NETGEAR Enhances Networking Customer Experience With Microsoft Windows XP

NETGEAR’s family of home and small business networking products to provide Windows XP users with improved ease of set-up and reliability

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — October 24, 2001 — NETGEAR Inc., a worldwide provider of innovative business and home networking products, today announced that it will join Microsoft Corp. in New York City to demonstrate its support of the Windows XP launch. In recognition of the computing experience that Windows XP offers users, all of NETGEAR’s adapter products on store shelves today, including the highly rated family of Wireless 802.11b and Gigabit Ethernet network cards, are designed to work with Windows XP. Customers will enjoy easy to set-up and use Internet connections with Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), Windows XP and NETGEAR’s cable/DSL gateway routers.

According to the Yankee Group, more than 23 million U.S. households have two PCs or more today. With NETGEAR products, networked families can enjoy simultaneous Internet access allowing Web browsing, digital music downloads and color photo printing from any computer in the home with no new wiring.

"As a leading manufacturer of reliable, easy-to-use networking products, NETGEAR is extremely excited to be a part of the Windows XP launch," said Patrick Lo, president and chief executive officer of NETGEAR. "NETGEAR is regarded as providing quality networking products for the best value on the market today, and we are committed to delivering the improved customer experience made possible by Windows XP."

Windows XP will automatically recognize when a new NETGEAR network adapter is attached and will automatically load the appropriate software when plugged in to the system. NETGEAR is adding support for UPnP technology to its family of gateway routers, Virtual Private Network firewalls, print server, network adapters and wireless networking products. The company will integrate the UPnP technology into its products to provide home and business customers with zero configuration for easier setup and operation. It is not necessary for the user to insert any disks or click any boxes - the process is easy and seamless – resulting in a friendlier networking experience for customers.

"For homes and businesses around the world, the launch of Windows XP will allow users to fully unleash the networking potential of their PCs," said Shawn Sanford, group product manager for Windows XP at Microsoft Corp. "We are excited that NETGEAR is committed to enhancing the users experience for Windows XP."

About NETGEAR Inc.
NETGEAR was recently named to Deloitte & Touche’s “2001 Technology Fast 50” Program for Silicon Valley due to its 4,527 percent growth over the last five years. NETGEAR provides easy-to-use, reliable networking solutions for homes and businesses worldwide. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, 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. The company markets and sells its products through a global network of resellers, including more than 4,500 retail stores, mail order catalogs and online retailers. Additionally, NETGEAR offers customers free support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information visit the company's Web site at www.netgear.com or call (408.907.8000).

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