Netgear launches award-winning home theatre Internet connection kit in Middle East

The award-winning powerline networking kit turns electrical power outlets into high-speed Internet network connections, thereby allowing multiple Ethernet-enabled entertainment devices to hook up to the Internet and the home network simultaneously.

The company further revealed expectations that the new product will witness extensive popularity among regional consumers, who are becoming more interested in high-performance applications such as HD video streaming, Voice over IP (VoIP), Internet gaming and large file transfers to networked devices in the home theatre.

The kit contains one Powerline AV Adapter with 4-port Ethernet Switch (XAV1004) and one Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter (XAV101). Users simply have to plug the adapter (XAV101) into the router and connect up to four Ethernet-ready devices to the Powerline AV Adapter (XAV1004). It also incorporates advanced energy management capabilities that provide automatic port- and device-level sleep modes and wake-on-activity functionality that reduce overall energy usage. With a high-speed powerline connection of up to 200 Mbps, the product is ideal for users who want to extend their home network range, as well as hotels, hospitals and offices that use Internet-connected devices that demand high bandwidth.

Ahmad Zeidan, Channel Sales Manager, Netgear Middle East, said:

"In the recent years, great demand for smart home technology and high quality home entertainment products has been monitored across the Middle East, with many people in the region listing multimedia entertainment as their top recreational activity. As the number of regional households that have multiple networked devices in their living rooms increase, we have stepped up our product development efforts, which has led us to our latest home theatre Internet connection kit. With the launch of this new product, regional users can now upgrade their home theatre experience and enjoy superior quality entertainment."

In addition to the XAV1004 and XAV101, the kit also incorporates several ease-of-use features such as port-based Quality of Service (QoS) to ensure that the highest priority applications are allocated more bandwidth; Push-N-Secure to secure the Powerline AV network with the push of a button; and Pick-a-Plug, a multi-color LED to determine the strength of the powerline connection without having to look at a computer. Backed by a one-year warranty and 24/7 technical support, the kit is compatible with - and can easily and affordably extend - any existing HomePlug AV network.

"The market for technologically advanced home entertainment solutions has expanded to include average consumers and not merely the wealthy, and this continuously drives its growth. The presence of a four-port switch that enables simultaneous connectivity to multiple devices in the same location is truly a significant advancement amidst the steady expansion of the market, and we expect to generate massive success for this new product in the region," concluded Zeidan.