New Netgear WiFi Range Extender Amplifies Home Wireless Coverage And Supports Airplay

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, announced today at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES®) the availability of the NETGEAR Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender, Wall-plug Edition (WN3500RP) at retail and online stores worldwide. The WiFi Range Extender amplifies any existing WiFi network, giving you a greatly improved wireless experience throughout your home for WiFi connected devices including tablets, laptops, smart TVs, smartphones and more. The extender is the latest entry to the NETGEAR family of easy-to-use WiFi range extenders and is the first WiFi range extender that can also be directly connected to speakers for music streaming using AirPlay®, while at the same time amplifying an existing network connection.

With an ever-increasing number of consumer products relying on WiFi connectivity, it is important that a strong signal be available to ensure your ability to take full advantage of your connected devices, while moving freely around the house and even outside on a patio or a backyard. The NETGEAR Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender provides simultaneous extension of both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi bands, increasing range and improving wireless coverage while minimizing interference on the less-crowded 5GHz WiFi band. Furthermore, the WiFi extender supports 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi standards, ensuring compatibility with almost any wireless router and gateway, even those provided by your Internet Service Provider.

"Consumers are relying on WiFi to drive their rapidly growing number of connected devices, so WiFi dead spots are simply not an option," said Damir Skripic, product line manager for connected entertainment at NETGEAR. "Our new extender makes dead spots a thing of the past, and takes it a step further by supporting AirPlay for streaming music from iPhones® and iPads® to a stereo system or individual audio speakers."

For performance-oriented consumers who want the most out of their wireless network, the NETGEAR Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender supports a feature called FastLane™ technology. FastLane enables you to take advantage of both WiFi bands to establish a single connection, providing additional performance for bandwidth-intensive applications such as audio/video streaming and gaming. The WiFi Range Extender also features an Ethernet port, providing a high-speed Internet connection for distant, wired-only entertainment devices. The Extender is easy to set up, as it does not require an installation CD or Ethernet cable. You're able to establish a secure connection to any existing home WiFi network with the simple push of a button.

Since WiFi dead spots can be found anywhere around a connected home due to environmental factors such as building materials, it's important to place the extender in a location where it can most effectively support optimal coverage. The NETGEAR Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender has been designed with this in mind and includes real-time LED indicators helping determine optimal extender placement. The design offers flexible placement options so that you can place the extender as a wall plug or simply add the included docking station for desktop placement.

In addition, you can use the WiFi Range Extender to wirelessly stream audio to a stereo system or audio speaker using the 3.5 mm audio jack or USB 2.0 port on the extender. The WiFi Range Extender supports Airplay from devices such as the iPhone® and iPad®, or DLNA® for wireless audio streaming from Android™ smartphones. Additionally, the WiFi Extender offers the ability to print wirelessly from any device connected to the wireless network in the home by simply plugging any printer into the USB port on the WiFi Range Extender.

Pricing and Availability
The NETGEAR Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender, Wall-plug Edition (WN3500RP) is available now worldwide from major retailers in stores and online at a suggested retail price of USD $99.99.

More Information
To learn more about the NETGEAR Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender, please visit: www.netgear.com/home/products/wireless-range-extenders/WN3500RP.aspx. For information on other NETGEAR products for homes and small offices, see www.netgear.com/home/products/.

NETGEAR launched a number of new WiFi, networking and media streaming products today during a press conference held in conjunction with the opening of 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.

©2013 NETGEAR, Inc.  NETGEAR, the NETGEAR logo and FastLane are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. AirPlay, iPad and iPhone are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. Android is a registered trademark of Google Inc. DLNA is a registered trademark of Digital Living Network Alliance. 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.

* Actual data throughput and wireless coverage will vary. Network conditions and environmental factors, including volume of network traffic, building materials and construction, and network overhead, lower actual data throughput rate and wireless coverage. NETGEAR makes no express or implied representations or warranties about this product's compatibility with any future standards.

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.

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SOURCE NETGEAR, Inc.