NETGEAR® First to Deliver Dual-Band 802.11n Wireless Access Point for Small and Medium Businesses

The Full-Featured Business-Class Wireless Access Point Delivers Draft 2.0 Wireless-N at Either 5 GHz to Avoid Interference from Legacy 802.11b/g-based Devices or 2.4 GHz to Provide Backward Compatibility with Them

LAS VEGAS April 28, 2008 – NETGEAR, Inc. (NASDAQGM: NTGR), a worldwide provider of technologically advanced, branded networking solutions, today announced the launch of the ProSafe 802.11n Dual Band Wireless Access Point (WNDAP330), a feature-rich dual-band wireless solution that enables small and medium businesses to enjoy the enhanced speed and coverage benefits of 5GHz 802.11n wireless technology and provides the ability to support existing legacy 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11a devices.

The NETGEAR ProSafe 802.11n Dual Band Wireless Access Point (WNDAP330), which delivers up to 10 times the coverage and 15 times the speed of 802.11g-based networks, supports devices based upon the 5GHz 802.11a and 802.11n (draft 2.0 specification), or 2.4GHz 802.11b/g and 802.11n (draft 2.0 specification) technologies.  The SNMP-manageable WNDAP330 incorporates 802.3af Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) support to eliminate power cables and simplify installation, and is ideal for deployment over large areas with support for point-to-point and point-to-multipoint bridging with Wireless Distribution System (WDS).  The WNDAP330 secures the wireless network with a comprehensive feature set including WPA, WPA2, rogue AP detection, and 802.1x with RADIUS support.

“The promised benefits of wireless N networks are not being realized in many companies due to the existence of 11b and 11g clients in the network.  The backward compatibility of the N standard has the consequence of lowering network performance while there are older laptops with integrated G adapters, wireless hand-held scanners, WiFi phones, wireless print servers, or any of the many wireless B or G clients around.  To achieve full wireless N performance, companies are moving APs and clients to the uncongested 5 GHz band where there are fewer legacy devices,” explained Peter Newton, NETGEAR Director of Product Marketing for SMB Security and Wireless Products.  “The ProSafe 802.11n Dual Band Wireless Access Point, which supports both 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz frequency bands, is the first in its class to offer 5 GHz 802.11n support and provides businesses with an easy-to-manage solution for seamlessly transitioning the network infrastructure from 802.11g to 802.11n.”

The NETGEAR ProSafe 802.11n Dual Band Wireless Access Point (WNDAP330) incorporates a 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet port with Auto Uplink™, a console port for local configuration and monitoring, and three detachable antennas (two 5dBi and one 3dBi).   For ease-of-installation and placement, the WNDAP330 is plenum-rated for safe and convenient placement above drop-down ceilings and features 802.3af PoE to eliminate the need for a dedicated power outlet.

The WNDAP330 is easily managed and configured using the ProSafe Control Center Web browser-based interface or via SNMP MIB I, MIB II and 802.11 MIB using network management software, such as NETGEAR’s ProSafe Network Management System (NMS100).  In addition to supporting all popular 802.1x port-based authentication protocols including Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) Transport Layer Security (TLS), Protected EAP (PEAP), and Tunneled TLS (TTLS), the WNDAP330 provides an extensive security feature set including WPA, WPA2, WEP, wireless access control, MAC address authentication, VPN pass-through support, secure SSH telnet, and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) remote management login.

The NETGEAR ProSafe 802.11n Dual Band Wireless Access Point (WNDAP330) is backed by a lifetime warranty and is immediately available via leading direct marketers, e-commerce sites and value added resellers at a list price of $475.

About NETGEAR, Inc.
NETGEAR (NASDAQGM: NTGR) designs technologically advanced, branded networking solutions that address the specific needs of small and medium business and home users. The company’s product offerings enable users to share Internet access, peripherals, files, digital multimedia content and applications among multiple personal computers and other Internet-enabled devices. As an ENERGY STAR® partner, NETGEAR offers products that prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the U.S. government. NETGEAR is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.netgear.com or call (408) 907-8000.

© 2008 NETGEAR, Inc. NETGEAR®, the NETGEAR Logo, and ProSafe are trademarks or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Information is subject to change without notice. All rights reserved. Actual data throughput will vary from maximum signal rates stipulated. Network conditions and environmental factors, including volume of network traffic, building materials and construction, and network overhead, lower actual data throughput. 

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for NETGEAR, Inc.:
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Specifically, statements concerning the expected performance characteristics, specifications, market acceptance, market growth, specific uses, user feedback and market position of NETGEAR’s products and technology are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the following: the actual price, performance and ease of use of NETGEAR’s products may not meet the price, performance and ease of use requirements of customers; product performance may be adversely affected by real world operating conditions; new viruses or Internet threats may develop that challenge the effectiveness of security features in NETGEAR’s products; the ability of NETGEAR to market and sell its products and technology; the impact and pricing of competing products and the introduction of alternative technological solutions. Further information on potential risk factors that could affect NETGEAR and its business are detailed in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties listed in the section entitled "Part I - Item 1A. Risk Factors," pages 12 through 24, in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2008. NETGEAR undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

For more information:

Technology & Channel Media
Ken Hagihara
Integrity Public Relations
(949) 768-4423 x101
ken@integritypr.net

Other Media
Lisa Hawes
Sterling Communications
(408) 884-5155
lhawes@sterlingpr.com

 

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