modems and Sage® Wireless Serial Modems. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Novatel Wireless is listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq: NVTL). For more information, please visit the Novatel Wireless web site: www.novatelwireless.com or call 888-888-9231.
© 2002 Novatel Wireless. All rights reserved. The Novatel Wireless logo, Minstrel, Merlin, Merlin G201, Sage, Lancer 3W and Expedite are trademarks of Novatel Wireless, Inc. Minstrel and Sage are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. 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.