Navini and Beceem Work Together to Accelerate Availability of Mobile WiMAX(TM) Modems


Collaboration marks significant progress on Wave 2 Customer Devices.

CHICAGO, Sept. 27 / - WiMAX World USA - Navini Networks and Beceem Communications announced today at WiMAX World in Chicago, a partnership under which Beceem's Mobile WiMAX chipsets will be part of Navini's newly announced Surfer(TM) product line for Mobile WiMAX. The Surfer modems will provide industry leading Beamforming and MIMO capabilities.

The agreement includes two parts:
o An agreement to work together to accelerate the incorporation of
Beceem's Mobile WiMAX chips, which are used by several vendors of
Mobile WiMAX subscriber devices
o An agreement by Navini to OEM a USB Mobile WiMAX modem developed by
Beceem, to be marketed as part of the Surfer 3000 product line of
Wave 2 subscriber devices.

"Beceem has seen the value of Beamforming and MIMO-based Smart Antenna technologies for some time," says Lars Johansson, VP Marketing for Beceem, "Working with Navini, an established leader in Mobile WiMAX technology and chair of the beamforming task group in the WiMAX Forum, will allow us to extend our market leadership and work with a partner that is committed to bring Wave 2 802.16e products to market as soon as possible."

"Beceem has always been a visionary leader in the field of Mobile WiMAX chipsets," explains Sai Subramanian, VP Product Strategy at Navini Networks, "Together both companies are extending their market leadership by bringing the full capacity and coverage benefits of beamforming and MIMO to Mobile WiMAX networks."

Although Beamforming and MIMO are features scheduled for Mobile WiMAX certification after the basic features, Navini's customers are able to make use of this advanced feature right now. The Ripwave® MX8 base station has already demonstrated interoperability with third party modems without the benefit of beamforming support, and Navini is working with key partners like Beceem and ASUS, to bring beamforming and MIMO into third party modems as soon as possible.

The new Surfer 3000 device will plug into any standard USB 1.0 or 2.0 slot on a PC or other device, similar to a 'jumpdrive'. It will draw its power from the USB port, and will act as a Mobile WiMAX modem, working on any WiMAX Forum Certified network using the same Mobile WiMAX profile. Device drivers will be available for MS Windows XP, MS Windows Vista, and Linux.

Navini and Beceem plan to submit the portfolio of Surfer 2000 and 3000 subscriber modem devices for formal interoperability certification testing by the WiMAX Forum once the certification labs are open and available for 802.16e-based systems.

About Beceem Communications:
Beceem Communications Inc. is the leading provider of semiconductor solutions for the mobile broadband market, and the first with commercially available terminal chipsets for Wave 1 and Wave 2 profiles of the WiMAX Forum, that are based on the IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard. http://www.beceem.com/

About Navini Networks:
Navini is the only company that offers commercial Mobile WiMAX(TM) products and has commercialized patented smart beamforming technology, enabling personal broadband for the mass market. Only Navini has the WiMAX solution that enhances Mobile WiMAX with Smart Beamforming and beamformed MIMO, providing operators with the power to deliver on the promise of personal broadband, both indoors and outdoors.

Navini's Ripwave® MX solution offers a portable, zero-install, non-line-of-sight (NLOS) product line consisting of customer modems, base stations and element management systems (EMS) that run in the full range of spectrums.

Navini Networks is a principal member of the WiMAX Forum and the IEEE 802.16e committee and is headquartered in Richardson, Texas.

Source: Navini Networks; Beceem Communications Inc.

CONTACT: Maryvonne Tubb, Director, Marketing of Navini Networks,
+1-972-852-4247, mtubb@navini.com

Web site: http://www.navini.com/

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