Lucent Technologies And Novatel Wireless To Supply Portugal's TMN With 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 that the two companies will supply TMN, the leading mobile operator in Portugal, with Merlin U530 Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) PC card modems for the operator's UMTS network. With 5 million mobile subscribers, TMN holds over fifty percent market share in Portugal.
The Merlin U530 PC Card Modem, jointly developed by Lucent and Novatel Wireless, will enable TMN to offer their customers enhanced services such as high-quality streaming video and audio, secure mobile access to e-mail with large attachments and other information stored behind corporate firewalls at data transfer speeds of up to 384 kilobits per second. By plugging the PC cards into a laptop and installing the necessary client software, users will be able to connect to TMN's UMTS network.
"We strive to offer the most innovative products and services that are targeted to the needs of our customer base," said Eduardo Cláudio, Director of Content and Data Services for TMN. "The Merlin U530 allows us to offer our customers broadband access to rich media services anywhere on our UMTS network throughout Portugal."
"We appreciate the opportunity to help TMN, Portugal's leading mobile operator, maintain their competitive edge by rolling out these super-fast mobile data services," said Roger Derrien, vice president for UMTS product management with Lucent Technologies' Mobility Solutions Group. "The Merlin U530 cards will allow consumers and business users alike to benefit from the kinds of mobile broadband services that 3G UMTS makes possible."
"We are pleased to be working with another top tier wireless operators like TMN to further expand access to 3G mobile data and multi-media services in the European market," said Peter Leparulo, chief executive officer for Novatel Wireless. "The Merlin U530 will allow TMN offer their customers more robust information at broadband speeds with greater mobility."
ABOUT TMN
Created in March 1991, TMN is a subsidiary of the Portugal Telecom Group and today's leading mobile telecommunications provider in Portugal, with over 50% market share in a three mobile operator's scenario. Investing on the ongoing diversification of solutions tailored to individual and professional needs, TMN makes technological innovation and orientation towards the client drive its overall activity.
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 MobiLink 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 and market demand for Novatel Wireless' products, projections of future results 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.