<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001005477-03-001404
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030516
<FILING-DATE>20030519
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ROSSI MARK
<CIK>0001201624
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-31659
<FILM-NUMBER>03710847
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>717 FIFTH AVE.
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10022
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>NOVATEL WIRELESS INC
<CIK>0001022652
<ASSIGNED-SIC>7370
<IRS-NUMBER>860824673
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>9255 TOWNE CENTRE DR
<STREET2>SUITE 225
<CITY>SAN DIEGO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>92121
<PHONE>8583208800
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>9255 TOWNE CENTRE DR
<STREET2>SUITE 225
<CITY>SAN DIEGO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>92121
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar123.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-05-16</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001022652</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NOVATEL WIRELESS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NVTL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
    <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201624</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROSSI MARK</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001/share</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>0.70</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-14</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <deemedExecutionDate>
            <value>2003-05-14</value>
        </deemedExecutionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>1003</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>1000</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-05-14</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2010-05-14</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>1433333</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>1003</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>(2) (3)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Warrants (Right to Buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>0.70</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-14</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <deemedExecutionDate>
            <value>2003-05-14</value>
        </deemedExecutionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>402083</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-09-12</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2008-03-12</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>402083</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>563541</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>(4)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Information created to satisfy SEC form input requirements.  The Series B Stock has no expiration date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The holder of record of these securities is Cornerstone Equity Investors, IV, L.P., the managing general partner of which is Cornerstone Equity Investors LLC.  The Reporting Person is a managing director at Cornerstone Equity Investors LLC and holds voting and investment control over these securities.  Mr. Rossi disclaims beneficial ownership thereof except to the extent of his pecuniary interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">On May 14, 2003, Cornerstone acquired 545 shares of the Company's Series B convertible preferred stock ("Series B Stock") and secured subordinated convertible notes in original principal amount of $458,333. These notes are convertible into 458 shares of Series B Stock. In connection with this transaction, Cornerstone also received warrants to purchase an aggregate of 402,083 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.70 per share including warrants issued March 12, 2003. The warrants are not exercisable until September 12, 2003. The rights, preferences and privileges of these securities, including certain limitations on conversion and exercise, are set forth more fully in the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement filed on April 15, 2003 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The Reporting Person also directly holds options to purchase 19,999 shares of common stock and holds voting and investment control over 695,536 shares of common stock as previously reported.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Patrick T. Waters, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
