Sierra Wireless MP rugged modems now available with 3G connectivity

MP 595 GPS and MP 875 GPS wireless modems offer more bandwidth to provide vital information quickly, in a vehicle-mounted form factor built to withstand extreme conditions

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ: SWIR - TSX: SW) today announced the company has begun commercial shipments of the MP 595 GPS and MP 875 GPS rugged wireless modems. Both the MP 595 GPS and the MP 875 GPS are now available for order directly through Sierra Wireless, its distributors, and resellers.

Designed for use in the public safety, field service, and transportation industries, Sierra Wireless MP rugged modems are vehicle mounted and enable fast, consistent wide area wireless data communications with headquarters and dispatchers. In addition, they can provide vehicle location information with an integrated, independent GPS receiver, increasing security for employees and enabling asset tracking. The durability and reliability of Sierra Wireless MP modems have made them the wireless modem of choice for public safety agencies since the product line was introduced in 1995.

“In the patrol car environment you need a rugged piece of equipment. We decided early on in our mobile project that the Sierra Wireless MP products had the reliability that we looking for in a ruggedized modem.” said Captain Kim Hull of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. “The dependable communications link that the modems provide is an important officer safety issue for our agency. The increased bandwidth offered by the new models will allow us to expand the availability of in-car applications, ultimately enhancing our mobile business platform and officer efficiency.”

The MP 595 GPS provides connectivity to EV-DO Revision A networks, offering significantly faster data rates than previous models, with peaks of up to 3.1 Mbps on the downlink and up to 1.8 Mbps on the uplink. The faster data rates, particularly on the uplink, will improve the user experience for those who need to send large files such as photos or video over their wireless connection, enabling applications such as real-time video monitoring to improve the personal security of the vehicle operator. The MP 595 is also fully compatible with currently deployed EV-DO Release 0 networks and CDMA 1X networks, for use in areas where an EV-DO Revision A network is not yet available.

The MP 875 GPS is designed for use on HSDPA networks, offering connectivity in all three UMTS frequency bands (850/1900/2100 MHz) currently used worldwide, and supporting peak data speeds of up to 3.6 Mbps. For use in areas where an HSDPA or UMTS network is not yet available, the MP 875 is also fully compatible with EDGE and GPRS in all four frequency bands (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) used worldwide.

“Building rugged wireless modems has been a core part of Sierra Wireless for a long time, and we value the loyalty and support of our MP modem customers,” said Dan Schieler, senior vice president of Worldwide Sales for Sierra Wireless. “We believe the enhanced capabilities of the new MP 595 and 875 modems will enable our customers to expand the information they can collect and provide better security for vehicle operators, while still delivering the reliable, high-quality performance they trust.”