SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 12, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- NETGEAR, Inc., a worldwide provider of technologically advanced networking products, today announced it will soon be releasing a free, downloadable firmware upgrade for its existing line of wireless networking products based upon the IEEE 802.11g-draft specification. The firmware will incorporate the final changes of the 802.11g specification ratified today by the IEEE task force.
Available this week as a free download from NETGEAR's Web site, firmware upgrades for the WGR614 54Mbps Cable/DSL Wireless Router and WG602 54Mbps Wireless Access Point will allow users to easily upgrade their products to comply with the final 802.11g specification.
Firmware upgrades for NETGEAR's new FWAG114 802.11a+g ProSafe Dual-Band Wireless VPN Firewall and other members of its 802.11g wireless networking product family, including the WG511 54Mbps Wireless PC Card and WAG511 802.11a+g Dual-Band Wireless PC Card, will be made available in early Q3 2003.
"As we expected, the changes between the final, ratified 802.11g specification and the firmware currently shipping with our 802.11g-draft product line are minimal, so a simple firmware upgrade will easily bring our current products up to full 802.11g compliance," explained Lianne Caetano, Product Line Manager at NETGEAR. "Prior to the release of its 802.11g-draft products, NETGEAR did its due diligence to address, in advance, concerns of interoperability, performance and compatibility that plagued early pre-standard products. The new upgrade will ensure interoperability with 802.11g-compliant equipment from other manufacturers."
NETGEAR's WG602 54Mbps Wireless Access Point and WG511 54Mbps Wireless PC Card were both awarded Editor's Choice designations from CNET, receiving praise for ease-of-setup and overall performance. A recent review of NETGEAR's WGR614 54Mbps Cable/DSL Wireless Router by CRN stated, "When it comes to connecting a small-business/SOHO customer to a broadband connection, solution providers will find the WGR614 near-ideal, considering its performance and ease of setup."
As 802.11g firmware upgrades become available, NETGEAR will make them available via its Web site at www.netgear.com.
About NETGEAR, Inc.
NETGEAR designs, develops and markets technologically advanced, branded 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 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.