Novatel deals with AETH and MCOM....................................................Novatel Wireless First to License Ricochet End-User Technology
-- Novatel Wireless to Distribute Ricochet Wireless Modems
to Mobile Professionals --
San Diego, California – October 15, 1999 -- Metricom, Inc. (NASDAQ:
MCOM), a leading provider of mobile data networking and technology, and
Novatel Wireless, a leading provider of wireless Internet solutions, today
announced a technology license agreement. The agreement will result in
Novatel Wireless' delivery of Ricochet wireless modem devices next year
for portable computer users who want to stay connected to data anywhere
at speeds of 128 kbps. As the first to license Ricochet end-user technology
for direct retail, Novatel Wireless is expected to develop various form
factors that will also be available from Ricochet service resellers.
"We are excited to be working with Metricom to provide users with the first wireless
modems to offer true high-speed data and Internet access. This new service
represents a substantial increase in speed over existing wireless data networks,"
said Bruce Gray, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Novatel Wireless. "By
combining Novatel Wireless' experience in delivering wireless data solutions and
Metricom's expertise in high-speed mobile data networks we feel that the big winner
in this deal will be the end-users."
These co-branded devices will work with Ricochet 128 kbps mobile data service,
which is scheduled for availability beginning in Summer 2000. With ISDN-like
performance for laptop computers, mobile professionals will be able to experience the
full power of true wireless remote computing for the first time, with the ability to
replicate their office computing experience outside the confines of the office.
"Novatel Wireless' PC card modem development leadership and radio frequency
expertise, coupled with their distribution channels, will help advance the adoption of
Ricochet among mobile professionals wanting to stay connected to information with
high-speed always-on performance," said John Wernke, Senior Vice President of
Marketing and Sales for Metricom. "By working with Novatel Wireless, we will be able
to extend the end-user device options available through current and future distribution
partners."
Ricochet customer devices are outfitted with small antennas that exchange data with
Ricochet micro cell radios mounted on city streetlight and utility poles. These
"poletop" radios communicate with each other and local wired access points using a
meshed frequency-hopping network architecture, which is interconnected to a wired
local network and the national Internet backbone. In this way, customers can stay
connected to data anywhere in coverage areas, without being tied to a wall jack, even
while moving at speeds up to 70 miles an hour.
Metricom expects to sign additional license agreements with multiple vendors to
provide a variety of Ricochet end-user devices to the marketplace.
About Novatel Wireless
Novatel Wireless, Inc. is a leading-edge wireless communications company
headquartered in San Diego. The company designs and markets low-cost, turnkey
wireless Internet solutions for both mobile and fixed environments. Novatel Wireless'
product portfolio includes the Merlin ™ PC card, the Minstrel® line of modem
cradles, the Viking™ line of wireless ruggedized laptops, the CONTACT® Wireless
H/PC, the Sage® Wireless IP Modem, the 3-Watt Modem and the NRM-6812 and
Expedite™ OEM modules. Novatel Wireless is a privately held company. For more
information on our products please visit the Novatel Wireless Web site:
www.novatelwireless.com or call 888-888-9231.
About Metricom
Metricom, Inc. is a leading provider of mobile data networking and technology. The
Company's Ricochet service provides mobile professionals with high-performance,
cost-effective untethered access to the Internet, private Intranets, local-area
networks, e-mail, and other online services. Ricochet is generally available in the
greater San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas;
in select areas of New York City; on select corporate campuses; and at gate areas
at major airports throughout the United States. For more information, call 1-800
Go-Wireless, or visit Metricom's Web site at metricom.com.
# # #
Novatel Wireless and Aether Technologies Provide
Wireless Access to Real-Time Information
- Aether Technologies Chooses the Novatel Wireless
CONTACT Handheld PC as Product of Choice -
San Diego, California –August 18, 1998 – Novatel
Wireless, a leading-edge wireless communications
company, and Aether Technologies, the global leader in
wireless data systems solutions, today announced that
Novatel Wireless' CONTACTTM has become Aether's
preferred wireless handheld PC solution.
The first product Aether will offer via the Novatel Wireless
CONTACT is Reuters MarketClip, a real-time financial
information tool. The CONTACT solution for the MarketClip
is available immediately. Reuters MarketClip, developed by
Aether Technologies and Reuters, is an interactive
financial system that provides stock brokers and
investment bankers with instant access to important
time-critical information including stock quotes, charts,
market summaries, volume and price alerts, and news
headlines. |
