Sprint Offers 3G EV-DO-Ready Sprint PCS Connection Card

US : Sprint and Novatel Wireless announced availability of the Sprint PCS Connection Card by Novatel Wireless (Merlin S620).

Designed to operate on CDMA 1xEV-DO and will support broadband-like speeds when Sprint EV-DO coverage is available later this year and is backwards compatible to provide 1xRTT throughput speeds in Sprint coverage areas where EV-DO service is not yet available.

The newest Sprint PCS Connection Card will enable average user speeds of 400-700 kbps and peak rates of up to 2.0 Mbps in EV-DO coverage areas and average user speeds of 50 to 70 kbps, with peak speeds of up to 144 kbps, on the 1XRTT portion of the Sprint Nationwide PCS Network.

"Sprint and Novatel Wireless have a time-tested relationship of delivering superior wireless data solutions," said Harry Campbell, president - Emerging and Mid Markets, Sprint Business Solutions. "The combination of Sprint PCS Connection Cards with high-speed capabilities of Sprint's EV-DO service will give our business customers the necessary tools to remain productive and connected to the Internet, email and other critical business information."

With a lightweight design and an advanced, embedded antenna, the Merlin S620 by Novatel Wireless can be used in conjunction with a laptop computer running Windows(R) 2000, XP or Tablet XP and a PCMCIA Type II PC Card slot to remotely and securely access the Internet and data-intensive corporate applications, as well as send and receive email with sizable attachments.

Sprint PCS Connection Manager(SM) Software comes packaged with the card to manage the user's connection to the packet data network and provides a compression client, self-diagnostic tools and automatic software updates from the Web. Customers using the device can benefit from bandwidth optimization for certain applications, providing increased data throughput of two to five times average user speeds on the Sprint Nationwide PCS Network.

"Novatel Wireless is pleased to continue its long-term partnership with Sprint during its extensive EV-DO network rollout," said Peter Leparulo, CEO of Novatel Wireless. "This relationship establishes our industry leadership in developing innovative PC Card Modems for the expansion of EV-DO networks across the United States. Novatel Wireless is paving the way for Sprint customers to have a convenient mobile computing solution that provides constant connectivity from anywhere on the Sprint Nationwide PCS Network at any time."

The Merlin S620 by Novatel Wireless is being sold through Sprint business channels, including the Sprint direct sales force and the Sprint Partner Program, for a suggested retail price of $249.99 less contract credits and instant savings. For more information about the Merlin S620 by Novatel Wireless visit http://www.sprint.com/merlins620 .

By early 2006, Sprint plans to make EV-DO service available in approximately 60 metropolitan areas with the potential to serve about 150 million customers. Portions of many major metro markets, including airports and business corridors, are expected to have EV-DO service available by early summer this year.