Sierra Wireless Expands its CDMA 1xEV-DO Product Line with New EM5625

    News Editors

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 13, 2005--Sierra Wireless, Inc. (TSX:SW)(NASDAQ:SWIR)

    New design wins: @Road and Panasonic Computer Solutions Company choose the new Sierra Wireless EM5625 to incorporate 1xEV-DO wireless connectivity into upcoming products

    Sierra Wireless today announced the launch of the Sierra Wireless EM5625, an embedded module for CDMA 1xEV-DO networks. The new module will be the first Sierra Wireless product to incorporate QUALCOMM's (NASDAQ: QCOM) MSM6500(TM) Mobile Station Modem(TM) chipset, providing a high-speed, high capacity wireless data solution supporting the CDMA 1X and CDMA 1xEV-DO standards. The EM5625 is scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of 2005, and has been selected by Panasonic(R) and @Road for integration into products scheduled for availability in the same quarter.

    The dual-band Sierra Wireless EM5625 embedded module provides a powerful, reliable, wireless engine that can be easily integrated into a wide variety of mobile devices and offers "always-on" voice, data, and messaging functionality at typical data speeds of 300-500 kbps, with bursts up to 2.4 Mbps. Additional features of the EM5625 module include enhanced power management to optimize battery life, as well as gpsOne(TM) capability, which complies with E911 requirements for emergency location. Sierra Wireless also offers a comprehensive suite of integration services for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), including a Universal Development Kit to simplify the integration process and accelerate time-to-market.

    "The ability to take advantage of higher wireless data transmission speeds brings original equipment manufacturers new opportunities to maximize the value wireless connections can add to their products," said Dan Schieler, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales for Sierra Wireless. "With the EM5625 module and the integration and certification support Sierra Wireless offers, our OEM customers can concentrate on leveraging the advantages faster wireless connectivity offers and on getting their products to market as quickly as possible."

    Sierra Wireless also announced today two design wins for the new EM5625 embedded module. The EM5625 module has been chosen by @Road for its line of in-vehicle devices, the @Road iLM(R) Internet Location Manager for mobile resource management and by Panasonic Computer Solutions Company for incorporation into its Toughbook line of rugged notebook computers.

    The @Road iLM enables companies to manage mobile resources more effectively. All @Road iLM units feature:

    - Patented technology to collect and process location-based information

    - Automatic data transmission with no required user intervention

    - Higher data speeds for enhanced applications

    - Ruggedized construction built to withstand harsh commercial environments

    "Sierra Wireless has established itself as a leader in the production of both embedded modules and EV-DO devices," said Mike Walker, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President for @Road. "In looking for a solution to meet our customer demand for faster data speed and increased functionality from our service, the experience of Sierra Wireless makes the new EM5625 a logical choice."

    Panasonic offers eight different Toughbook models covering all portable computer form factors, including the award winning flagship wireless Toughbook 29 ruggedized notebook that can be dropped from a distance of three feet, and the new slim and light wirelessly enabled Toughbook W2 and Y2 boasting five hours of battery life in an under three- and four-pound package.

    "Our customers are demanding more of their mobile experience than ever before, and are increasingly required to support bandwidth-heavy applications while on the road," said Kevin Martin, Wireless Business Development Manager for Panasonic Computer Solutions Company. "By incorporating the Sierra Wireless EM5625 into our Toughbook line of rugged notebook computers, we are confident that we can meet our customers' expectations for both faster data speeds and a high-quality, reliable wireless connection when they need it."

    For more information about the Sierra Wireless EM5625 embedded module please visit www.sierrawireless.com/EM5625, or contact the Sierra Wireless Sales Desk by calling 604-232-1488 or e-mailing sales@sierrawireless.com.

    Note to editors:

    To view and download images of Sierra Wireless products, please visit www.sierrawireless.com/news/photos.asp.

    About @Road

    @Road, Inc. (Nasdaq:ARDI) is a leading provider of mobile resource management (MRM) services, a rapidly growing category of productivity solutions integrating wireless communications, location technologies, hosted software applications, transaction processing and the Internet to help companies better manage mobile workers. Any size organization, in any industry or public sector, in which improving the productivity of mobile workers has an impact on revenue, expenses, customer service, and competitive advantage, will benefit from @Road MRM services. Because @Road offers MRM services on a hosted basis, customers avoid expensive and complex software and IT infrastructure investments. Since @Road delivers services on a subscription basis, customers can experience a rapid and measurable return-on-investment.

    @Road delivers its MRM services to approximately 131,000 mobile workers in North America every day. The company has headquarters in Fremont, Calif., and secure networked data centers on both U.S. coasts. For more information, visit the @Road Web site at www.road.com.

    About Panasonic Computer Solutions Company

    Panasonic Computer Solutions Company is the leading provider of ruggedized notebook PCs under the Toughbook(R) brand for mobile professionals in the USA. The company is a unit company of Panasonic of North America, the principal American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. of Japan (NYSE: MC), which recorded annual sales of $71.30 billion in the most recent fiscal year. Matsushita Electric is one of the only manufacturers today that directly controls the process of design, manufacture and quality assurance of its notebook PCs. Many key components, including LCD panels, Lithium-Ion batteries, DVD and CD-ROM drives, and board-level electronics are the products of its divisions. The products, people and business of Panasonic Computer Solutions Company are entirely dedicated to the needs of the professional user, including Fortune 1000 business and government professionals. Panasonic also supplies mobile computing solutions to over 3,000 police departments in the United States. For more information visit: www.panasonic.com/toughbook.

    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 www.sierrawireless.com.

    "AirCard" is a registered trademark of Sierra Wireless. "Voq Professional Phone" is a trademark of Sierra Wireless, Inc. 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.



    Sierra Wireless, Inc. (TSX:SW) (NASDAQ:SWIR)

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CONTACT: Sierra Wireless, Inc. Sharlene Myers (604) 232-1445 Email: smyers@sierrawireless.com Website: www.sierrawireless.com OR @Road, Inc. Kathy Stahlman (415) 333-9991 Email: kstahlman@road-inc.com Website: www.road.com OR Panasonic Computer Solutions Company Jeffrey Ayers (516) 609-9500 Email: jayers@p2c2.com Website: www.panasonic.com/toughbook

KEYWORD: NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL CANADA SOURCE: Sierra Wireless, Inc.

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