SAN DIEGO -- Today Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Nasdaq:NVTL) signed a new distribution agreement with Estonia-based Satel Systems. Novatel Wireless, which develops wireless data access solutions such as its Merlin(TM) Family of Wireless PC Card Modems, has granted Satel GPRS product distribution rights in the Eastern European republics of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and the Russian Federation. Satel is a telecommunications distributor that has rapidly established a reseller network throughout the Baltic states, where the GPRS penetration rate is approximately 50-60% of the population, and recently opened an office in St. Petersburg, Russia to take advantage of the growing market there. Through its multi-country reseller network to enterprise customers, systems integrators, network operators and wireless solutions providers, Satel will market Novatel Wireless GPRS products, including the:
Merlin G201(TM) dual-band Wireless PC Card Modem
Merlin G301(TM) tri-band Wireless PC Card Modem
Expedite G301(TM) tri-band Wireless Embedded Modem
"Together with our partner, Satel Systems, we plan to carve out a new niche for wireless data in the Baltic region and Russia," stated John Major, chairman and CEO of Novatel Wireless. Peter Jarvsoo, owner of Satel Systems, added, "We expect the sales potential for Novatel Wireless modems will be very high, in part because of the strong Internet usage in these countries, but more importantly, we believe the speed, convenience and affordability of these wireless data products will certainly appeal to mobile users." Novatel Wireless Inc.