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NETGEAR® RangeMax™ NEXT Wireless-N Routers Receive Wi-Fi Alliance® 802.11n draft 2.0 Certification


WEBWIRE

Innovative Networking Company’s Flagship Routers Pass Tests for Interoperability to Support Whole-Home Coverage and Next-Generation Applications

SANTA CLARA, Calif.— NETGEAR®, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTGR), a worldwide provider of technologically advanced, branded networking products, today announced that its RangeMax NEXT Wireless-N Router – Gigabit Edition (WNR854T) and RangeMax NEXT Wireless-N Router (WNR834B) have achieved Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ status for 802.11n draft 2.0 products from the Wi-Fi Alliance. NETGEAR’s RangeMax NEXT routers have been certified for adhering to industry standard tests for interoperability, the very latest in security protection, and backward compatibility with previous generations of Wi-Fi gear.

“We’re extremely proud to be designated as Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 by the Wi-Fi Alliance,” stated Vivek Pathela, vice president of product marketing at NETGEAR. “We designed our RangeMax NEXT Wireless-N products to enable our customers to enjoy increased range and performance for a multitude of next-generation applications such as high-definition video streaming, online gaming, IP telephony and fast file transfers of music, photos, etc. Having been through this intensive testing process for interoperability and compatibility with IEEE draft 2.0, our RangeMax NEXT Wireless-N Routers are proven industry leaders, products that maximize the digital home experience for our global customers. By being among the first to hit this impressive mark demonstrates our unwavering commitment to driving multi-vendor interoperability.”

Consumers can now purchase NETGEAR’s RangeMax NEXT routers sporting the new Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo. The new logo designates that NETGEAR’s RangeMax NEXT products connect and interoperate with other Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products. Moreover, all RangeMax NEXT 802.11n Draft 1.0 products are firmware upgradeable to the IEEE Draft 2.0 specification. NETGEAR highly encourages its customers who currently own RangeMax NEXT Wireless-N products to visit NETGEAR’s Web site for an easy software upgrade. Additionally, all other Wireless-N products from NETGEAR are currently being tested and will soon be on the market, easily recognizable by looking for the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo.

Administered by the Wi-Fi Alliance, a global industry association devoted to promoting the growth of wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED for 802.11n draft 2.0 program was launched on June 25, 2007 to establish interoperability based on the IEEE 802.11n draft 2.0 specification. The program helps ensure that Wi-Fi products from multiple manufacturers work with each other. According to the organization, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED indicates an improved user experience, higher customer satisfaction rates, and reduced rates of support calls and product returns. As a result, the Wi-Fi Alliance certification programs have been a catalyst for the rapid adoption of Wi-Fi products in homes, offices and public access locations around the world. The launch of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 indicates that the industry has recognized the need for 802.11n technology in order to satisfy consumer performance demands. The technical requirements for IEEE draft 2.0 compliance include protection for legacy devices with Clear Channel Assessment (CCA).

A May 2007 report published by Dell’Oro Group, a trusted source for market information about the networking and telecommunications industries, stated that shipments of Draft-N wireless routers and client devices exceeded $150 million since the products became available in 2006.

“Widespread adoption of 802.11n technology is primed to continue, especially after the Wi-Fi Alliance stamps their seal of approval on the products for consumers to see,” said Elmer Choy, senior analyst of wireless LAN research at Dell’Oro Group. “Companies such as NETGEAR that market Wi-Fi CERTIFIED devices should appeal greatly to a growing number of consumers hungry for a network centerpiece that can handle content-rich applications and multiple simultaneous users – without compromising security.”

About RangeMax Next Wireless-N Routers (WNR854T and WNR834B)
NETGEAR’s RangeMax NEXT Wireless-N Router – Gigabit Edition (WNR854T) and RangeMax NEXT Wireless-N Router (WNR834B) provide maximum coverage and bandwidth, by utilizing ’Steady-Stream’ technology. Preset internal wireless antennas and high-performance testing and tuning provide maximum performance and high-quality streaming every time. Touchless WiFi Security creates the highest level of network security and includes industry standard wireless encryption standards for you to choose from including: WEP, WPA-PSK, or WPA2-PSK.

As with all NETGEAR wireless products, the RangeMax NEXT Wireless-N Routers are easy to set up with NETGEAR’s Smart Wizard® install assistant and configurator. The WNR854T and WNR834B Wireless-N routers are backward compatible with existing wireless devices, including 54 Mbps 802.11g and 11 Mbps 802.11b.



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