AUSTIN, TEXAS, June 25, 2007 - Interoperability certification for high-performance Wi-Figear is now underway. Wi-Fi AllianceAuthorized Test Laboratories began testing products today, and Wi-Fi CERTIFIED802.11n draft 2.0 products are anticipated to arrive on store shelves thissummer - in time for students returning to school to do so with the very latestgeneration of Wi-Fi gear.
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 products have been testedfor interoperability across vendors, adherence to WPA2™ (Wi-Fi Protected Access)security protocols, and backward compatibility with more than 3,500 Wi-FiCERTIFIED 802.11n a/b/g products. Productsbased on the new IEEE 802.11n draft deliver up to five times the throughput andup to twice the range of those based on previous standards, enabling a widerange of content-rich applications, and delivering those applications over alarger footprint. The certificationprogram also includes WMM® (Wi-Fi Mutlimedia) quality of service, which helpsdeliver the best user experience with applications such as video, voice, andgaming.
"Wi-FiCERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 Wi-Fi brings the digital home of the future to lifetoday, and revolutionizes the capabilities of enterprise networking. It is the most important advance for Wi-Fitechnology since its invention," said Wi-Fi Alliance managing director Frank Hanzlik. "With the launch of this certification program, the industry as a wholehas come together to deliver the very best user experience - helping ensure thatconsumers and enterprises can purchase with confidence and make the most ofadvanced Wi-Fi technology today."
"With the advancements offered by 802.11n, Wi-Fi takes center stage as akey technology for networked digital home applications such as streaming high-definitionvideo and interactive gaming," said Kurt Scherf, vice president and principalanalyst with Parks Associates. "Because Wi-Fi is so easy to use, andcertification means different brands of gear work together, we expect themomentum to continue. There will be substantial implementation of 802.11nWi-Fi in certain consumer electronics products."
With astrong pipeline of products already scheduled for certification testing, the Alliance expects very high demand forcertification testing. The following laboratories will begin testing this week forthe Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 program to help ensure that testingservices are available to member companies in every region:
- AT4 wireless (Malaga, Spain)
- ADT (Taoyuan Hsien, Taiwan)
- Allion (Taipei Taiwan)
- CETECOM Inc. (Milpitas, California)
- SGS (Yokohama, Japan)
- SGS (Taipei, Taiwan)
- TUV Rheinland (Yokohama, Japan)
- TUV Rheinland (Pleasanton, California)
Wi-FiAlliance Authorized Test Laboratories are independent, ISO-accredited testingfacilities.
The Wi-FiAlliance has released a white paper entitled "Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft2.0: Bringing Interoperability to Longer-Range, Higher-Throughput,Multimedia-Grade Networks," which details draft 802.11n enhancements as well asthe certification testing program and is available for free download at theWi-Fi Alliance Web site. A white paperfor consumers and retailers entitled "Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0: TakingWi-Fi to the Next Level," as well as a product search tool for Wi-Fi CERTIFIEDproducts, are also available at www.wi-fi.org.
About the Wi-Fi Alliance
TheWi-Fi Alliance is a global, non-profit industry association ofmore than 300 member companies devoted to promoting the growth ofwireless Local Area Networks (WLANs). With the aim of enhancing the userexperience for mobile wireless devices, the Wi-Fi Alliance's testing andcertification programs ensure the interoperability of WLAN products based onthe IEEE 802.11 specification. Since the introduction of the Wi-Fi Alliance'scertification program in March 2000, more than 3,500 productshave been designated as Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™, encouraging the expanded useof Wi-Fi products and services across the consumer and enterprise markets.
Media contact: Edelman for Wi-Fi Alliance, Michael Diamond,michael.diamond@edelman.com, +1 650-429-2772.