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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 J9HIDA0m4d0J7kjXYJT8rNngGHgP63GLyVaqGtbyHxAbTjQceGWZKDyA/eMrgkKO
 d5kGwXVp/PBvnNpgKd5Dpw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-09-012988.txt : 20090908
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-09-012988.hdr.sgml : 20090907
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090908145734
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-09-012988
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090903
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090908
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090908

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LU HONG LIANG
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001209533

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29661
		FILM NUMBER:		091057907

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O UTSTARCOM INC.
		STREET 2:		1275 HARBOR BAY PARKWAY
		CITY:			ALAMEDA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94502

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>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-09-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001209533</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LU HONG LIANG</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1275 HARBOR BAY PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ALAMEDA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94502</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-09-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>41741</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.66</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3452273</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares sold to cover tax withholding obligation with respect to vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock units.  The 41,741 shares were sold through separate trades, with the sale prices ranging from $1.52 to $1.88, and at a weighted average sale price of $1.6595.  The reporting person undertakes to provide upon request by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the issuer or a security holder of the issuer, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate purchase price.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Viraj Patel, as Attorney-in-Fact on behalf of Hong Liang Lu</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-09-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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