What Is Netgear?

History

Netgear came together as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bay Networks on January 8, 1996. At that time Netgear's focus was on providing homes and small businesses with optimal networking solutions. Bay Networks was acquired by Nortel Networks NA Inc. in August 1998, but Netgear continued to remain as a wholly-owned subsidiary until March 2000, when a third party purchased a portion of its stock.

Third parties bought up a few more portions of the Netgear ownership stock in September 2000, and in February of 2002 Nortel Networks sold the remaining stock. Today Netgear continues to focus on providing a variety of networking solutions for people all around the world.

Netgear's line of consumer-oriented products include routers and gateways, which distribute an Internet connection to connected computers, printers and other devices capable of being networked; switches, which can help you manage an Internet connection that must be distributed to a large number of multiple computers; and specialty products for cell phone services and digital phone service. Netgear also offers access points, adapters, powerlines, cables, and a large variety of other networking accessories.

Netgear has a whole line of products that are geared for businesses that need powerful connectivity and strong security. Their business products are similar in nature to the line of products they offer to consumers, except that they have been enhanced and built to handle the performance that businesses demand.

Providers of broadband service will also be able to stock up on all of the networking essentials they'll need. From modems to routers to switches and servers, Netgear provides a full line of feature-packed products that are advertised as being secure, affordable and enterprise-class.

You can find support for any Netgear product at Netgear.com. Click on "Support", then choose the sub-section that best suits your needs. Or, enter a model number or browse the entire list of products to find the exact one you need help with. You can browse frequently asked questions, look up manuals and software downloads, or contact Netgear's support staff via email or phone.

Netgear products can be purchased directly from Netgear.com. Amazon.com and Buy.com also carry Netgear products, and a selection of computer & computer accessories websites also keep them in stock. Walmart and other major retailers also sell products manufactured by Netgear.