Brightstar Corp. and Sierra Wireless Join Forces to Distribute AirCard® PC Card Products Throughout North America, Latin America


VANCOUVER, May 31 / Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ:SWIR)(NASDAQ:-)(NASDAQ:TSX:)(NASDAQ:SW) today announced a distribution agreement with Brightstar Corp., a world leader in value-added supply chain management and mobile solutions for the wireless industry, to sell, market, and distribute Sierra Wireless PC Card products to customers including value added resellers, (VARS), mobile virtual network operators, (MVNOs), agents, and dealers throughout North America and Latin America.

Under the terms of this agreement, Brightstar will distribute Sierra Wireless's high performing AirCard® PC Card product line, including the AirCard 850 and AirCard 860 PC Cards for use on HSDPA capable networks, the AirCard 775 PC Card for use on EDGE networks, the AirCard 595 for use on EV-DO Revision A networks and the AirCard 580 for use on EV-DO Release 0 networks. All Sierra Wireless AirCard products deliver reliable wireless wide area network (WWAN) connectivity, improving field productivity and giving mobile professionals a vital competitive advantage while traveling or meeting with customers.

"Working with an industry leader like Sierra Wireless means our customers will receive the most dependable wireless data products available on the market," said Fernando Rodriguez, Vice President, Wireless Data for Brightstar. "This agreement opens the door to significant opportunities for our customers looking to provide high performing wireless solutions that allow professionals to work in a user-friendly, mobile environment."

"This collaboration represents a significant step for Sierra Wireless. Brightstar has extensive reach through national and global channels, and a solid reputation for delivering integrated technology products," noted Dan Schieler, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales, Sierra Wireless. "This agreement will assist us in driving demand for our AirCard products to a wider customer base that is looking for effective, reliable, high-performing, mobile data products to meet the needs of mobile professionals."

AirCard® 860, AirCard 850 for HSDPA/UMTS networks

The AirCard 860 and AirCard 850 wireless WAN cards are Type II PC Cards with a slim, unextended design, allowing users to conveniently store the unit inside the laptop. Fully functional on HSDPA, UMTS, EDGE, and GPRS networks, the AirCard 860 utilizes the 850 and 1900 MHz UMTS frequency bands, while the AirCard 850 utilizes the 2100 MHz UMTS frequency band and is targeted primarily for use outside North America. Both offer average data rates of 500 to 800 kbps, with bursts over 1 Mbps on HSDPA networks. In areas where HSDPA or UMTS network coverage is not available, the AirCard 860 and AirCard 850 will connect to EDGE and GSM/GPRS networks. Ideal for frequent travelers, these cards enable international roaming on all four EDGE and GPRS frequency bands (850, 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz) used worldwide.

AirCard® 775 for EDGE/GPRS/GSM networks

The AirCard 775 fits into a PCMCIA slot in a laptop computer and provides access to email, the Internet, and corporate applications over an EDGE network at data rates averaging 100 to 130 kilobits per second (kbps), with peak rates up to 216 kbps. The AirCard 775 card also supports global roaming, functioning on EDGE and GSM/GPRS networks on all four GSM frequency bands (850, 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz) used worldwide, making it a powerful tool for frequent travelers who need to stay in touch with their colleagues and access corporate intranets or Web-based applications while they are away from the office.

AirCard® 595 for EV-DO Revision A networks

The AirCard 595, a Type II PC card, is the latest addition to Sierra Wireless's AirCard line of wireless wide area network cards. Scheduled for commercial shipment in the third quarter of 2006, the AirCard 595 will also be fully compatible with current EV-DO networks, as well as CDMA 1X networks, for use in areas where an EV-DO Revision A network is not available.

AirCard® 580 for EV-DO networks

Connecting to EV-DO Release 0 networks, the AirCard 580 offers reliable high-speed connectivity with average user speeds of 500 to 700 kbps and peak data speeds of up to 2.4 megabits per second. The AirCard 580 PC card was built for mobile users that require fast access to mission-critical enterprise applications such as email, sales force automation, and streaming audio, video and the Internet. The product enables mobile professionals to extend their corporate experience outside the office with "always on" access in a Type II PC card format, improving field productivity and giving enterprise users a vital competitive advantage.

U.S.-based customers wanting to purchase Sierra Wireless products from Brightstar, please call 877-727-4448. Customers from Latin America, please call 305-421-6000.

For more information about Sierra Wireless products please visit www.sierrawireless.com/product/. To contact the Sierra Wireless Sales Desk, call 604-232-1488 or e-mail sales@sierrawireless.com.

Contact:
Sharlene Myers
Sierra Wireless
Phone: (604) 232-1445
Email: smyers@sierrawireless.com

About Brightstar

Brightstar Corp. is the largest wireless distributor and supply chain solutions provider in the world. Headquartered in Miami, FL, Brightstar has 36 facilities in 31 countries, serving customers on six continents. The company provides solutions to over 220 network operators and 25,000 MVNOs, resellers, retailers and agents around the world and also represents many of the world's leading wireless manufacturers. In 2005, Brightstar exceeded $2.25 billion in revenue. For more information, visit www.brightstarcorp.com.

About Sierra Wireless

Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ:SWIR)(NASDAQ:-)(NASDAQ:TSX:)(NASDAQ: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.

Source: Sierra Wireless, Inc.

CONTACT: Sharlene Myers, Sierra Wireless, Phone: (604) 232-1445,
Email: smyers@sierrawireless.com

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