Interoperability certification
for high-performance Wi-Fi gear is now underway. Wi-Fi Alliance Authorized
Test Laboratories began testing products today, and Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n
draft 2.0 products are anticipated to arrive on store shelves this summer
-- in time for students returning to school to do so with the very latest
generation of Wi-Fi gear.
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 products have been tested for
interoperability across vendors, adherence to WPA2(TM) (Wi-Fi Protected
Access) security protocols, and backward compatibility with more than 3,500
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n a/b/g products. Products based on the new IEEE
802.11n draft deliver up to five times the throughput and up to twice the
range of those based on previous standards, enabling a wide range of
content-rich applications, and delivering those applications over a larger
footprint. The certification program also includes WMM(R) (Wi-Fi
Multimedia) quality of service, which helps deliver the best user
experience with applications such as video, voice, and gaming.
"Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 Wi-Fi brings the digital home of the
future to life today, and revolutionizes the capabilities of enterprise
networking. It is the most important advance for Wi-Fi technology since its
invention," said Wi-Fi Alliance managing director Frank Hanzlik. "With the
launch of this certification program, the industry as a whole has come
together to deliver the very best user experience -- helping ensure that
consumers and enterprises can purchase with confidence and make the most of
advanced Wi-Fi technology today."
"With the advancements offered by 802.11n, Wi-Fi takes center stage as
a key technology for networked digital home applications such as streaming
high-definition video and interactive gaming," said Kurt Scherf, vice
president and principal analyst with Parks Associates. "Because Wi-Fi is so
easy to use, and certification means different brands of gear work
together, we expect the momentum to continue. There will be substantial
implementation of 802.11n Wi-Fi in certain consumer electronics products."
With a strong pipeline of products already scheduled for certification
testing, the Alliance expects very high demand for certification testing.
The following laboratories will begin testing this week for the Wi-Fi
CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 program to help ensure that testing services
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-Fi Alliance Authorized Test Laboratories are independent,
ISO-accredited testing facilities.
Wi-Fi Alliance
The Wi-Fi Alliance is a global, non-profit industry association of more
than 300 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 3,500 products have been
designated as Wi-Fi CERTIFIED(TM), encouraging the expanded use of Wi-Fi
products and services across the consumer and enterprise markets. Apple,
Broadcom, Cisco, Conexant, Dell, Intel, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia, Sony,
and Texas Instruments serve as Sponsor members of the Alliance.
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