Sierra Wireless adds industrial-grade HSPA+ and EV-DO wireless modules to its award-winning AirPrime™ SL Series

Form factor compatible 3G GSM and CDMA modules in compact LGA package enable manufacturers to make a single product design for multiple geographical markets

VANCOUVER, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ - Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ: SWIR; TSX: SW) today introduced two new broadband products in its AirPrime SL Series of wireless embedded modules: the AirPrime SL809x for HSPA+ networks, and the AirPrime SL501x for EV-DO Rev A networks. The new modules bring additional choices of network technologies to the SL Series, which currently includes the SL808x HSDPA module as well as the SL6087 EDGE module, winner of the GSM Association's "Best 2G module" award.

Launched in March 2010, the AirPrime SL Series has been enthusiastically received by the market. Customers appreciate its compact and cost effective 25x30mm standard JEDEC package, as well as its efficient and reliable LGA (Land Grid Array) mounting technology which provides robustness, excellent heat dissipation, and optimized thickness. Key to the SL Series' commercial success is also the availability of a wide range of network technologies (EDGE, HSDPA and now HSPA+ and EVDO) within a single form factor.

The SL809x is one of the smallest HSPA+ modules in the industry: it offers multi-band HSPA+ technology (up to 14.4 Mbps for download and 5.7 Mbps for uplinks) and quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE within a 25x30mm form factor. It features an extended temperature range, as well as voice, antenna diversity, and GPS. The AirPrime SL809x comes in two variants (SL8090 and SL8092), which cover two different sets of frequency bands for global coverage.

The AirPrime SL501x is a dual-band EV-DO Rev A module, form factor compatible with both 2G and 3G GSM products in the AirPrime SL Series. This means that device manufacturers can use a single hardware design in different geographical markets. It offers data speeds up to 3.1Mbps on the downlink and up to 1.8Mbps on the uplink. It is industrial-grade with an extended temperature range, and supports GPS. The AirPrime SL501x also comes in two variants: The SL5010 supports voice and data, while the SL5011 is a data only module.

The AirPrime SL809x and SL501x are optimized for applications requiring high bandwidth and operating in rough environments, such as security and video surveillance systems, mobile healthcare devices, and industrial terminals. Thanks to their unique compact form factor, they also provide broadband connectivity to new emerging mobile consumer devices such as e-readers, gaming consoles and digital cameras. 

"The AirPrime SL Series offers a unique combination of small size and industrial-grade features for a very wide range of network technologies," said Didier Dutronc, Senior Vice President and General Manager, M2M Embedded Solutions for Sierra Wireless. "This product series has been exceptionally well received by our customers since it launched in March last year, and we are pleased to be able to offer an even wider choice of network technologies in the same popular form factor."

Both the AirPrime SL809x and the AirPrime SL501x will be commercially available in the second quarter of 2011.

About AirPrime SL Series Intelligent Embedded Modules

AirPrime SL Series wireless embedded modules are designed to suit the needs of manufacturers of mobile consumer devices in high-volume production such as e-readers, personal navigation devices and gaming devices, as well as device manufactures looking for rugged industrial wireless technologies to connect tracking devices, energy meters, security systems, point-of-sales terminals, industrial PDAs and mobile healthcare applications.

The series offers EDGE, HSDPA, HSPA+ and EV-DO Rev A connectivity in a compact and lightweight form factor based on the JEDEC standard 25x30 mm LGA (Land Grid Array). The LGA surface-mount technology enables device manufacturers to efficiently embed an AirPrime SL Series module into the final product using automated manufacturing equipment.

In November 2010, Sierra Wireless received the GSM Association's "Best 2G Module" Award for the AirPrime SL6087 module.

About Sierra Wireless

Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ: SWIR - TSX: SW) offers industry-leading mobile computing and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications products and solutions that connect people, devices, and applications over cellular networks. Wireless service providers, equipment manufacturers, enterprises and government organizations around the world depend on us for reliable wireless technology. We offer 2G, 3G and 4G wireless modems, routers and gateways as well as a comprehensive suite of software, tools, and services that ensure our customers can successfully bring wireless applications to market.  For more information about Sierra Wireless, visit www.sierrawireless.com. 

"AirPrime" is a trademark of Sierra Wireless. Other product or service names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, plans and timing for the introduction or enhancement of our services and products, statements about future market conditions, supply conditions, channel and end customer demand conditions, revenues, gross margins, operating expenses, profits, and other expectations, intentions, and plans contained in this press release that are not historical fact. Our expectations regarding future revenues and earnings depend in part upon our ability to successfully develop, manufacture, and supply products that we do not produce today and that meet defined specifications. When used in this press release, the words "plan", "expect", "believe", and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current expectations. They are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in technology and changes in the wireless data communications market. In light of the many risks and uncertainties surrounding the wireless data communications market, you should understand that we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release will be realized.

SOURCE Sierra Wireless, Inc.