Next generation Wi-Fi branding fuels consumer awareness

AUSTIN, TX, June 5, 2008 - The Wi-Fi Alliance today announced the recipients of its third-annual WIFFIES Awards. The awards recognize member companies for innovative use of the Wi-Fi Alliance brands in eight marketing categories. Judges reviewed the use of the Wi-Fi Alliance and Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logos, as well as promotion of Wi-Fi technology, through use of terminology such as Wi-Fi, 802.11n draft 2.0 and Wi-Fi Protected SetupTM.

WIFFIES recipients in each category were:

Print Advertising:

Silver: TRENDnet

Collateral:

Silver: Aruba Networks

Bronze: Motorola, Inc.; Socket Mobile

Honorable Mention: Wipro

Online:

Gold: NETGEAR

Silver: Apple

Bronze: Socket Mobile

On-Product Display:

Gold: D-Link; Research in Motion

Silver: HP; Motorola, Inc.; Sony Corporation

Product Packaging:

Gold: TRENDnet; NETGEAR; D-Link

Silver: Sony Corporation

Bronze: Linksys; Motorola; Nokia

Point of Sale / Retail:

Gold: HP

Integrated Campaign:

Bronze: Wipro

Trade Show Booth:

Gold: Marvell

Silver: D-Link

Bronze: Atheros Communications; Eastman Kodak

Honorable Mention: Sony Ericsson

"Much like the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, member companies who display the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo benefit from consumer recognition and the piece of mind that goes with it," said Bob Angus, president of A&R Edelman and chair of Edelman Global Technology. "Consumers are more apt to purchase a product that has been independently tested and certified for security and interoperability."

"Next-generation Wi-Fi has been widely accepted by consumers and enterprise users alike, and member companies' prominent use of our brands has validated the technology's popularity and importance of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED," said Wi-Fi Alliance senior director Karen Hanley. "We congratulate all of the award winners for their great work promoting Wi-Fi in exciting products such as next-generation TV's, cameras and gaming devices."

Wi-Fi certification has been a key enabler of adoption of Wi-Fi with advanced capabilities such as 802.11n draft 2.0 and Wi-Fi Protected Setup, and continues to play a critical role in the expansion of Wi-Fi technology beyond PC networking, into entertainment devices and phones. Market research firm In-Stat forecasts that in 2012, about one-third of all Wi-Fi shipments will be in consumer electronics devices and one-third will be in handsets.

The WIFFIES winners were selected by judges Victoria Fodale, senior analyst at In-Stat, Bob Angus, president of A&R Edelman and chair of Edelman Global Technology, and Wi-Fi Alliance senior director Karen Hanley. To learn more about the WIFFIES, and to see materials from the winning campaigns, visit www.wi-fi.org/wiffies_awards.php.