Novatel Wireless Launches Industry's Smallest Dual-Carrier HSPA+ USB Device

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVTL), a leading provider of wireless broadband solutions, today announced the continued evolution of its USB product line with the launch of the Ovation™ MC545 to support operators rolling out Dual-Carrier HSPA+ (DC- HSPA+) networks with mobile broadband devices. At a press event in Madrid today, Telefonica Moviles launched the Ovation MC545 and showcased over-the-air download speed of 40.5 megabits per second (Mbps) supported by Ericsson's DC-HSPA+ network infrastructure.

Continuing Novatel Wireless' design legacy with a focus on functionality, reliability, leading edge technology and innovative sleek style, the Ovation MC545 modem is today the world's most compact and light-weight DC-HSPA+ USB modem in the market place.

"With our relentless commitment to ensure our customers' needs are met on schedule, we are very honored to support Telefonica Moviles with their DC-HSPA+ launch," said Rob Hadley, CMO of Novatel Wireless. "In our development efforts, we emphasize providing the best mobile broadband experience and ease-of-use for consumers and we're excited to be launching this first device as a part of a broader next-generation portfolio rolling out during the next two quarters."

"We're thrilled to be the first to offer our customers the fastest and most reliable mobile broadband in the most compact form factor," said Carlos Vera Sanchez, Business Marketing Director of Telefonica Espana. DC-HSPA+ technology offers consumers more advanced data capabilities with faster speed. The Ovation MC545 brings this technology to the consumers and will allow for new mobile broadband services supporting more compelling multimedia applications and richer user experiences."

The Ovation MC545 is based on the 3GPP Release 8 standard. DC-HSPA+ supports theoretical peak downlink data rates of up to 42 Mbps and 5.7 Mbps on the uplink, allowing carriers to easily upgrade their existing infrastructure equipment to achieve significantly higher bandwidths.

"HSPA Evolution with the dual-carrier technology significantly increases the speed of current HSPA networks and increases network capacity to allow for an even better mobile broadband experience than with today's HSPA networks," said Ulf Ewaldsson, Vice President and Head of Product Area Radio at Ericsson. "The launch of the first dual-carrier HSPA Evolution network in Spain by Telefonica Moviles is an important milestone. Ericsson's infrastructure solution gives consumers in Spain the fastest level, most advanced mobile broadband experience in the country today."

The Ovation MC545 supports the 900,1900 and 2100 MHz frequency bands and is designed to provide connectivity virtually anywhere to check email, download rich multimedia content and stay connected to family, friends and coworkers. The Ovation MC545 offers unprecedented speed and advanced antenna technologies to maximize data throughput and operating range. Featuring Novatel Wireless' MobiLink 3 auto install connection manager, memory storage of up to 32GB via MicroSDHC and backward compatibility with HSPA technologies, the Ovation MC545 provides a total solution for ultra fast mobile broadband connectivity.

About Telefonica

Telefonica is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world in terms of market capitalization. Its activities are centered mainly on the fixed and mobile telephony businesses with broadband as the key tool for the development of both.

The company has a significant presence in 25 countries and a customer base that amounts to more than 268 million accesses around the world. Telefonica has a strong presence in Spain, Europe and Latin America, where the company focuses an important part of its growth strategy.

Telefonica is a 100% listed company, with more than 1.5 million direct shareholders. Its share capital currently comprises 4.563.996.485 ordinary shares traded on the Spanish Stock Market (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia) and on those in London, Tokyo, New York, Lima, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo.

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 wireless technologies.  Novatel Wireless' Intelligent Mobile Hotspot products, software, USB modems and embedded modules 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 onNASDAQ: NVTL. For more information please visit 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) 2010 Novatel Wireless, Inc.  All rights reserved.  The Novatel Wireless name and logo, as well as Ovation and MobiLink are trademarks of Novatel Wireless, Inc.  Other Company, product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE Novatel Wireless, Inc.