DS2 and NETGEAR bring award-winning 200 Mbps powerline networking to Mac OS X users

  • NETGEAR's Powerline HD Plus Ethernet Adapter (HDX111) allows Mac OS X users to enjoy fast and secure powerline networking with the touch of a button
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Jan 15th 2008 - Macworld Conference & Expo - San Francisco, CA - NETGEAR and DS2 have partnered to create an innovative 200 Mbps Powerline HD Plus adapter that allows Mac OS X users to enjoy all the benefits of powerline networking. NETGEAR recently announced at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that the NETGEAR Powerline HD Plus Ethernet Adapter (HDX111) has won the prestigious Best of Innovations Award in the Innovations 2008 Design and Engineering Awards program. The Powerline HD Plus was selected as the top product in the home networking category based upon criteria that included outstanding engineering and design qualities, unique and novel features, user value, and contributions to consumers' quality of life.

"Traditionally, powerline networking products required users to install configuration software in their computers in order to perform basic operations like setting up a secure encrypted network, adding new devices to the network or checking network performance. Most products don't provide a Mac OS X version of this software, which precluded Mac users from enjoying all the benefits of powerline networking, including secure 256-bit AES encryption," said Chano Gomez, VP Technology & Strategic Partnerships at DS2.
 
"NETGEAR Powerline HD Plus removes the need for installing software in order to manage your powerline network. Powerline HD Plus users just need to push a button in each powerline adapter in order to add devices to the network in a secure way. It includes an innovative protocol that creates a unique random key, shared by all the powerline adapters owned by the user, ensuring that data is transmitted securely. Powerline networking is already one of the most secure systems for setting up a home network and DS2's 256-bit AES encryption makes it even better," said Jamison Ching, Product Line Manager for Digital Media Products at NETGEAR.

The NETGEAR Powerline HD Plus Ethernet Adapter also enables Mac OS X users to check network performance visually, by means of a multicolored LED. An intuitive green/yellow/red indicator provides users with instantaneous information about network performance without having to install any software or drivers in their computer.

Powerline HD Plus also solves a common inconvenience found by users of powerline networking products: crowded power sockets. It includes a pass-thru power socket that ensures that users always have enough sockets to power other devices such as computers, displays, printers, media adapters or routers.

Mac OS X users can use Powerline HD Plus to stream music, photos or high-quality video from iTunes to an Apple TV media player or NETGEAR Digital Entertainer HD (EVA8000). Powerline HD Plus, which is based on DS2’s AITANA chipset, operates at a data rate of up to 200 Mbps and is backwards compatible with NETGEAR’s Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter (HDX101) and other powerline products based on the Universal Powerline Association (UPA) standard.

The NETGEAR Powerline HD Plus Ethernet Adapter will be featured at Macworld Conference and Expo 2008, at DS2 booth #4354.

About DS2
DS2 is the leading technology innovator and a global provider of high-speed semiconductor solutions for Powerline Communications and other wire-line network communications products. Led by a very strong team of former executives from IBM, AT&T/Bell-Labs, INTEL, Philips Semiconductors, France Telecom, Ericsson and Cisco we deliver state-of-the-art ICs and software solutions to manufacturers of consumer electronics, home networking and digital entertainment equipment and broadband access products.  DS2 invented high-speed Powerline Communications delivering the first 200 Mbps Powerline Communications IC to enable quality multimedia home networking, networked entertainment and broadband access applications to and throughout the home, office, or building, and to and throughout urban and rural communities. Enabling the hidden multimedia network behind the power outlet is the purpose of DS2. Our mission is to connect the Planet. For more information, visit www.ds2.es

About NETGEAR, Inc.
NETGEAR (NASDAQGM: NTGR) designs technologically advanced, branded networking solutions that address the specific needs of small and medium business and home users. The Company's product offerings enable users to share Internet access, peripherals, files, digital multimedia content and applications among multiple personal computers and other Internet-enabled devices. As an ENERGY STAR® partner, NETGEAR offers products that prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the U.S. government. NETGEAR is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.netgear.com or call (408) 907-8000.

© 2008 NETGEAR, Inc. NETGEAR®, and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Information is subject to change without notice. All rights reserved. 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.

Contacts                        
Ann Whyte                
DS2 -Director of Corporate Communications        
Tel:  +34 627 00 96 49                     .                
ann.whyte@ds2.es

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 the expected performance characteristics, specifications, 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, 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 27 through 38, in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2007, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 9, 2007. 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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