<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001379828-12-000025.txt : 20120614
<SEC-HEADER>0001379828-12-000025.hdr.sgml : 20120614
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120614173235
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001379828-12-000025
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120614
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120614
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120614

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEPARULO PETER V
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001201621

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-31659
		FILM NUMBER:		12908412

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NOVATEL WIRELESS, INC.
		STREET 2:		9255 TOWNE CENTRE DRIVE, SUITE 225
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NOVATEL WIRELESS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001022652
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT, NEC [3669]
		IRS NUMBER:				860824673
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9645 SCRANTON ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 205
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8583208800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9645 SCRANTON ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 205
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0305</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-06-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001022652</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NOVATEL WIRELESS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NVTL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201621</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEPARULO PETER V</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9645 SCRANTON ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 205</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92121</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-06-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000.0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.3868</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>318372.0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This transaction was executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $2.32 to $2.44. The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, the issuer or a security holder of the issuer full information regarding the number of shares and prices at which the transactions were effected.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Patrick T. Waters For: Peter V. Leparulo</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-06-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
