Sierra Wireless introduces 3G voice-enabled embedded module product portfolio for integrated wide area wireless connectivity

Sierra Wireless MC8755V, MC8775V and MC5725V voice-enabled PCI Express Mini Card modules will offer increased data rates, faster uploads, and voice connectivity

July 31, 2006, Vancouver, British Columbia – Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ: SWIR - TSX: SW) today introduced a line of voice-enabled PCI Express Mini Card modules that provide integrated network connectivity for a variety of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) devices. These are the first and only 3G voice-enabled embedded modules available on the market today and are ready for testing and integration.

Sierra Wireless voice-enabled PCI Express Mini Card embedded modules are an ideal alternative for OEM customers that require voice, SMS, and high speed data capability in their end products. The standard USB interface and supported drivers allow for easy integration into mobile computing devices, providing all the benefits of 3G wireless broadband data and voice services. Common interfaces for both Sierra Wireless UMTS and CDMA modules shorten OEM development time and costs, and offer OEMs the ability to deliver products into any market worldwide.

“With over 12 years of experience working with partners to integrate wireless wide area network technology into a variety of devices, Sierra Wireless has the development, integration, and certification expertise needed to deliver 3G voice-enabled embedded modules first to market,” said Trent Punnett, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Development for Sierra Wireless. “Offering 3G voice-enabled embedded modules is a natural step in the evolution of our module product portfolio and we are pleased to deliver technology and features to satisfy our customers’ needs.”

AirCard Enabled™

Customers purchasing AirCard Enabled™ products experience the same reliable, high performance wireless data solutions they have come to expect from the AirCard line of PC card products. Sierra Wireless has over 12 years of experience in delivering industry leading WWAN products. OEM customers can rely on Sierra Wireless to deliver a suite of PCI Express Mini Card products, along with superior integration support services to help manage product development cycles.

Sierra Wireless PCI Express Mini Card modules include a common comprehensive WHQL-certified USB software driver architecture that provides superior power management, a dedicated diagnostic channel and the ability to enable or disable NDIS or DUN support, which provides maximum flexibility to OEM customers when designing their wireless product. To simplify and expedite product development cycles, Sierra Wireless also provides OEM customers with a comprehensive software development kit (SDK) or Sierra Wireless’s own Watcher™ software for easy connection management.

Each module is PCI Express Mini Card form factor compliant, fully shielded and offers an operating temperature range of -30 to +60 degrees Celsius to suit all applications. Each module measures 51 x 30 x 4.5 mm, weighs in at less than 12 g, and complies with new European Union directives on RoHS (Restrictions on Hazardous Substances).


MC8775V PCI Express Mini Card for HSDPA/UMTS networks

The MC8775V PCI Express Mini Card module is built using the MSM6280™ Mobile Station Modem™ chipset from QUALCOMM and with tri-band HSDPA functionality for worldwide roaming on 3G networks, supports peak data rates of up to 3.6 Mbps and is upgradeable to 7.2 Mbps. A complete 3G-enabled wireless solution, the MC8775V offers data, voice and SMS functionality, and connectivity to all three HSDPA/UMTS frequency bands (850, 1900, and 2100 MHz) and all four EDGE/GPRS/GSM bands (850, 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz) used worldwide, allowing for seamless global roaming on the best available network. The module offers standardized voice support for GSM, UMTS and HSDPA networks supporting Enhanced Full Rate (EFR), Full Rate (FR), Half Rate (HR), and WCDMA Adaptive Multirate (AMR) voice codecs.

MC8755V PCI Express Mini Card for HSDPA/UMTS networks

The MC8755V PCI Express Mini Card module is built using the MSM6275™ Mobile Station Modem™ chipset from QUALCOMM and offers peak download speeds of 1.8 Mbps. The MC8755V is a complete 3G-enabled wireless solution, offering data, voice and SMS functionality. The module offers standardized voice support for GSM, UMTS and HSDPA networks supporting Enhanced Full Rate (EFR), Full Rate (FR), Half Rate (HR), and WCDMA Adaptive Multirate (AMR) voice codecs. The MC8755V operates on the 2100 MHz HSDPA UMTS frequency band and is designed for markets in Europe and Asia. MC8755V modules are also compatible with EDGE and GSM/GPRS networks on all four GSM frequency bands (850, 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz), for global roaming in areas where an HSDPA or UMTS network is not available.

MC5725V PCI Express Mini Card for EV-DO Revision A networks

The dual-band MC5725V PCI Express Mini Card, built using the MSM6800™ Mobile Station Modem™ chipset from QUALCOMM, offers peak download data rates of 3.1Mbps and peak upload data rates of 1.8Mbps. The MC5725V is a complete 3G enabled wireless solution, offering data, voice and SMS functionality. To provide coverage in areas where a CDMA EV-DO Revision A network connection is not available, the MC5725V module is also compatible with widely available CDMA EV-DO Release 0 and 1X networks and will seamlessly switch without interrupting the user.

For more information about Sierra Wireless PCI Express Mini Card embedded modules, please visit www.sierrawireless.com/product/oemmodules.aspx, or contact the Sierra Wireless Sales Desk by calling 604-232-1488 or e-mailing sales@sierrawireless.com.

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About Sierra Wireless
Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ: SWIR – TSX: SW) develops and markets reliable, high quality wireless communications products that provide mobile professionals with data and voice access to wide area wireless networks. The Sierra Wireless product portfolio includes the award-winning AirCard® line of wireless PC cards, embedded modules for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and the MP line of rugged, vehicle-mounted wireless modems. Sierra Wireless also offers professional services to OEM customers during product development, leveraging the company’s expertise in wireless design and integration to provide built-in wireless connectivity for notebook computers and other portable computing devices. Sierra Wireless is headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, with additional offices in Carlsbad, California, London, and Hong Kong. For more information about Sierra Wireless, please visit www.sierrawireless.com.

“AirCard” is a registered trademark of Sierra Wireless. Other product or service names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, plans and timing for the introduction or enhancement of our services and products, statements about future market conditions, supply conditions, channel and end customer demand conditions, revenues, gross margins, operating expenses, profits, and other expectations, intentions, and plans contained in this press release that are not historical fact. Our expectations regarding future revenues and earnings depend in part upon our ability to successfully develop, manufacture, and supply products that we do not produce today and that meet defined specifications. When used in this press release, the words “plan”, “expect”, “believe”, and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current expectations. They are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in technology and changes in the wireless data communications market. In light of the many risks and uncertainties surrounding the wireless data communications market, you should understand that we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release will be realized.

Contact Information

Kathleen Landry

Director, Corporate Marketing and Communications

Sierra Wireless

Contact via E-mail