SAN DIEGO, May 6, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Novatel Wireless, Inc., , a leading provider of wireless broadband access solutions, today announced that it has selected PocketGear as a partner to power the MiFi App Store for the MiFi(R) Intelligent Mobile Hotspot.

According to recent reports from Ovum (http://www.ovum.com/news/euronews.asp?id=8199), 18.7 billion applications will be downloaded -- including free and paid-for apps -- by 2014, worth an estimated US$6 billion, said Rob Hadley, CMO, Novatel Wireless. The combination of PocketGear's industry leading open app store and content marketplace with the innovative MiFi platform provides rapid time-to-market for an eager community of application developers. We expect that the MiFi App Store will be a valuable tool for both enterprise and consumer users to derive additional value and functionality from the MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot.

The MiFi software platform features advanced functionality that transform the MiFi from a connectivity device to a full-scale Intelligent Mobile Hotspot. The MiFi software platform enables any WiFi-enabled device to take advantage of its applications and its onboard Web server enables the MiFi to connect to remote data locations, retrieve data and present it to the user either online or offline. The platform architecture is designed to ensure that the operator's network is protected, while maintaining the ability for new applications and services to be field-deployed to increase ARPU.

The MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot provides an unprecedented platform for mobile connectivity and application deployment, said Tim Horan, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at PocketGear. Leveraging the MiFi's processing power, abundant storage capacity, and geographical location support, Novatel Wireless and its developer partners will provide a plethora of innovative mobile applications for MiFi users across the globe.

Novatel Wireless is currently working with its technology partners to create a variety of applications for enterprise users and consumers.

ABOUT POCKETGEAR

PocketGear is the world's largest cross platform, open app store and content marketplace with a catalog of more than 140,000 paid and free titles available for discovery and download. To date, PocketGear has generated over US$400 million in mobile application revenues for the more than 32,000 developers in the PocketGear Developer Program. PocketGear powers storefront and content solutions for over 40 partners, including 4 of the world's top 5 handset manufacturers, 4 of the top 5 mobile operators in the US, 3 of the top 10 mobile operators globally, and leading media and ecommerce companies, including Samsung, LG, Sony Ericsson, Research In Motion, Microsoft, T-Mobile, ATT, and Verizon Wireless. In addition, PocketGear operates the largest network of independent app stores, including Handango.com (http://Handango.com/), PocketGear.com (http://PocketGear.com/), and Mobile2Day.de (http://Mobile2Day.de/).

PocketGear is headquartered in Durham, NC with offices in Munich, Germany and Irving, TX. For more information, please visit http://www.pocketgear.com

ABOUT NOVATEL WIRELESS

Novatel Wireless, Inc. is a leader in the design and development of innovative wireless broadband access solutions based on 3G and 4G wireless technologies. Novatel Wireless' Intelligent Mobile Hotspot products, software, USB modems and embedded modules enable high-speed wireless Internet access on leading wireless data networks. The Company delivers specialized wireless solutions to carriers, distributors, OEMs and vertical markets worldwide. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Novatel Wireless is listed on NASDAQ: NVTL. For more information please visit www.novatelwireless.com. (NVTLG)

This release may contain forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended to date. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements contained herein. These factors include risks relating to technological changes, new product introductions, continued acceptance of Novatel Wireless' products and dependence on intellectual property rights. These factors, as well as other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, are discussed in more detail in Novatel Wireless' filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (available at www.sec.gov) and other regulatory agencies.

(C) 2010 Novatel Wireless. All rights reserved. The Novatel Wireless name and logo and MiFi are trademarks of Novatel Wireless, Inc. Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE: Novatel Wireless, Inc.

CONTACT: Charlotte Rubin, Novatel Wireless, +1-858-812-3431, pr@nvtl.com;Cara Sloman, Nadel Phelan, +1-831-440-2411, cara@nadelphelan.com, forNovatel Wireless