NETGEAR Showcases NeoMedia, Industry's First Middleware-Free Technology for Multi-Screen Media Access

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- NETGEAR®, Inc. (NASDAQGM: NTGR) (www.netgear.com), a global networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers, unveiled NETGEAR NeoMedia™ at the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES®). NeoMedia™ is a new integrated technology platform for media gateways powered by Maelstrom™ software from Digital Keystone® (www.digitalkeystone.com), the leader in media distribution software. NeoMedia is the industry's first platform that delivers broadcast and personal content to multiple screens without the need for middleware on the Customer Premise Equipment (CPE).

Multi-screen initiatives being deployed by service providers today are limited by the availability of content and by the type of CPE devices that can access this content. Current multi-screen architectures are constrained by their dependence on complex middleware for content rights management, navigation and social networking. Deployment of new features requires the operator to go through an expensive and time-consuming upgrade of the CPE devices. Furthermore, ensuring a high quality of customer experience requires the operator to be aware of the subscriber home network, presenting additional challenges.

The NeoMedia platform developed by NETGEAR and Digital Keystone eliminates the need for middleware on CPE devices, enabling operators to deploy, scale and manage their multi-screen services without constraints. With an innovative distributed architecture that leverages proven cloud technologies, the NeoMedia platform enables operators to rapidly launch new services or seamlessly upgrade their existing offers. By locating key aspects of a media gateway such as access rights management, user interface and navigation on a cloud-based server, the NeoMedia platform enables CPE devices to become lightweight without sacrificing functionality. With the NeoMedia server acting as the proxy for the CPE devices in the subscriber home, operators can enable multi-screen services without having to individually manage each CPE device. This server-client architecture enables rapid innovation without requiring costly infrastructure changes, CPE upgrades or truck-rolls.

"The NETGEAR NeoMedia media gateway platform is an all-inclusive technology. Service providers have the ability to store, share and stream media as well as decide how it's accessed and who gets to access it—all without the need for middleware on the CPE," said Naveen Chhangani, director of product management for Service Provider products at NETGEAR. "Digital Keystone's Maelstrom software adds an additional level of integration and when layered on NETGEAR's media gateways, turns NeoMedia into a scalable, intuitive solution."

"NeoMedia technology marks a unique collaboration between Digital Keystone and NETGEAR. NeoMedia represents the state of the art in media access performance and flexibility, and the perfect platform through which to deliver the full set of Maelstrom media features to a wide range of markets. With Digital Keystone's secure media distribution technology combined with NETGEAR's proven leadership in home connectivity and broadband access, service providers get a simpler, more flexible, and cost-effective rollout of multi-screen services," said Paolo Siccardo, president and CEO of Digital Keystone.

Key capabilities of the NeoMedia platform include

• In-home access to live and recorded linear TV services;
• Cloud-based access to live and recorded linear TV services;
• Secure playback on retail and thin IP clients; 
• Aggregation of Live TV, VOD and Network DVR services; and
• Seamless integration into operator's existing infrastructure.

More Information

To learn more about NETGEAR solutions for service providers, please visit http://netgear.com/service-provider/.

NETGEAR launched a number of new WiFi, networking and media streaming products today during a press conference held in conjunction with the opening of the CES® in Las Vegas. Read the other CES-related announcements from NETGEAR at netgear.com/about/press-releases/.

About NETGEAR, Inc.

NETGEAR (NASDAQGM: NTGR) is a global networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers. For consumers, the company makes high performance, dependable and easy to use home networking, storage and digital media products to connect people with the Internet and their content and devices. For businesses, NETGEAR provides networking, storage and security solutions without the cost and complexity of big IT. The company also supplies top service providers with retail proven, whole home solutions for their customers. NETGEAR 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 approximately 25,000 retail locations around the globe, and through approximately 40,000 value-added resellers. The company's headquarters are in San Jose, Calif., with additional offices in over 25 countries. NETGEAR is an ENERGY STAR® partner. More information is available at www.NETGEAR.com or by calling (408) 907-8000. Connect with NETGEAR at twitter.com/NETGEAR and www.facebook.com/NETGEAR.

About Digital Keystone, Inc.

Digital Keystone is the world leader in secure content delivery to the Digital Home. Based in Mountain View, CA, Digital Keystone develops digital entertainment technologies that bridge the Pay TV, PC and consumer electronics industries. Solutions include the Maelstrom gateway, PODware® and PRISMA™ content security stacks, and the HPNX™ family of validation, certification, and manufacturing tools. More information is available at www.digitalkeystone.com.

©2013 NETGEAR, Inc.  NETGEAR, the NETGEAR logo and NeoMedia are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. Digital Keystone and Maelstrom are trademarks of Digital Keystone in the United States and other countries. Other brand names mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective holder(s). 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, 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 46 through 65, in the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2012, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 6, 2012. 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.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030730/NETGEARLOGO)

SOURCE NETGEAR, Inc.