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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 U6M6SqZOKsXXoCMCUDTW+gyXrX/xQR+0G7SK5P/BD5qClCF0968lh1sHeWrwLnl6
 tY56iXSbJjZaPuucjQLzPg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-009721.txt : 20040505
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-009721.hdr.sgml : 20040505
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040505214435
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-009721
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040430
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040505

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SOLOWAY GERALD S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001209538

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29661
		FILM NUMBER:		04783165

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6 BROOKVIEW CT
		CITY:			HOLMDEL
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07733

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UTSTARCOM INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001030471
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT, NEC [3669]
		IRS NUMBER:				521782500
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1275 HARBOR BAY PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		STE 100
		CITY:			ALAMEDA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94502
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5108648800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1275 HARBOR BAY PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		STE 100
		CITY:			ALAMEDA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94502
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001030471</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UTSTARCOM INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UTSI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001209538</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SOLOWAY GERALD S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>UTSTARCOM NEW JERSEY R&amp;D,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>33 WOOD AVENUE SOUTH</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ISELIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. VP of Engineering</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1378</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.518</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1969</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares acquired through the Issuer's 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By Su Ping Lu, as Attorney-in-Fact on behalf of Gerald S. Soloway</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
