NETGEAR Named a Technology Innovator of the Year by Everything Channel’s VARBusiness

NETGEAR’s ProSafe 24-Port Gigabit Smart Switch with Static Routing (GS724TR) Wins in Connectivity and Data Networking Category

SAN JOSE, Calif. –NETGEAR®, Inc. (NASDAQGM: NTGR), a worldwide provider of technologically advanced, branded networking solutions, today announced its selection as a 2008 Tech Innovator by Everything Channel’s VARBusiness Magazine. NETGEAR’s ProSafe® 24-Port Gigabit Smart Switch with Static Routing (GS724TR) was selected as the top product in the Connectivity and Data Networking category for its performance capabilities, innovative static routing technology and affordability. The sixth annual Tech Innovators Awards, presented at the XChange Tech Innovators conference in San Jose, Calif., celebrate the most innovative products, people and personalities in the industry, and highlight emerging products and technologies currently sold through the IT Channel. Also at the XChange Tech Innovators conference, NETGEAR’s ProSafe Smart Wireless Controller (WFS709TP) was presented as one of the top emerging technologies at Everything Channel’s Fresh showcase.

“We’re honored to be named a top Tech Innovator by VARBusiness, as it’s a solid vote of confidence from our esteemed partners who are working with end customers every day,” stated Matthew Dargis, NETGEAR’s senior director of U.S. SMB Sales. “We’re extremely proud to offer the ProSafe Gigabit Smart Switch with Static Routing as it offers an ideal solution for more and more growing businesses looking to optimize their networks – supporting advanced features typically found in Fully Managed switches but at an affordable price point. Such awards attest to our efforts of supplying VARs with cost-effective, reliable, and uncomplicated networking products for Small- to Medium-Sized Businesses (SMBs).”

The Tech Innovators project is the means by which channel partners assess the technical innovation and development efforts of vendors. CRN Test Center technical editors evaluated each entry on characteristics such as whether it delivered new functionality, used innovation to solve a problem in a new way, or overcame previous technical limitations using a new approach. The product that bridged the widest gap between problem and solution, using new technology or methods, was named the winner in each of sixteen categories.

“Innovation is truly the heart of the technology industry, and the winners of this year’s VARBusiness Tech Innovator Awards have taken innovation to the next level,” said Robert C. DeMarzo, senior vice president and editorial director of Everything Channel. “We congratulate each and every one of this year’s Tech Innovator Award winners.”

NETGEAR’s ProSafe 24-Port Gigabit Smart Switch with Static Routing (GS724TR)
The ProSafe 24-Port Gigabit Smart Switch with Static Routing (GS724TR) is the first smart switch in the industry to provide static routing capability. Designed to deliver robust security, enhanced traffic management and high availability to growing networks in Small- to Medium-sized Businesses, the switch is a feature-rich, affordable, reliable, and easy-to-manage alternative to Fully Managed switches for customers who don’t need Command Line Interface (CLI). By using static routing to offload inter-VLAN routing traffic from the core, businesses can deploy the GS724TR to optimize bandwidth efficiency by freeing up the router for WAN and security traffic. The ProSafe 24-Port Gigabit Smart Switch with Static Routing, which features 24 10/100/1000 Mbps ports and two shared SFP ports, supports 32 static routes to enable inter-VLAN routing, manage broadcast storms more effectively and deliver tighter security. The switch is also equipped with a complete suite of highly advanced features, such as Access Control Lists (ACL), 802.1x port authentication, enhanced Quality of Service (QoS), Auto Voice VLAN, Rapid Spanning Tree and IGMP Snooping, to provide SMBs with a network that is geared for growth while providing scalability and reliability. NETGEAR’s user-friendly, web-based ProSafe Control Center provides simple yet comprehensive management through a streamlined interface that eases navigation, delivers basic and advanced views for different user types, and provides index and help functions.

Photos and other product information on the ProSafe 24-Port Gigabit Smart Switch with Static Routing can be found at: (http://www.netgear.com/Products/Switches/AdvancedSmartSwitches/GS724TR.aspx).

NETGEAR’s ProSafe Smart Wireless Controller (WFS709TP)
Also a part of the XChange Tech Innovator conference, Everything Channel’s Fresh, A First Look at New Technology, is a program designed for vendors with new, emerging technologies that are trying to reach the Solution Provider Channel. NETGEAR’s ProSafe Smart Wireless Controller (WFS709TP) was selected as one of the top emerging technologies at the Fresh showcase. Controller-based wireless networks are common in large enterprise networks, but have not been readily available to SMB customers. Designed for the SMB, NETGEAR’s ProSafe Smart Wireless Controller enables these customers to benefit from centralized wireless network management.

Photos and other product information on the ProSafe Smart Wireless Controller can be found at: (http://www.netgear.com/Products/APsWirelessControllers/WirelessControllers/WFS709TP.aspx).

All NETGEAR ProSafe products, including the 24-Port Gigabit Smart Switch with Static Routing (GS724TR) and the Smart Wireless Controller (WFS709TP), are backed by a lifetime warranty and optional ProSupport Maintenance Packages.

About VARBusiness (www.varbusiness.com)
For the past 20 years, VARBusiness’ strategic resources have been the gateway to the commercial and public sector (or government) Solution Provider community. The VARBusiness integrated platform of media opportunities provides strategic insight for technology integrators through industry-defining research, in-depth editorial, channel events and innovative Web services, enabling these IT professionals to make educated decisions for their businesses, partnerships and customers. VARBusiness offerings lead vendors and distributors to unprecedented access to the most powerful strategic Solution Providers in the market. VARBusiness has been the recipient of numerous industry awards for both editorial content and design.

Everything Channel (www.everythingchannel.com, www.channelweb.com)
Everything Channel is the one-stop-shop for accessing, enabling and accelerating technology sales channels. From branding and recruiting to marketing and sales, Everything Channel offers technology marketers the unmatched breadth and depth of global brands and market intelligence combined with an unparallel audience loyalty and credibility serving all technology sales channels. Through innovative sales and marketing solutions, Everything Channel arms the sellers of technology with the resources they need to achieve measurable and significant results.

About NETGEAR, Inc.
NETGEAR (NASDAQGM: NTGR) designs innovative, branded technology solutions that address the specific networking, storage, and security needs of small- to medium-sized businesses and home users. The company offers an end-to-end networking product portfolio to enable users to share Internet access, peripherals, files, multimedia content, and applications among multiple computers and other Internet-enabled devices. Products are built on a variety of proven technologies such as wireless, Ethernet and powerline, with a focus on reliability and ease-of-use. NETGEAR products are sold in over 29,000 retail locations around the globe, and via more than 41,000 value-added resellers. The company’s headquarters are in San Jose, Calif., with additional offices in 19 countries. NETGEAR is an ENERGY STAR® partner. More information is available by visiting www.netgear.com or calling (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.

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 NETGEAR’s business and 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 II - Item 1A. Risk Factors”, pages 31 through 44, in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 28, 2008, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 7, 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.