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For
Immediate Release
Contacts:
Mona
Klausing
Chris Danne, Brinlea Johnson
Candelori Communications
Blue Shirt Group Investor Relations For Novatel Wireless
For Novatel Wireless (619)
275-2308
(415) 217-7722 mona@candelori.com
chris@blueshirtgroup.com
Novatel
Wireless Moves into Portugal with New Distribution Agreement Agreement Expands Distribution to 13 Countries Worldwide
SAN
DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – July 30, 2002 – Novatel
Wireless, Inc. (Nasdaq:NVTL), a leading provider of wireless data access
solutions, announced today that it has expanded its distribution into Portugal
with M.M. Vaquinhas, Lda, a representative distributor and consultant in
Portugal. Per this agreement,
M.M. Vaquinhas, Lda will deliver Novatel Wireless’ Merlin
GSM/GPRS Family
of Wireless PC Card Modems, including the Merlin G200™ and G300™ series,
throughout the country utilizing a wide range of sales channels. M.M. Vaquinhas, Lda has sales
channels throughout Portugal, selling through other distributors, retail
outlets, resellers, VARS, directly to corporate accounts and most recently
through e-commerce. The company has
a growing database of approximately 2500 customers with over 250 corporate
clients purchasing on a regular basis. “A growing number of wireless
subscribers in Portugal and its high rate of wireless penetration justify our
need to have innovative products available for delivery into our sales channels.
Portugal was quick to embrace wireless cell phones and we believe it will
demand wireless data technology with the same passion,” said Philip May,
marketing and technical director of M.M. Vaquinhas, Lda.
“Together with Novatel Wireless, we can be confident that we are
supplying our customers with the most effective wireless products on the
market.” The
Merlin G201™ is currently being sold in China, France, Germany, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the UK.
In the last month alone, Novatel Wireless has
announced distribution deals in Israel, Italy and Spain.
These agreements are aimed at providing high-speed connectivity solutions
to the mobile workforce wherever they live or work, worldwide. “M.M.
Vaquinhas has been very successful in penetrating the market with its large
portfolio of products and its key, deep-rooted relationships,” explained Owen
Stephenson, senior vice president of GPRS operations for Novatel Wireless.
“We are excited to be working together to educate users and raise
awareness of our products, spreading wireless data solutions throughout
Portugal. Along with other recent
announcements, this deal positions us to continue to expand our presence in
Europe as GPRS and wireless data starts to take hold.” MERLIN G200 SERIES The Merlin G200 Series is a family of
dual band (900/1800) wireless PC Card modems based on GSM/GPRS technology.
Slightly larger than a credit card, Merlin G200 slides inside your Type
II PC Card slot; providing access to email, corporate databases and the Internet
at maximum speeds of up to 53.6 kbps over GPRS and 14.4 kbps over GSM. Equipped
with a robust removable antenna to enhance portability, the Merlin G200 provides
Short Messaging Service (SMS) capabilities allowing users to send and receive
text messages for quick person-to-person or group chats from their laptop or
handheld device. The Merlin G201 is
voice capable over the GSM network allowing users to make and receive calls from
a laptop or Pocket PC device. Merlin
G200 and G201 are compatible with Microsoft Windows 98, 2000, Millennium
Edition, XP and Pocket PC 2000 and 2002 operating systems. MERLIN G300 SERIES The Merlin G300 Series is a family of
true Type II, tri-band PC Cards that are compatible with Windows 98, 2000,
Millennium Edition, XP and Pocket PC operating systems.
The application software simplifies user interaction with Windows based
operating systems and provides an integrated environment for SMS, fax, and
dialer functionality. GPRS capabilities result in an "always on"
experience, so that the user can access data wirelessly at the click of a
button. Switching over to GSM-based
applications like text messaging, fax, and voice calls is equally simple,
resulting in an enhanced user experience. The
Merlin G300 Series will offer standard GSM voice capabilities allowing the user
to make and receive calls from a laptop or Pocket PC device. ABOUT GSM/GPRS GPRS is an exciting new wireless technology standard which has profoundly
altered and improved the data services available over GSM-based wireless
networks. An over-the-air system for transmitting data on GSM networks, GPRS
technology converts data into standard Internet packets, enabling
interoperability between the Internet and the GSM network, and providing the
user with an "always on" experience. One of the great strengths of GSM
is its international reach, giving consumers seamless service in over 170
countries around the world. This has been a vital driver in growth, with over
645 million GSM subscribers globally, representing over 67% of all handsets. GPRS wireless technology employs extensive authentication and encryption
via standard GSM algorithms, making it one of the most secure public wireless
systems in the world. The Subscriber Identity Module (SIM card), a key component
of the GSM network, stores the authentication and encryption algorithms, making
it virtually impossible for unauthorized users to capture and decipher messages.
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 Minstrel® Family of Wireless
Handheld Modems, Merlin™ Family of Wireless PC Card Modems, Sage® Wireless
Serial Modems, Lancer 3W™ Family of Ruggedized Modems and Expedite™ Family
of Wireless Embedded 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. The Novatel
Wireless logo, Merlin, Merlin G200, Merlin 300, Minstrel, 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. Para mais informações contactar: |
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