NETGEAR Expands Dual-Band Wireless Networking Product Line with Shipment of 802.11a+b Access Point

NETGEAR Now Offers Both Dual-Band Wireless Access Points and PC Cards Giving Organizations Ability to Cost-Effectively Migrate Existing Wireless Networks to 802.11a Speeds While Protecting 802.11b Infrastructure Investments

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — December 17, 2002 — NETGEAR, Inc., a worldwide provider of easy-to-use, high performance networking products at prices affordable to homes and growing businesses, today announced the addition of the NETGEAR Dual-Band Wireless Access Point (WAB102) to its dual-band wireless networking product line. The Dual Band Wireless Access Point joins the company’s already-popular WAB501 Dual-Band Wireless PC Card giving organizations complete flexibility to implement new or upgrade existing wireless network infrastructures to provide standard-based support of both 802.11a and 802.11b devices and networks.

The Dual-Band Access Point, which is both backward and forward compatible with any IEEE wireless networking standard in the 2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz bands, enables organizations to easily add 802.11a clients while maintaining support for 802.11b clients. Easy-to-install and use, the access point auto-configures with NETGEAR client adapters and features dynamic rate shifting to ensure the fastest possible connection based upon existing environmental conditions.

"With NETGEAR offering both dual-mode PC cards and access points, we are able to provide flexible, cost-effective migration solutions for the growing network requirements of both SOHO and corporate environments," stated Patrick Lo, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of NETGEAR. "Connecting directly to an existing network, the new access point enables companies to wirelessly extend the wired network while providing an infrastructure that supports the higher speeds of 802.11a and maintaining compatibility with 802.11b devices that are becoming increasingly popular for use in Wi-Fi 'hot-spots' and home networks."

The standards-based NETGEAR Dual Band Wireless Access Point (WAB102) simultaneously supports both 802.11b and 802.11a wireless networking standards providing maximum data rates of 11Mbps and 54Mbps respectively, (108Mbps in 802.11a "Turbo" mode) and is forward compatible with future wireless standards including 802.11g. In addition to MAC Address Filtering, the access point features up to 152 bit-WEP encryption, offering the highest-level, industry standard security. For ease-of-management, the WAB102 utilizes a simple Web-based configuration tool.

Backed by a three-year warranty and 24/7 technical support, the NETGEAR WAB102 Dual Band Wireless Access Point is available now at an estimated street price of $299 via systems integrators, retailers, catalogues, and e-commerce sites.

About NETGEAR Inc.
NETGEAR provides branded, easy-to-use, reliable and technologically advanced networking solutions for homes and small businesses. Headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara, Calif., NETGEAR designs and develops products that enable home and small business users to share Internet access, peripherals, digital content and applications among multiple personal computers and other Internet-enabled devices. NETGEAR primarily markets and sells its products through distributors based in North America, Europe and the Asia/Pacific region to a network of resellers, including more than 4,500 retail stores, mail order catalogs and online retailers. For more information visit the company’s Web site at www.netgear.com or call (408.907.8000

For more information:
Doug Hagan
NETGEAR Inc.
(408) 907-8053
doug.hagan@netgear.com

Ken Hagihara
Integrity Public Relations
(949) 768-4423
ken@integritypr.net