Sprint and Sierra Wireless today announced that the Sprint PCS Connection Card by Sierra Wireless (AirCard 580) is now available for sale through Sprint business sales channels. Designed to operate on CDMA 1xEV-DO (Evolution, Data Optimized) and 1xRTT networks, the AirCard 580 by Sierra Wireless will support broadband-like speeds when Sprint launches EV-DO service later this year and is backwards compatible to 1xRTT speeds in areas where Sprint EV-DO coverage is not available.

The card will enable average user speeds of 300-500 kbps and peak rates of up to 2.4 Mbps in EV-DO coverage areas. Today, Sprint customers using the Sprint PCS Connection Card can achieve speeds averaging 50 to 70 kbps, with peak speeds of up to 144 kbps.

Customers can use the Sprint PCS Connection Card in conjunction with a laptop computer running Windows® 2000, XP or Tablet XP and a PCMCIA Type II PC Card slot to remotely view graphic-intensive Internet sites, send and receive email with sizable attachments, and access other data-intensive corporate applications.

"Our business customers want technology solutions that increase productivity, reduce costs and create a competitive advantage for their mobile workforce," said Harry Campbell, president - Emerging and Mid Markets, Sprint Business Solutions. "Sprint is addressing these needs by delivering superior data solutions and will continue to do so as we provide EV-DO service later this year."

Mobile professionals also will receive added value in several design and operation features of the card including the "flip-up" vertically polarized antenna that maximizes signal sensitivity and coverage and the 32-bit CardBus interface (3.3v) that minimizes drain on laptop batteries. The card comes packaged with easy-to-install and easy-to-use software, which manages the user's connection to the packet data network.

"Sierra Wireless is pleased to continue our relationship with Sprint to deliver complete solutions that improve enterprise communications," said Dan Schieler, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales for Sierra Wireless. "Mobile workers who require remote connectivity with laptops to access email and other business-critical information will reap great benefits with the high-speed network data speeds the AirCard 580 by Sierra Wireless provides via the Sprint Nationwide PCS Network today and in the future."

The AirCard 580 by Sierra Wireless is being sold through Sprint business channels, including the Sprint direct sales force and the Sprint Partner Program, for a suggested retail price of $299.99. Service plans for the device currently range from $40 a month for 20 megabytes of data up to $80 per month for unlimited megabytes of data. Sprint plans to announce service plan pricing for it EV-DO service in the near future and plans to make the EV-DO-ready connection cards available in other channels, including Sprint Stores, later this year. For more information about the AirCard 580 by Sierra Wireless visit www.sprint.com/aircard580 .

Sprint, the leader in wireless data services, plans to provide EV-DO service in several major markets across the nation by mid-year with broader metropolitan-area coverage by the end of 2005.