Sierra Wireless and Lucent Team to Deliver High-Speed Data Solutions

Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Sierra Wireless (Nasdaq: SWIR) (Toronto: SW) and Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU) today announced an agreement to create next-generation subscriber products for business customers that require high-speed mobile data connections. Solutions such as wireless modem devices, based on the third-generation (3G) CDMA2000 1x-EV-DO (1x Evolution-Data Only) standard, are expected to be commercially available in mid 2002. This high-speed 3G technology will provide data transmission speeds of up to 2.4 Megabits per second (Mbps) -- up to 165 times faster than what is currently available on wireless voice and data networks -- enabling enterprise users to open and send e-mail with large attachments and rapidly access the Internet, corporate Intranets and other applications from any location.

The alliance is an important step in Lucent's strategy to accelerate the introduction of 3G high-speed data solutions for mobile operator customers and also underscores its leadership and focus on spread-spectrum technologies like CDMA2000 and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS).

"Lucent is committed to being first-to-market with 3G high-speed wireless data solutions that mobile professionals are looking for, which is wireless access to the business applications they regularly use in their office," said Mike Iandolo, vice president of product management and marketing for Lucent's Mobility Solutions Group. "This agreement with Sierra Wireless is an important step in meeting this commitment, and we are excited about working together to deliver leading-edge products that will make work on the road and at home more efficient and productive.

" Under terms of the agreement, Sierra Wireless will develop 3G CDMA2000 1xEV-DO data subscriber products, while Lucent will contribute research and development funding, technical and marketing support.

"Sierra Wireless is pleased to announce our plans for CDMA2000 1xEV-DO products," said Mark McMillan, vice president of marketing, Sierra Wireless. "Our CDMA2000 1X PC cards and our embedded modules enter commercial availability in the current quarter, and we expect strong demand for these products. 1xEV-DO services will complement 1X services with 3G bandwidth for power users and this agreement with Lucent allows us to accelerate the development of 1xEV-DO products."

In March 2001, Lucent and Sierra Wireless jointly demonstrated their forthcoming 3G CDMA2000 1X solutions. Now entering commercial availability, the Sierra Wireless 1X AirCard 550 series and 1X Embedded Modules will provide seamless wireless Internet connectivity to CDMA networks at speeds of up to 153.6 kilobits per second. Dual-band wireless modems, they will operate in both the 850MHz and 1900MHz bands, allowing worldwide wireless access via CDMA networks. They will support CDMA2000 1X and cdmaOne(TM) for maximum flexibility, and are capable of handling high-quality, reliable voice and data communications.

"CDMA-based operators now have a tremendous range of wireless data service options," said Andrew Seybold, editor-in-chief of the Forbes/Andrew Seybold Wireless Outlook. "CDMA 1X services, being offered this year, put these operators at the forefront in offering high-speed wireless solutions to business customers. Add the potential for high-bandwidth 1xEV-DO services in high-traffic areas, and you have some truly exciting opportunities. With this development, Sierra Wireless and Lucent continue to demonstrate their leadership in the CDMA market."

CDMA2000 1xEV-DO is an international 3G standard approved by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and can be deployed using existing spectrum, enabling existing CDMA mobile operators to move more traffic at superior performance levels by optimizing voice and data spectrum separately, serving both applications from the same network. Optimized for packet data services and based on Internet Protocol (IP), it is compatible with existing CDMA networks, CDMA2000 1X, as well as other technologies being developed.

Lucent is demonstrating CDMA2000 1xEV-DO technology -- featuring next-generation wireless applications and services providing data transmission speeds of up to 2.4 Mbps -- at its booth (#125) at the CDMA Americas Congress 2001 show, taking place from Oct. 31-Nov. 2 at the San Diego Convention Center.

Sierra Wireless is featuring its CDMA technology products in its booth (#233) at the show. The SB555 CDMA 1X OEM module will be featured, and the Sierra Wireless AirCard(R) 555 1X wireless PC Card and the Sierra Wireless AirCard 510 CDMA wireless modem will be demonstrated.

About Sierra Wireless
Sierra Wireless, Inc. is a leading provider of wireless data communications products. Sierra Wireless delivers wireless PC Cards for portable computers, wireless adapters for PDA's, OEM modules for embedded applications and rugged vehicle-mounted wireless systems. Sierra Wireless is the founding member of the WirelessReady(TM) Alliance, an alliance of industry-leading hardware, software and service companies committed to the delivery of complete and compelling wireless data solutions. For more information on Sierra Wireless, visit its Web site at www.sierrawireless.com

About Lucent Technologies
Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hill, N.J., USA, designs and delivers networks for the world's largest communications service providers. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, Lucent relies on its strengths in mobility, optical, data and voice networking technologies as well as software and services to develop next-generation networks. The company's systems, services and software are designed to help customers quickly deploy and better manage their networks and create new, revenue-generating services that help businesses and consumers. For more information on Lucent Technologies, visit its Web site at http://www.lucent.com.

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SOURCE Lucent Technologies; Sierra Wireless, Inc.