AUSTIN, TEXAS - July 23, 2009 - The Wi-Fi Alliance has announced that it will not change the baseline requirements of its 802.11n certification program, and plans to make only small optional additions to coincide with the finalization of the 802.11n standard later this year. The updated test program will preserve interoperability with more than 600 Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 products released since June 2007, while adding testing for some optional features now included in the standard.  This validation of the existing certification program comes as the IEEE 802.11n standard is set for final approval within IEEE this September. Product testing to the updated certification is expected to begin in late September.

"Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 products have seen wide acceptance across consumer and enterprise markets. It's clear our decision to deliver a draft program has served the interests of the market and Wi-Fi end users the world over," said Edgar Figueroa, executive director of the Wi-Fi Alliance.  "The finalization of the 802.11n standard presents an opportunity for us to reaffirm our certification program and to implement additional testing of optional features while preserving interoperability."

"Interoperability across draft and final 802.11n-based products is what really matters as this certification program evolves to mirror developments in the market," said Phil Solis, practice director at ABI Research.  "The Wi-Fi Alliance led the industry in 2007 by introducing its 802.11n draft 2.0 program, and is striking the right balance now by adding a few features without sacrificing compatibility with previously-certified products."

The 11n certification program will add support for interoperability testing of some optional features in the approved 802.11n standard. Because all Wi-Fi CERTIFIED draft 2.0 products meet the core requirements of - and interoperate with - the updated program, they will be eligible to use the approved 802.11n logo without retesting.

ABI Research forecasts 11n shipments to reach 45 percent this year and grow to nearly 60 percent in 2012. The more than 600 products certified for draft 802.11n include computers, consumer electronics such as televisions and media servers, and consumer networking devices.  Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 has also extended deeply into the enterprise segment, with more than 100 enterprise-grade access point/switch devices certified since 2007.

White papers and retailer information about 802.11n, as well as a list of all Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 products, are available at http://www.wi-fi.org/.

Shanghai, China, Oct 13, 2008--The Wi-Fi Alliance today announced that Shanghai-based TA Technology recently became its newest Authorized Test Laboratory (ATL), providing independent testing services to its worldwide roster of member companies in one of China's key economic capitals.  The lab completed testing on its first Wi-Fi CERTIFIED product late last month.

TA Technology is the second Wi-Fi Alliance ATL in mainland China.  TA Technology joins a worldwide network of 12 other independent Wi-Fi Alliance ATLs which perform tests for more than 300 member companies worldwide.

"Wi-Fi has become an instrumental part of many consumer electronics and enterprise devices, and our member companies in the region ship a substantial portion of the Wi-Fi products sold worldwide," said Edgar Figueroa, executive director of the Wi-Fi Alliance.  "With more than 40 percent of our members in Asia, it is critical that we continue to expand our presence in China, and deliver the most accessible footprint of testing facilities."

A product must undergo a rigorous set of interoperability and performance tests to carry the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ logo, helping to ensure that products from various manufacturers will work together.  As the Wi-Fi user base continues to grow, consumer and enterprise buyers look for products bearing the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo mark of confidence and quality.  Chinese users are no exception, and in a recent consumer study done by research firm Millward Brown, 71 percent of respondents from China said that they are aware of the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo and understand what the seal of approval means.

"The Wi-Fi market continues to expand worldwide and our facility is committed to providing the rigorous, exacting and excellent certification testing services that have become the hallmark of the Wi-Fi Alliance," said Henry Liu, deputy general manager of TA Technology. "Now members will have a second location in China  to conduct testing and achieve the Wi-Fi Alliance seal, which has become a highly valuable quality assurance step and an important criterion to sell in worldwide markets."

Austin, Texas, June 30, 2008 – Driven by the growing popularity of Wi-Fi® technology and voice over IP (VoIP), the Wi-Fi industry has developed a new certification program for voice-capable Wi-Fi devices in home and small office environments. Today, the Wi-Fi Alliance announced the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Voice-Personal program as well as some of the first products that have achieved this certification. This groundbreaking new certification program extends beyond interoperability testing to test the performance of products and help ensure that they deliver good voice quality over the Wi-Fi link.

“Wi Fi enabled devices are increasingly used for data and also multimedia applications,” said Edgar Figueroa, executive director of the Wi-Fi Alliance. “Our certification programs deliver interoperability and quality of service between Wi-Fi CERTIFIED devices. Now, the Voice-Personal program goes to the next level, helping to ensure good voice quality for calls made over a Wi-Fi network.”

