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Sprint and Sierra Wireless Introduce Sprint PCS Connection Card

Posted on: Wednesday, 28 April 2004, 06:00 CDT

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., & VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Sprint and Sierra Wireless today announced commercial availability of the Sprint PCS Connection Card by Sierra Wireless (PC 3300) for use on the enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network. Optimized for superior laptop performance, the Sprint PCS Connection Card model PC3300 offers mobile customers fast and reliable wireless data access to the Internet, email and other corporate applications from any laptop computer that uses Windows(R) 98SE/2000/ME/XP or Tablet XP and is equipped with a PCMCIA Type II PC Card slot.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001013/SPRINTLOGO )

The Sprint PCS Connection Card model PC3300, is the first and only wireless PC card integrated with Sprint PCS Connection Manager(SM) Software, jointly developed by Sierra Wireless and Sprint. In addition to managing connectivity to Sprint's wide-area 3G network, the software allows users to conveniently manage connections to Wi-Fi ZONES(TM) compatible with Sprint PCS(SM) Wi-Fi Access - Sprint's high-speed wireless Internet service, available in an ever-growing list of airports, convention centers, hotels, shopping malls and other public venues - through one software interface. With the software, customers can travel across the country, detect Wi-Fi ZONES compatible with Sprint service and quickly connect to the Internet or their company networks with the use of a third-party Wi-Fi card or a laptop with embedded Wi-Fi technology.

The new Sprint PCS Connection Card is now available at a suggested retail price of $229.99 from Sprint Stores, Sprint business channels including the Sprint PCS direct sales force, the Sprint PCS Business Solutions(SM) Program and online at http://www.sprintpcs.com/ .

"Sprint is committed to offering technologically advanced wireline and wireless solutions that help our business customers achieve maximum productivity even while on the go," said Phil Bowman, vice president of integrated solutions, Sprint Business Solutions. "The Sprint PCS Connection Manager Software provides a powerful productivity tool that enables users to take advantage of wireless connectivity with the Sprint PCS Connection Card by Sierra Wireless (PC 3300) through the enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network, or conveniently access high-speed Wi-Fi ZONES across the country through the notebook's Wi-Fi capability."

Rugged in design with a flip-up Dipole antenna, the Sprint PCS Connection Card by Sierra Wireless (PC 3300) provides enhanced signal sensitivity and maximum coverage to mobile professionals. Customers using a notebook computer can wirelessly access the Internet and corporate applications at data speeds averaging between 50 and 70 Kbps, with peak speeds up to 144 Kbps prior to bandwidth optimization. Utilizing the Qualcomm(R) MSM5100 chipset, the new connection card offers improved throughput allowing users to send and receive email faster, resulting in more data usage and a complete user experience. Its standard 32-bit CardBus interface (3.3v) minimizes power consumption providing a longer notebook computer battery life.

"We are pleased to continue our partnership with Sprint to deliver complete solutions that satisfy the needs of the growing mobile-professional market," said Jason Cohenour, senior vice president, global sales for Sierra Wireless. "Combined with the Sprint PCS Connection Manager Software, the Sierra Wireless PC3300 will provide business professionals using notebook computers with easy, wireless data access to corporate applications and real- time information at 3G data speeds, allowing them to stay connected when away from the office or on the road."

For complete information on Sprint PCS Wi-Fi Access, including software tutorials, troubleshooting guides, compatible Wi-Fi equipment and a list of Sprint supported locations visit http://www.sprint.com/pcsbusiness/products_services/data/wifi.

About Sprint

Sprint is a global integrated communications provider serving more than 26 million customers in over 100 countries. With approximately 65,000 employees worldwide and over $26 billion in annual revenues in 2003, Sprint is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying state-of-the-art network technologies, including the United States' first nationwide all- digital, fiber-optic network and an award-winning Tier 1 Internet backbone. Sprint provides local communications services in 39 states and the District of Columbia and operates the largest 100-percent digital, nationwide PCS wireless network in the United States. For more information, visit http://www.sprint.com/ .

About Sierra Wireless

Sierra Wireless is a leader in delivering highly differentiated wireless solutions that enable our customers to improve their productivity and lifestyle. Sierra Wireless develops and markets the AirCard, the industry- leading wireless PC card line for portable computers; embedded modules for OEM wireless applications; the MP line of rugged vehicle-mounted connectivity solutions; and Voq, a line of mobile phones with easy-to-use, secure software solutions for mobile professionals. For more information about Sierra Wireless please visit http://www.sierrawireless.com/ . "AirCard" is a registered trademark of Sierra Wireless, Inc. "Voq" is a trademark of Sierra Wireless, Inc. Other product or service names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001013/SPRINTLOGOAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, +1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840

Sprint

CONTACT: Amy Schiska of Sprint, +1-913-794-2947,aschis01@sprintspectrum.com , or Joan Churchill of Sierra Wireless,+1-604-233-6384, jchurchill@sierrawireless.com

Web site: http://www.sierrawireless.com/http://www.sprint.com/http://www.sprintpcs.com/

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