Wi-LAN Launches New Family of Products Under the VIP Brand; Four New Models Eliminate Truck-Roll Costs with Self-Installable Network Upgrades

CALGARY, Canada --(Business Wire)-- Aug. 19, 2004 -- Wi-LAN Inc. (TSX:WIN), a global provider of broadband wireless communications products and technologies, today announced the launch of four new models of its VIP product family. Wi-LAN has achieved its goal of lowering the entry point for enterprises and wireless internet service providers (WISPs) with these new products, which have data capacities of either 2, 5 or 11 megabits per second (Mbps) and are priced very economically. These products allow Wi-LAN's customers to purchase the affordable products that they need to start their network rollout and later purchase software upgrades to meet their increasing throughput requirements. The software upgrades are activated online without doing diagnostic visits to a customer premise or repeater station.

"The price versus performance tradeoff of Wi-LAN's new VIP products is very impressive," said Mr. Ajay Kapoor, General Manager, OHI Telecom. "We expect these new products to be instrumental in securing new large scale wireless wide-area network opportunities for us in the oil and gas sector in Oman."

"We have designed in the capability to allow the customer to increase performance and capacity without a truck roll, by allowing over-the-air upgrades" said Glenn Pollock, Wi-LAN's VIP product manager. "The new VIP product models are software-keyed. A simple key activation enables additional functionality and capacity. This allows a customer to easily and economically match the VIP product performance to their growing requirements. This is an important feature because it avoids all the expenses normally associated with an onsite upgrade."

"These additions to our very successful VIP product family broaden the market and open new sales opportunities for Wi-LAN" stated Dr. Sayed-Amr El Hamamsy, President and CEO of Wi-LAN Inc. "Our customers wanted more options in terms of how they deployed their networks and the price versus performance tradeoff, so we engineered these solutions to satisfy their requirements."

The VIP family of products incorporates Wi-LAN's patented VINE technology, which overcomes non-line-of-sight obstacles while minimizing network deployment costs. A VIP network can be deployed one node at a time with very little up-front cost. Coverage increases as additional subscriber stations come online. These features make a VINE-based VIP network the ideal solution in medium to low-density subscriber areas.

Wi-LAN's Ultima3, VIP and LIBRA product series now include an all-inclusive 2-year parts and labour warranty. As well, customers who deploy Wi-LAN's LIBRA product line are protected by Wi-LAN's CONTINUITY PROGRAM(TM). The core of the CONTINUITY PROGRAM is Wi-LAN's commitment that any current LIBRA Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) will operate side by side, in the same network, the same cell and even the same sector with future WiMAX Certified(1) CPE's. The CONTINUITY PROGRAM will minimize network and revenue disruption and protect customers' investment in current technology when networks are transitioned to WiMAX Certified equipment. The CONTINUITY PROGRAM offers Wi-LAN customers a solid migration path to Wi-LAN's Wi-MAX Certified systems, which are expected to be available in the first half of 2005.

About Wi-LAN Inc.

Wi-LAN is a global provider of broadband wireless communications products and technologies, offering businesses, including telecom service providers, and government enterprises effective, economic and secure wireless high-speed communications solutions. Wi-LAN specializes in high-speed Internet access, data network extension, and wireless data and telephony backhaul, utilizing its high quality products and industry-leading technologies. Wi-LAN believes its portfolio of patents, including its core W-OFDM patents and 17 patents and patent applications acquired from Ensemble Communications in May 2004, are necessary for the implementation of devices using the IEEE 802.16 WirelessMAN Standard(1) and the ETSI BRAN HiperMAN(1) standard (the WiMAX Forum(1) standards). As well, Wi-LAN's W-OFDM patents are believed to be required for the implementation of devices using the IEEE standards 802.11a and 802.11g (the 2nd generation WiFi Alliance(1) standards), and the ETSI BRAN HiperLAN/2(1) standard. Wi-LAN licenses its patented technology and has executed non-exclusive W-OFDM license agreements with semiconductor and broadband wireless equipment companies. Wi-LAN is the Chair Company of the OFDM Forum (www.ofdm-forum.com) and an active member of the WiMAX Forum (www.wimaxforum.org). Wi-LAN's common shares trade on The Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "WIN." Detailed information on Wi-LAN can be found at www.wi-lan.com.

Forward Looking Information

Certain statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, may include forward-looking information that involves various risks and uncertainties. These may include, without limitation, statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties related to all aspects of the wireless communications industry. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not restricted to, continued increased demand for the Company's products, the Company's ability to maintain its technological leadership in the field of high-speed wireless communications, the Company's ability to attract and retain key employees, the enforceability of the Company's patents, and the availability of key components.

These uncertainties may cause actual results to differ from information contained herein. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change.

(1) All trademarks and brands mentioned in this release are the property of their respective owners. -0- *T To place an order please contact: Wi-LAN Inc. Global Sales Ph: (403) 273-9133 Fax: (403) 273-5100 Email: info@wi-lan.com *T

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