NETGEAR, a worldwide provider of technologically advanced, branded networking products, has announced worldwide shipments of the NETGEAR WiFi Phone for Skype™ (model SPH101). The phone, which has already racked up an impressive number of sales orders from eager Skype devotees around the world, will be available in the Middle East in October 2006.
“We’re delighted to announce volume shipments of NETGEAR’s WiFi Phone for Skype in the Middle East market, which is seeing a steady increase in the number of Skype users. This is the first publicly announced device certified to make Skype WiFi Internet calling a reality for millions of registered Skype users globally,” said Ahmad Zeidan, Channel Sales Manager, NETGEAR Middle East. “Our phone is the ideal solution for die-hard Skype users who are now able to take advantage of NETGEAR’s innovative wireless networking technology, and experience Skype in a truly mobile fashion, without a PC.”
NETGEAR’s WiFi Phone for Skype (SPH101) is the first publicly announced device to enable consumers to make unlimited free domestic and international calls to other Skype users over a wireless network without being tied to a computer. The WiFi phone will work anywhere in the world a user has a secured or open access to a WiFi network—in any home, office, public hotspot, or municipal wireless access point that does not require browser-based authentication. Pre-loaded with Skype software and ready out-of-the-box to use with a wireless network, the user experience remains similar as currently enjoyed by millions of Skype users, who talk for free with their friends using Skype, or pay only a few cents per minute to connect with mobile or landline phones. The phone’s intuitive on-screen menu — in clear, vibrant colors — shows saved Skype contacts and their online availability for easy communications, similar to the PC experience. Customers also enjoy an excellent sound quality without sacrificing talk time or stand-by time. Later this year, NETGEAR’s phone will also support multiple languages.
“Our long working relationship with Skype assures our customers a stable, attractive product of the high quality they associate with the NETGEAR brand. When Skype users use our phone, they’ll appreciate the extra effort we took to achieve an outstanding audio and visual experience. We believe they will find it’s been worth the wait,” concluded Zeidan.
NETGEAR’s WiFi Phone for Skype (SPH101) has earned the Skype Certified™ logo, meeting Skype’s standards for high quality products with design and technical specifications that greatly enhance the user’s experience of Skype. The Skype certification is designed to reassure users that products will be easy to use, and will work well with Skype software. Skype Certified hardware products undergo rigorous testing for more than a month to ensure that they meet Skype’s high usability and technical quality standards. The Skype Certified logo demonstrates Skype’s faith in both the product design and its partnership with NETGEAR.
About NETGEAR:
NETGEAR® (Nasdaq: NTGR) designs technologically advanced, branded networking products 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. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.netgear.com
