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Novatel Wireless and PCTEL Inc. announced a product collaboration whereby PCTEL's Wi-Fi(TM) Roaming Client will be offered as an option with all Novatel Wireless GPRS and CDMA 1X Merlin(TM) PC Card modems. The combined mobile data solution, paired with any Wi-Fi certified 802.11a or b client card, enables users to access the Internet, email, personal information and corporate databases while roaming between 802.11a or b and GSM/GPRS or CDMA 1X network coverage areas.

The combination of seamless WAN and WLAN access in this innovative product offering delivers a powerful competitive advantage to wireless service providers and their customers who can economically and effectively use their high-speed packet data network, while intelligently switching users to Wi-Fi networks for localized access. This permits GPRS and CDMA carriers to leverage the national footprint of their well-established networks, and manage capacity issues by utilizing a higher bandwidth Wi-Fi (802.11a or b) network where available. From the user's perspective, the transition across networks is transparent, allowing them to initiate a wireless modem connection from either network and enjoy uninterrupted connectivity within the collective coverage areas.

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"Mobile users want the convenience of wide area cellular coverage but they demand high bandwidth in local environments such as airports, businesses and other hot spots," said Marty Singer, PCTEL's chief executive officer and chairman. "Our Wi-Fi Roaming Client, coupled with Novatel Wireless' high-performance Merlin PC Cards, deliver just that to the mobile data user community."

"This is a breakthrough solution for mobile professionals who need consistent, high speed connectivity wherever their business or personal use takes them," stated John Major, chairman and chief executive officer of Novatel Wireless. "The partnership with PCTEL marks our company's first foray into the growing wireless LAN market, and allows us to harness and aggregate the benefits of multiple wireless data networks for our customers."

As part of a three-year license agreement, Novatel Wireless will offer the Wi-Fi Roaming Client as an optional configuration with its high-speed wireless data cards and integrate it with its user-friendly Merlin Modem Manager software -- which provides users with complete information about the PC card's performance and network connection status.