NETGEAR Re-Invents Wireless Networking for Growing Businesses

LONDON, Jan. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NETGEAR®, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTGR), a worldwide provider of technologically innovative, branded networking solutions, today introduced a unique family of ProSafe® Wireless Management solutions to meet the demands of small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), schools, and enterprises with up to 1,500 users. As the first solution set in the market designed specifically for growing businesses, this NETGEAR family of products will, for the first time, enable growing businesses to easily and affordably manage their wireless network from one place, with a clear upgrade path as their company grows and their needs change.

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The suite of ProSafe Wireless Management Products includes:

• ProSafe 5-AP Wireless Management Software WMS105;
• ProSafe 16-AP Wireless Management System WMS5316;
• ProSafe 20-AP Wireless Controller WC7520.

The NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Management Suite will be on display for the first time this week at BETT, the world's largest educational technology trade show, opening today at the Olympia exhibition center in London.

"Most wireless networking vendors offer either expensive solutions designed for the FORTUNE 500 or single AP solutions – neither of which is suitable for a growing business," said Laurent Masia, NETGEAR product line manager for managed infrastructure products. "The management of wireless networks has been identified as a top priority for growing businesses, and NETGEAR has responded to this request with leading price/performance solutions. We are now the only company delivering a family of wireless management products that exceed the requirements of the majority of businesses worldwide."

The ProSafe Wireless Management Suite of products enables growing businesses and mid-size enterprises to easily and affordably deploy a scalable, secure, feature-rich wireless network. They deliver enterprise-class connectivity and secure wireless LAN functionality, as well as the ability to configure, control and manage seven different access points (APs) ranging from SOHO-class IEEE 802.11g APs to professional-caliber dual-band IEEE 802.11n APs. The ease-of-use simplifies wireless deployments and network expansion with best-in-class wireless reliability, coverage, bandwidth and performance. These new management products also provide centralized management and robust security, but are installable in minutes.

"As the IT administrator of a growing business where wireless networking is critical, I need a lot more than standalone AP vendors can provide in terms of management. On the other hand, previous solutions designed for a much larger environment have not been cost-effective to implement," said Chris Hemmings of Penguin Internet. "NETGEAR has bridged the gap between the 'all or nothing' choice I previously had to make, with a very easy to manage solution. At this affordable price point, a centrally managed solution will very quickly pay for itself due to the immediate labor savings in routine maintenance and management of access points."

ProSafe 5-AP Wireless Management Software WMS105

Installable in minutes with automatic wireless access point discovery, the WMS105 Software is specifically designed for small businesses with five to 50 users. Features include:

• Centralized configuration for up to five APs, including Wireless-N;
• Easy to set up and use, APs are automatically discovered anywhere on the network;
• Mass firmware upgrade for APs;
• Extensive support for existing NETGEAR access points, including WNDAP350, WNDAP330, WNAP210, WG302v2, WG103, WN802Tv2, and WG602v4.

The ProSafe 5-AP Wireless Management Software WMS105 will be available worldwide in May at an MSRP in the U.S. of $50. Other product details are at http://www.netgear.com/Products/APsWirelessControllers/WirelessManagement/WMS105.aspx.

ProSafe 16-AP Wireless Management System WMS5316

At approximately one-third the price of a typical wireless controller meant for larger businesses, the ProSafe Wireless Management System offers reliable, secure and simple central wireless management for businesses and schools with 50 to 200 users. Features include:

• Central wireless management system for up to 16 APs, including Wireless-N;
• Easy to set up and use, APs are automatically discovered anywhere on the network to facilitate configuration of the central wireless network;
• Load-balancing of clients across the wireless network, so that no one AP is overwhelmed;
• Rogue AP detection;
• Guest access enables restricted access to the network, ensuring protection of sensitive data;
• Intuitive web-browser interface offers central wireless network management, making it a snap to monitor wireless performance with network mapping and AP firmware upgrades;
• Extensive support for existing NETGEAR access points, including WNDAP350, WNDAP330, WNAP210, WG302v2, WG103, WN802Tv2, and WG602v4.

The ProSafe 16-AP Wireless Management System WMS5316 will be available worldwide in March at an MSRP in the U.S. of $910 — one-third the price of competing products. Photos and other product details are at http://www.netgear.com/Products/APsWirelessControllers/WirelessManagement/WMS5316.aspx.

ProSafe 20-AP Wireless Controller WC7520

NETGEAR designed the enterprise-class, ProSafe Wireless Controller specifically for mid-size enterprises, and it scales up to 1,500 users. The WC7520 Controller enables businesses to grow their wireless network as needed with a high return on investment. Features include:

• Central wireless management based on full-featured enterprise-class wireless controller;
• Expandable to support up to 50 APs on a single unit;
• Stackable up to three controllers and 150 APs; features controller redundancy;
• Enterprise-class wireless security with rogue AP detection, heat maps and triangulation;
• Guest access enables restricted access to the network, with a captive portal;
• Voice over Wi-Fi® support with fast roaming and SpectraLink Voice Priority (SVP) QoS compliance;
• Support for existing NETGEAR access points, including WNDAP350 and WNAP210.

The ProSafe 20-AP Wireless Controller WC7520 will be available worldwide in July at an MSRP in the U.S. of $6,280, up to 30 percent less than typical competing wireless controllers. The Wireless-N License upgrade WC75NL and 10-AP Incremental License upgrade WC7510L for the ProSafe Wireless Controller will be sold for $4,200 each. Other product details are at http://www.netgear.com/Products/APsWirelessControllers/WirelessManagement/WC7520.aspx

"Wireless solutions have rapidly become the most convenient and cost-effective network connectivity method for employees and guests alike," said Matthias Machowinski, directing analyst of enterprise voice and data at Infonetics Research, an international market research and consulting firm specializing in data networking and telecom. "But for many SMBs, centrally managing this infrastructure is simply cost-prohibitive. NETGEAR's new wireless management offering changes that, by providing the right price/performance ratio even for small-scale access point deployments."

NETGEAR ProSafe Wireless Controllers are backed by a NETGEAR Lifetime Warranty and optional ProSupport Maintenance Packages, which include 24/7 technical support. The new NETGEAR products will be sold by value-added resellers, e-commerce sites and leading direct marketers. More information on NETGEAR's full product line of wireless access points and controllers can be found at http://www.netgear.com/Products/APsWirelessControllers.aspx?for=Business+Networking.

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 (SMBs) 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 27,000 retail locations around the globe, and via more than 37,000 value-added resellers. The company's headquarters are in San Jose, Calif., with additional offices in 25 countries. NETGEAR is an ENERGY STAR^® partner. More information is available at http://www.netgear.com or by calling (408) 907-8000.  Connect with NETGEAR at http://twitter.com/NETGEARand http://www.facebook.com/netgear.

©2010 NETGEAR, Inc.  NETGEAR, the NETGEAR logo and ProSafe are trademarks or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.  Wi-Fi is a trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.  Information is subject to change without notice. All rights reserved.

Note: 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 rate.

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, reliability, 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; failure of products may under certain circumstances cause permanent loss of end user data; 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 36 through 50, in the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal third quarter ended September 27, 2009, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 6, 2009. 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.

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SOURCE NETGEAR, Inc.