NETGEAR Launches USB 2.0 Ethernet Adapter Making High-Speed Networking Even Easier – And Faster

Easy-to-Use FA120 USB Ethernet Adapter Provides Full Potential of 100Mbps Networking Through Data Transfer Speeds of Up to 10 Times Faster Than USB 1.1

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — October 22, 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 launch of the NETGEAR FA120 USB (Universal Serial Bus) 2.0 Ethernet Adapter. USB 2.0 technology can transfer data at a rate of up to 480 Mbps, 40 times faster than the 12 Mbps maximum throughput rate of USB 1.1 technology.

The FA120, which further strengthens NETGEAR’s award-winning portfolio of wireless, Gigabit, Ethernet and USB adapters, enables users to access the Ethernet network at the full 100 Mbps maximum of 10/100 Ethernet connectivity by removing the bottleneck created by the older USB 1.1 technology. The FA120 enables network connectivity at up to 10 times faster than USB 1.1 through the hot-swappable USB port of a USB 2.0-capable PC to provide home and SOHO users with an easy-to-install, portable, high-performance Ethernet networking solution.

"As the availability of bandwidth becomes increasingly important in both home and business applications, USB 2.0 technology will experience tremendous growth through 2006," stated Brian O’Rourke, senior analyst with In-Stat/MDR. "The introduction of NETGEAR’s new USB Ethernet Adapter will serve to further drive the adoption of USB 2.0 by providing an adapter that brings high-speed networking to a new level of simplicity."

"With the launch of the FA120, NETGEAR is demonstrating its dedication to the networking needs of today’s home and growing business sectors," stated Patrick Lo, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of NETGEAR. "By incorporating the ultra-fast data transfer speeds of USB 2.0 into a hot-swappable, low-cost networking adapter, NETGEAR is once again making networking even easier by leading the industry in the introduction of an innovative, flexible, high-performance, easy-to-use networking solution."

The NETGEAR FA120 USB 2.0 Ethernet Adapter is compatible with IEEE 802.3i 10BASE-T Ethernet and IEEE 802.3u 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet standards and supports Microsoft Windows® 98, ME, 2000 and XP.

Backed by a three-year warranty and 24/7 technical support, the NETGEAR FA120 USB 2.0 Ethernet Adapter will be available in October 2002, via retailers, direct marketers, and e-commerce sites, at a list price of around $40.

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. NETGEAR was recently named to Deloitte & Touche’s "Technology Fast 500" and to its "2001 Technology Fast 50" for Silicon Valley. 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