AUSTIN, TEXAS – August 16, 2006 – The Wi-Fi Alliance today announced Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ as the name for its upcoming consumer ease-of-use program, formerly code named “Wi-Fi Simple Config.” Slated for launch in Q4 of this year, the program is planned as an optional certification based on a standardized method for security setup in home Wi-Fi networks.
Recent research indicates that 43% of Wi-Fi users found that installing security on a home Wi-Fi network moderately-to-very difficult (Wi-Fi Alliance/Kelton Research, 2006). Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ is designed to ease installation and activation of security features on a network to improve the home Wi-Fi user experience.
“Wi-Fi technology is proliferating across a wider range of consumer electronics, so ease-of-use has become more important than ever,” said Wi-Fi Alliance Managing Director Frank Hanzlik. “The Wi-Fi Alliance will continue play a central role in enabling a positive user experience.”
The Wi-Fi Protected Setup certification will join the portfolio of certifications available to Wi-Fi Alliance members that manufacture a wide variety of devices, ranging from PCs and printers to televisions, cameras, and gaming consoles.
About the Wi-Fi Alliance
The Wi-Fi Alliance is a global, non-profit industry association of more than 275 member companies devoted to promoting the growth of wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs). With the aim of enhancing the user experience for mobile wireless devices, the Wi-Fi Alliance’s testing and certification programs ensure the interoperability of WLAN products based on the IEEE 802.11 specification. Since the introduction of the Wi-Fi Alliance's certification program in March 2000, more than 3,000 products have been designated as Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™, encouraging the expanded use of Wi-Fi products and services across the consumer and enterprise markets.
Media Contact: Michael Diamond, Edelman for Wi-Fi Alliance
michael.diamond@edelman.com, +1.650.429.2772
