Netgear CEO Apologizes For Apple Comments

Netgear CEO Patrick Lo has apologized for his choice of words in recent statements regarding Apple and the company's future after Steve Jobs steps down as CEO, which some interpreted as references to the Apple founder's health. In an email statement sent to Macgasm, Lo says that while he stands by the opinions stated on "supporting open standards and environments," he "deeply regrets" the contentious wording.Full statement after the cut

In fact, alluding to Jobs' health was "never my intention" Lo insists, going on to say that "I wish Steve only the very best." In the original quote, Lo had told reporters that "once Steve Jobs goes away, which is probably not far away, then Apple will have to make a strategic decision on whether to open up the platform"; we're guessing he meant to refer to Jobs as CEO, rather than imply some sort of health-related absence.

Hi. As many of you know I spoke in Sydney on Monday, at a lunch with more than a half dozen of Australia's leading technology and business journalists. We covered a wide range of topics including the emergence of new IP protocols, cloud computing, wireless routers/repeaters in the home, the National Broadband Network (a current major Government project in Australia) and much more. During the course of the discussion, I shared my views about the future of Apple and Microsoft, as well as the surge of Android. Some of my comments were covered by the media who attended, and were reported more broadly outside Australia by media and bloggers who picked up on the story.
I stand by the opinions I stated on the business issues. Supporting open standards and environments in order to ease seamless networking integration of multimedia content is good for the consumer and good for content providers.However, I deeply regret the choice of words I used in relation to business decisions Apple must grapple with in the future in relation to open vs. closed systems, which have been construed by some to be references to Steve Jobs' health and which was never my intention. I sincerely apologize that what I said was interpreted this way, and I wish Steve only the very best.Patrick Lo,

NETGEAR

Chairman and CEO