Netgear plans to embed usage meters in future versions of their routers.

According to the Associated Press, Netgear will begin making such functionality standard in all models via software update. The first version to get the functionality will be the Netgear $190 802.11N WNDR3700. The announcement comes as a growing number of ISPs explore the implementation of usage caps, with ISP-provided tools not always providing accurate usage reports.

Time Warner Cable, which faced customer backlash earlier this year for such plans, recently promised a bandwidth consumption meter that has yet to materialise. It is a brave move for Netgear. It is fairly likely that it will make its routers the targets of hackers who want to make sure that ISPs do not switch them off for being P2P pirates.