Netgear
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| Netgear | |
 |
|
| Type | Public (NASDAQ: NTGR) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Santa Clara, California, United States |
| Key people | Patrick Lo, CEO & Chairman |
| Industry | Communications equipment |
| Products | Hubs, Routers, Switches |
| Revenue |  $449.6 million USD (2005) |
| Employees | 240 (2006) |
| Website | www.netgear.com |
Netgear, founded in 1996, is a manufacturer of computer networking equipment and other computer hardware. The company was incorporated January 8, 1996 as a subsidiary of Bay Networks, to "focus on providing networking solutions for small businesses and homes"[1]. In August 1998, the company was purchased by Nortel as part of its acquisition of Bay Networks. Netgear remained a wholly owned subsidiary of Nortel until March 2000 when it began transitioning to third-party ownership, and became fully independent from Nortel as of February 2002.[2][3]
Netgear sells its product primarily through a sales channel network, which includes traditional retailers, online retailers, direct market resellers, value added resellers, and broadband service providers in North America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific.
Netgear's main retail competitors are Linksys and D-Link.
Contents |
[edit] Notable products
[edit] Platinum II Enclosure
Netgear's Platinum II Enclosure (a plastic case design for small domestic network devices) was winner of a 2004 Good Design Award from the Chicago Athenaeum.[4]
[edit] Simple NTP (SNTP) controversy
Some earlier Netgear products (now obsolete) suffered from a notable implementation flaw in their automated time synchronization mechanism.
[edit] Manufacturing
Netgear outsources some of its manufacturing to other electronics companies, including Askey Computer, Asustek, Cameo Communications, Delta Networks, Foxconn, Senao and SerComm.
[edit] Criticisms
[edit] Rebates
There have been many consumer complaints of NetGear not honoring their rebates, particularly their wireless routers.
[edit] Quality
Numerous of internet enthusiast sites report buggy products in consumer wireless routers. For example, there was a class action lawsuit against NetGear's WGT624, claiming it contained faulty hardware or software.[5]
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Corporate Overview", Netgear.
- ^ Nortel Spin-off News Release
- ^ Netgear Repurchases Nortel Networks' Ownership Interest in Company
- ^ Good Design 2004
- ^ DSL Reports
