<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001170918-03-000648
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031208
<FILING-DATE>20031210
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>GETZ ROBERT
<CIK>0001201623
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-31659
<FILM-NUMBER>031048100
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>717 FIFTH AVE.
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10022
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>031048101
</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>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CORNERSTONE EQUITY INVESTORS IV LP
<CIK>0001027117
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-31659
<FILM-NUMBER>031048102
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>717 FIFTH AVENUE
<STREET2>SUITE 1100
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10022
<PHONE>2127350901
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>171 FIFTH AVENUE
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10022
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>nwi03-033_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-12-08</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001022652</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NOVATEL WIRELESS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NVTL</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001027117</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CORNERSTONE EQUITY INVESTORS IV LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>717 FIFTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201624</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROSSI MARK</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>717 FIFTH AVE.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201623</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GETZ ROBERT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>717 FIFTH AVE.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Series B Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>0.7</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-08</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
         <value>2003-12-08</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>450</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>1000</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2003-12-08</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>642857</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>1129</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Secured Subordinated Convertible Notes</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>0</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-08</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
         <value>2003-12-08</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionTotalValue>
           <value>450923</value>
         </transactionTotalValue>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2003-05-14</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Series B Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>450</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>0</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
 </derivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> Represents conversion into Series B Convertible Preferred Stock of $450,923 principal amount of Secured Subordinated Convertible Notes.  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 (&quot;CEI&quot;).  Two of our directors, Mark Rossi and Robert Getz, are managing directors of CEI and may be deemed beneficially to own these securities.  Each disclaims beneficial ownership except to the extent of his respective pecuniary interest.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F2"> Information created solely to satisfy SEC form input requirements.  The securities have no expiration date.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F3"> Represents number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 450 shares of Series B Preferred Stock if conversion had occurred on 12/08/03.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>/s/ Patrick T. Waters, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-12-10</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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