Novatel claims MiFi patent violations in lawsuit

Wireless modem provider Novatel Wireless Inc. (NVTL) filed a lawsuit against Franklin Wireless Corp., ZTE Corp. and ZTE (USA) Inc. claiming the firms have infringed on five Novatel patents related to its MiFi mobile hot spot device. Novatel claims those patents are related to “key architecture and functionality of the MiFi” products.
The MiFi device has become synonymous with the mobile hot spot market with a number of operators offering the device. The product allows users to connect multiple Wi-Fi-enable devices to the MiFi that then backhauls those connections through a single cellular data connection. Novatel’s MiFi product line accounted for 42% of the company’s $75.6 million in revenues during the third quarter.
Franklin Wireless makes wireless modem devices, while ZTE and its subsidiaries are prominent in network equipment and devices.