SHIPMENTS OF CDMA2000 1xEV-DO MODEMS EMBEDDED IN PORTABLE COMPUTERS FOR WIDE AREA CONNECTIVITY IS EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS  

Broadband Performance and Ubiquitous Coverage Enables Unsurpassed Mobile Connectivity for Enterprises

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CTIA WIRELESS IT & ENTERTAINMENT—LOS ANGELES—Sept. 13, 2006 — The CDMA Development Group (CDG) (www.cdg.org) today announced that shipments of laptops with embedded CDMA2000^® 1xEV-DO high-speed modems have exceeded expectations. 1xEV-DO is the first wireless wide area network (WWAN) technology to be embedded into a PC notebook, and is now shipped by more laptop manufacturers and in more models than any other technology. There are currently six leading notebook manufacturers: Dell, HP, Itronix, Lenovo, Panasonic and Toshiba that offer PCs with 1xEV-DO embedded in them.

“Wireless local area network (WLAN) hubs and routers have limited users to comparatively limited access areas,” said Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDG. “As wireless broadband proliferates, customers need to connect seamlessly and over great distances. Connection via WWAN signals provides the coverage area that users expect, and 1xEV-DO delivers the broadband performance they demand. Once consumers experience the freedom of 1xEV-DO, they won’t settle for anything less.”

In particular, enterprise customers are taking advantage of the freedom to connect wherever there is a 1xEV-DO radio signal, an area of coverage that overwhelmingly exceeds that of Wi-Fi or any other radio access technology. 1xEV-DO’s capacity for broadband performance and suitability for ubiquitous coverage makes it ideal for satisfying the demanding needs of today’s enterprises and road-warriors.

The CDG cites the following advantages as underlying factors for embedded 1xEV-DO’s rapid uptake:

• Increased productivity: ­ Embedded 1xEV-DO affords the freedom to connect wherever there is cellular coverage, allowing mobile professionals a greater degree of access and flexibility—especially with regard to time-sensitive information and access to VPNs. 1xEV-DO also allows for connectivity during transit, such as trains, taxis, ferries, etc.
• Simplified mobility: ­ 3G CDMA2000 service automatically detects and connects to WWANs when they are available, eliminating searching for coverage, configuration hassles and billing redundancies experienced with Wi-Fi Hot Spots.
• Higher security: ­ 3G CDMA2000 technology provides authentication and uses spread-spectrum to keep connections and data secure. In addition, 1xEV-DO embedded notebooks integrate seamlessly with virtual private network (VPN) protocols, allowing IT administrators to enforce a high level of security on remote server access.
• Improved reliability: ­ Notebooks with embedded 1xEV-DO feature built-in WWAN modules and antennae, eliminating the need for separate wireless cards that can be lost, forgotten, or damaged.
• Predictable costs: ­ Leading CDMA2000 operators offer a choice of service plans, including unlimited monthly and daily use, that enable WWAN access anywhere in the nationwide network.

“Dell is leading the industry in supporting communication solutions that are mature, in demand, and can deliver increased value and productivity to our customers on an affordable basis,” Kirk Neibert, mobile broadband marketing manager, Dell. “By embedding 1xEV-DO in our notebooks, we offer our mobility customers benefits in the areas of sales force automation, remote technical assistance, and training.”

“Lenovo builds notebook PCs that are known for improving user productivity and simplifying connectivity,” said Howard DuLany, wireless marketing manager, Lenovo. Adding to our unique management tools and industry-leading security technologies Lenovo's wide-area broadband based on 1xEV-DO technology will help our customers stay connected in more places and with a more consistent user experience.”

“Our research shows that 84% of survey respondents from Fortune 100 companies said they were interested or very interested in laptops with embedded high-speed modems,” said Iain Gillott, founder and president of iGR . “We also found that the estimated total cost of ownership (TCO) for the embedded CDMA EV-DO model was 14 percent lower than that of the EV-DO PC card model. Embedded EV-DO addresses the needs of IT managers and mobile professionals who need wide area broadband access.”

More information on CDMA2000 is available at www.cdg.org.

About CDMA2000
CDMA2000 is the most widely deployed 3G technology, with 166 operators in 73 countries, including 46 CDMA2000 1x-EV-DO systems, serving more than 275 million subscribers.  Counting 2G cdmaOne™ subscribers, there are more than 335 million CDMA users worldwide.  CDMA2000 has become the technology of choice for cdmaOne, TDMA, analog and greenfield operators, and is deployed in the 450, 800, 1700, 1900 and 2100 MHz bands. Nearly 1,250 CDMA2000 devices from more than 80 suppliers have been introduced to the market, including more than 280 1xEV-DO devices.  More information on CDMA2000 is available on the CDG Web site at www.cdg.org.

About CDG
The CDMA2000 Development Group is a trade association formed to foster the worldwide development, implementation and use of CDMA2000 technologies. The more than 130 member companies of the CDG include many of the world’s largest wireless carriers and equipment manufacturers. The primary activities of the CDG include development of CDMA2000 features and services, public relations, education and seminars, regulatory affairs and international support. Currently, there are more than 500 individuals working within various CDG subcommittees on CDMA2000-related matters. For more information about the CDG, contact the CDG News Bureau at +1-714-540-1030, or visit the CDG Web site at www.cdg.org.

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