Second phase of certification program will align with final IEEE standard
ratification in 2008
AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wi-Fi Alliance has announced
it plans to certify interoperability of Wi-Fi products that include
baseline features from the developing IEEE 802.11n standard in the first
half of 2007. This is the first phase in a certification program of the
next generation of Wi-Fi products. A second phase brings full alignment
with the ratified standard.
The IEEE recently updated its estimated timeline for ratification of a
full 802.11n standard, and is now targeting the first quarter of 2008 for
final approval. However, Wi-Fi products implementing features from the
draft specification are in the market now, and analysts forecast that tens
of millions of pre-standard devices will ship in 2007.
"This two-phase approach balances our longstanding commitment to
standards-based technology with the current market need for product
interoperability certification," said Wi-Fi Alliance Managing Director
Frank Hanzlik. "While we are committed to supporting a full 802.11n
standard when it is available, pre-standard products are reaching a level
of maturity and there is enough market uptake that a certification program
makes sense for the industry."
The Wi-Fi Alliance expects the second phase of the program, introduced
at the time of final IEEE 802.11n ratification, will support compatibility
between Wi-Fi CERTIFIED(R) pre-standard products and those certified to the
full standard.
"The ratified IEEE 802.11n is likely to include a larger set of
features and will be a fully-reviewed standard," Hanzlik said. "We believe
the maturity of the baseline features in the pre-standard certification
diminishes the risk that products won't comply with IEEE 802.11n when it is
ratified."
"This approach makes sense in light of the recent schedule change from
IEEE," commented Ken Dulaney, Vice President and Distinguished Analyst in
Gartner Research. "With this interim interoperability program, we achieve a
technology advancement to fill the gap until the 802.11n standard and
associated Wi-Fi certification is finally approved. With Wi-Fi Alliance
backing, this interim certification can achieve industry interoperability
-- something the alternative approaches to date were unable to guarantee."
The certification marks used for the first phase of the program will
clearly indicate that the certified products are pre-standard, so that
consumers will understand that what they are purchasing is not based on a
ratified IEEE standard. Wi-Fi Alliance will announce details of the program
name when it is finalized.
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(R), encouraging the expanded use of Wi-Fi
products and services across the consumer and enterprise markets.
NOTE: Wi-Fi(R), Wi-Fi Alliance(R), Wi-Fi CERTIFIED(R), the Wi-Fi
CERTIFIED logo, and the Wi-Fi logo are registered trademarks of the Wi-Fi
Alliance; and the Wi-Fi Alliance logo is a trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
SOURCE Wi-Fi Alliance
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Related links:
http://www.wi-fi.org/
CONTACT:
Michael Diamond of Edelman, +1-650-429-2772,
or michael.diamond@edelman.com, for Wi-Fi Alliance
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