WELLINGBOROUGH, England---/Wi-Fi Technology News/---May 30, 2003--Following a period of substantial US sales growth, leading UK miniature antenna manufacturer, Sarantel, has announced the formation of a US subsidiary, Sarantel Inc. The company's president will be Brad Hurte, who was involved in Sarantel's innovative antenna technology during his time at Symmetricom where it was originally developed. Sarantel's antennas, which are based on high-dielectric ceramics, bring a number of advantages to mobile handsets and other portable wireless devices such as GPS (Global Positioning System) receivers, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth products.

Sarantel's antennas are ideal for applications where performance is critical in hand-held devices or in RF-hostile environments. The subject of over 100 US and international patent filings, the high-dielectric ceramic antenna technology produces a very small near-field that doesn't yield energy to the user's hand, body, or head and therefore does not suffer the proximity de-tuning effects common with conventional antennas. This is a significant advantage, particularly when applied to new-generation 3G mobile handsets which offer data rates of up to 2Mb/second.

The antennas also exhibit a very high beamwidth which can offer significant performance advantages. For example, using Sarantel's antenna means that hand-held GPS receivers can acquire more satellites and thereby offer a faster and more accurate position fix. This is particularly important when GPS functionality is incorporated into mobile handsets to conform with US emergency E-911 location reporting requirements.

"We are very pleased to have attracted Brad to Sarantel," commented CEO, Barrie Foley. "Brad was involved in the original development and marketing of Sarantel's innovative technology when he worked with our co-founder Oliver Leisten at Symmetricom. We have always been committed to the US market and Brad's appointment and the formation of Sarantel Inc. fully demonstrate that commitment. Brad's experience and knowledge of the product and market will accelerate Sarantel's success in the US marketplace."

Brad brings over 15 years of experience in diverse areas of telecommunications, including components, sub-systems, and systems with both established companies and start-ups. In his previous experience with Sarantel's antenna technology, Brad was responsible for the selection of markets and applications in which Sarantel is currently enjoying commercial success. "Brad's keen market sense plus his broad business and executive experience made him an ideal choice to head up our US operations," added Barrie Foley.

Headquartered in the Seattle area, a center for wireless communications companies and technologies, Sarantel Inc. will be responsible for all sales, marketing, customer service, and design support activities in the US and North America. "I am very pleased to be returning to an exciting opportunity that has now grown from a promising technology to a commercial success. Sarantel Inc. will provide a local base needed to support US customers," commented Brad Hurte. "We will put together a team in the US to complement the world-class engineering and support team in the UK. This is a global business with local focus."

Sarantel sales contacts:

US contact:

Brad Hurte, Sarantel Inc., 19243 NE 149th Street, Woodinville, Washington, 98072. Tel: +1 425-861-0463 Email: info-usa@sarantel.com

UK contact:

Jo Trimarco, Sarantel Ltd, Unit 2, Wendel Point, Ryle Drive, Park Farm South, Wellingborough, NN8 6AQ UK. Tel: +44 (0)1933 670561 Email: info@sarantel.com

Press contact:

Andrew Shephard, EML +44 (0) 20 8408 8000 Email: sarantel@eml.com

About Sarantel

Founded in September 2000, UK-based Sarantel (http://www.sarantel.com) specializes in miniature antennas for portable and mobile wireless devices, including GPS and Wi-Fi, as well as GSM, PCN and PCS mobile telephones. Built on 20 years of research effort, Sarantel Ltd is a privately funded company formed from the management buyout of the Symmetricom Inc. antenna division. The company recently had a first close on its $10m series B funding round. MTI Partners (http://www.mtifirms.com) led the round, joined by series A investor, VCF Partners (http://www.vcf.co.uk), and eTechnology VCT (http://www.etchvct.com).

Sarantel's antennas are based on high-dielectric miniature ceramic cylinders onto which a copper track is etched. Compared with the conventional antennas used in portable wireless products, Sarantel's devices have a much wider beamwidth, meaning better reception, and make the receivers less susceptible to the de-tuning effects of the user's hands and head. The company has pioneered a highly cost-effective automated volume manufacturing process at its Wellingborough, UK, facility. In addition to offering its antennas to OEM manufacturers, Sarantel licenses the design and manufacturing process to high volume manufacturers around the world.