Just like you never want to hear a doctor say "oops" in the operating room, you never want to see a going-concern statement in a financial report about a company you own. Accountants throw these in when they've been over the books, talked to customers, and checked the horoscopes and have concluded there is "substantial doubt" about a company's ability to remain in business. In short, don't blame the accountants if the company files for bankruptcy protection.

You¿d reckon that a going-concern statement would be enough to send investors running to the exits, but it's not. True, many large institutions automatically bail when an existing company gets slapped with one of these, but many individuals (often wrongly) take a chance they know more than the bean counters.

During the tech boom of the late 1990s, many companies actually went public even though they had been hit with going-concern statements. Many of those companies subsequently disappeared. Enough said.

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Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Microboard chooses Sierra Wireless embedded modules for 3G connectivity

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Comtex

VANCOUVER, and ITAJUBA, Brazil, Aug. 27, 2008 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) ----

 << Microboard Ellite notebook computer now offers embedded link to the Claro 3G mobile broadband network in Brazil,
   for convenient connections on the go >>

Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ: SWIR - TSX: SW) and Microboard today announced that Microboard has selected Sierra Wireless embedded modules to provide 3G wireless connectivity in the Microboard Ellite notebook computer. The Microboard Ellite 3G notebook is now available in Brazil with service on the Claro mobile broadband network, and can be found in the carrier stores. Claro offers to its customers a combination of the Microboard Ellite 3G notebook and broadband services for a one-year contract period on a monthly payment basis.

The integrated Sierra Wireless 3G embedded module in the Microboard Ellite 3G notebook offers an always available, reliable connection to email, the Internet, and corporate networks, simplifying connectivity for mobile professionals, who no longer need to spend valuable time searching for a WiFi hotspot. Sierra Wireless also provides Microboard customers with Sierra Wireless's own Watcher(TM) software for easy connection management. Supporting 3G mobile broadband data speeds of up to 1 Mbps on the Claro 3G network, the Microboard Ellite 3G notebook can transfer even large files quickly, providing the ability to work efficiently away from the office while maintaining the connectivity that has become essential in today's business environment.

"Integrating Sierra Wireless embedded modules into the Microboard Ellite 3G notebook allows us to offer our customers true mobility," said Enrico Prado, Corporate Business Director for Microboard. "Network connectivity has become increasingly important to our customers, and with the Microboard Ellite 3G notebook, they always have access to the information they need to be productive."

"The Microboard Ellite 3G notebook is a stylish, fully featured tool for mobility, and the addition of Sierra Wireless embedded 3G connectivity makes it as effective in a taxi on the way to the airport as it is sitting on a desk," said Dan Schieler, senior vice president of Worldwide Sales for Sierra Wireless. "We are pleased to collaborate with Microboard and Claro to deliver more convenient, reliable mobile broadband access for customers in Brazil."

Sierra Wireless EMPOWERED(TM)

Sierra Wireless 3G embedded modules are powerful, cost effective solutions that easily integrate into laptops, portable devices and fixed wireless terminals, offering complete wireless data solutions over HSPA and EV-DO Rev A networks. The MC8775 for HSDPA networks offers peak download data rates of 3.6 Mbps and offers connectivity to all three HSDPA/UMTS frequency bands (850, 1900, 2100 MHz) and all four EDGE/GPRS bands (850, 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz) used worldwide. Sierra Wireless EMPOWERED(TM) devices deliver the same reliable, high-quality mobile broadband connectivity customers have come to expect from Sierra Wireless, embedded and optimized within the host device to offer the best possible performance.

For more information about Sierra Wireless embedded modules, please visit http://www.sierrawireless.com/product/oemmodules.aspx. To contact the Sierra Wireless Sales Desk, call +1 (604) 232-1488 or e-mail sales@sierrawireless.com.

 << Note to editors: ----------------
   >>

To view and download images of Sierra Wireless products, please visit http://www.sierrawireless.com/product/photos.aspx.

About Microboard

Microboard(R) Laptops and Desktops present to customers a wide variety of options in style and configurations to attend all kinds of needs. Headquartered in Minas Gerais, Brazil, a region recognized as a study and scientific development center, and positioned as one of the five biggest laptops manufacturers in Brazil, Microboard sells to its customers' technological excellence using world's production and supply best practices. For more information about Microboard, visit www.microboard.com.br.

About Sierra Wireless

Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ: SWIR - TSX: SW) modems and software connect people and systems to mobile broadband networks around the world. The Company offers a diverse product portfolio addressing enterprise, consumer, original equipment manufacturer, specialized vertical industry, and machine-to-machine markets, and provides professional services to customers requiring expertise in wireless design, integration, and carrier certification. For more information about Sierra Wireless, visit www.sierrawireless.com.

"Sierra Wireless EMPOWERED" is a trademark of Sierra Wireless. Other product or service names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, plans and timing for the introduction or enhancement of our services and products, statements about future market conditions, supply conditions, channel and end customer demand conditions, revenues, gross margins, operating expenses, profits, and other expectations, intentions, and plans contained in this press release that are not historical fact. Our expectations regarding future revenues and earnings depend in part upon our ability to successfully develop, manufacture, and supply products that we do not produce today and that meet defined specifications. When used in this press release, the words "plan", "expect", "believe", and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current expectations. They are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in technology and changes in the wireless data communications market. In light of the many risks and uncertainties surrounding the wireless data communications market, you should understand that we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release will be realized.

%SEDAR: 00011917E

SOURCE: Sierra Wireless, Inc.

Sharlene Myers, Sierra Wireless, Phone: (604) 232-1445, Email: smyers@sierrawireless.com;
   Enrico Prado Leite, Microboard, Phone: +55 11 3528 2111, Email: enrico@microboard.com.br

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