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Wi-Fi Alliance to Certify Pre-Standard IEEE 802.11n Products Next Year

Second phase of certification program will align with final IEEE standard ratification in 2008

AUSTIN, TEXAS – August 29, 2006 – The WiFi Alliance has announced it plans to certify interoperability of WiFi 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 WiFi 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, WiFi 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 WiFi 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 WiFi Alliance expects the second phase of the program, introduced at the time of final IEEE 802.11n ratification, will support compatibility between WiFi CERTIFIED® 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 WiFi certification is finally approved. With WiFi 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. WiFi Alliance will announce details of the program name when it is finalised.

About the WiFi Alliance

The WiFi 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 WiFi Alliance’s testing and certification programs ensure the interoperability of WLAN products based on the IEEE 802.11 specification. Since the introduction of the WiFi Alliance’s certification program in March 2000, more than 3,000 products have been designated as WiFi CERTIFIED®, encouraging the expanded use of WiFi products and services across the consumer and enterprise markets.