Verizon and Novatel Launch EV-DO Rev. A USB Modem

First Rev. A USB Modem Offering for Verizon Wireless Customers

Verizon Wireless, operator of the nation's most reliable national wireless broadband network, and Novatel Wireless, Inc., a leading provider of wireless broadband access solutions, today announced the Feb. 2 availability of the USB720, the first CDMA 1x Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A (Rev. A) USB wireless modem from Verizon Wireless. The compact USB720 wireless modem is compatible with all the latest notebooks, desktops and handhelds via an industry standard USB interface.

"With the USB standard available in virtually all computing devices in the marketplace, the USB720 offers Verizon Wireless customers the tremendous flexibility of using a USB port for wireless connectivity," said Rob Hadley, senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing for Novatel Wireless. "Providing Verizon Wireless' first EV-DO Rev. A USB modem shows Novatel Wireless' commitment to developing the most advanced and valuable wireless broadband access solutions. We are pleased that Verizon Wireless has selected us as a supplier for EV-DO Rev. A products."

In conjunction with this announcement of the USB720, Verizon Wireless today announced enhancements to its network to provide BroadbandAccess customers with the increased speeds of Rev. A technology in portions of Illinois, Florida, Massachusetts, Utah and Virginia. Customers in Verizon Wireless' enhanced wireless broadband coverage areas will typically experience average download speeds of 450-800 kilobits per second (kbps) and average upload speeds of 300-400 kbps. To the busy professional, the enhanced speeds will translate into the ability to download a 1 Megabyte e-mail attachment -- the equivalent of a small PowerPoint(R) presentation or a large PDF file -- in less than 15 seconds and upload the same size file in less than 25 seconds.

The USB720 is highly compact, measuring 3.52 x 1.49 x .69 inches (89.5 x 38 x 17.6 mm) and weighing a mere 1.6 ounces (45 g). The modem is also fully compatible with the Verizon Wireless' enhanced and existing wireless broadband networks and the company's NationalAccess network (based on CDMA 1xRTT technology). The modem has an advanced dual band diversity antenna system design with an integrated flip antenna, which maximizes performance and strengthens network signal reception. The USB720 works seamlessly with the Enterprise edition of VZAccess Manager software and supports Windows(R) (2000, XP, and Vista), and Mac OS X.

Customers in Rev. A enhanced coverage areas who purchase the new USB720 and who are current subscribers to BroadbandAccess will enjoy the new improved speeds immediately -- there are no additional charges. Customers with a Verizon Wireless voice plan of $39.99 or higher may sign up for unlimited BroadbandAccess with the new Rev. A speeds for an additional $59.99 monthly access. For customers without a voice plan, BroadbandAccess is available for $79.99 monthly access - Verizon Wireless.