Estimates from analyst firms forecast shipments of Wi-Fi/cellular converged phones to number between 250 and 350 million units in 2011. In a converged Wi-Fi/cellular phone, Wi-Fi connectivity can offer significant throughput to support bandwidth-intensive applications. By allowing subscribers to utilize Wi-Fi for voice as well as data on converged phones, carriers can manage licensed spectrum resources better, as subscribers make and receive calls using a combination of licensed and unlicensed Wi-Fi spectrum. Additionally, voice over the Wi-Fi network can mean improved indoor coverage

“We are seeing increasing expectations from wireless subscribers that handsets include Wi-Fi technology to handle both voice and data, and carriers are responding in kind with an interesting array of offerings combining Wi-Fi and cellular service,” said Victoria Fodale, manager, Market Data/Intelligence for In-Stat. “Delivering a high-quality user experience with voice over Wi-Fi will be critical to the success of converged service offerings, so the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Voice-Personal testing program is an important step for the industry.”

Voice over Wi Fi is typically used within mixed voice and data environments, in which multiple data streams compete for the available network resources. Products that successfully achieve Voice-Personal certification prioritize voice communication over data, audio, or video traffic, and also have met strict performance levels for key metrics that ensure a quality experience in voice applications: packet loss, latency and jitter.

The following are among some of the first devices to become Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Voice-Personal:

• Broadcom® BCM94704AGR High Performance Dual-Band (2.4/5 GHz) Router Reference Design
• Cisco Systems Aironet 1250 Series Access Point (AIR-AP1252AG )
• Cisco Systems Aironet 1200 Series Access Point (AIR-AP1231G with AIR-RM21A)
• DSP Group Expeditor Reference Design (with XpandR 1.01 software)
• Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN
• Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
• Meru Networks AP200
• Redpine Signals Lite-Fi™ TGn SDIO


Products Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Voice-Personal have also passed tests for core interoperability (802.11a/b/g or 802.11n draft 2.0) and Wi-Fi Protected Access™ 2 (WPA2™) for the strong security protections, as well as Wi-Fi Multimedia™ (WMM®) for quality of service and WMM Power Save (access points only). Users should look for both access points and client devices that are Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Voice-Personal to ensure optimal voice quality when making calls over a Wi-Fi network.

A list of all products Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Voice-Personal, as well as a free white paper which describes the program in detail, is available at www.wi-fi.org.

White Paper: Delivering the Best User Experience with Voice over Wi-Fi

Frequently Asked Questions: Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ Voice-Personal

Media Presentation: Introducing Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Voice Personal 

AUSTIN, TEXAS, June 23, 2008 - Just one yearafter the Wi-Fi Alliance introduced 802.11n draft 2.0 certification, the upwardtrajectory of this next-generation Wi-Fi technology continues unabated. Nearly 50percent of Wi-Fi chipsets sold this year are expected to adhere to the newsuperfast draft standard - double the number from 2007.

To date, theWi-Fi Alliance has put the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED seal of approval - indicatingvalidated product interoperability - on 325 products and is seeing strongnumbers of 802.11n draft 2.0 products presented for testing. Wi-Fi users have responded to the widespreadavailability of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 products with unprecedentedenthusiasm. ABI Research forecasts thatby 2013, more than 90 percent of Wi-Fi products will support 802.11n,underscoring the tremendous benefits of advanced Wi-Fi technology and the importanceof interoperability certification in delivering the best user experience.

The productswhich have been Wi-Fi CERTIFIED to date in the program span both traditional PCnetworking gear and consumer electronics. Televisions, media servers, and gamingdevices are among the products certified in the first year, and nearly half ofthe products also support Wi-Fi Protected SetupTM, which eases the process ofconfiguring and protecting a home Wi-Fi network. Enterprise network managers can now choosefrom more 180 Wi-Fi CERTIFIED laptops, adapter cards, and networking solutionsthat include 802.11n draft 2.0.

"Across theboard, and with a range of consumer and enterprise devices, we are seeing areal hunger for all things 802.11n draft 2.0," said EdgarFigueroa, executive director of the Wi-Fi Alliance. "The standard has redefined the wirelessexperience, enabling streaming video, gaming, and other media throughout thehome, while enabling advanced applications in enterprise networks. Wi-Fi CERTIFIED delivers a great userexperience with a wide range of Wi-Fi products."

"Consumerswill increasingly demand the performance boost that 802.11n draft 2.0 providesfor data-intensive applications, including high definition video." said PhilSolis, principal analyst at ABI Research. "Acceptance by enterprise customerswill catch up to that of consumers this year due to the maturity of thetechnology and the increased availability of enterprise-grade Wi-Fi CERTIFIED802.11n draft 2.0 products over the last year."

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 productshave been tested for interoperability across vendors, adherence to WPA2TM (Wi-FiProtected Access) security protocols, and backward compatibility with more than4,500 Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11 a/b/g products. Products based on the IEEE 802.11n draft 2.0 deliver up to five timesthe throughput and up to twice the range of those based on previous standards,enabling a wide range of content-rich applications, and delivering thoseapplications over a larger footprint. The certification program also includes WMM® (Wi-Fi Multimedia) qualityof service, which helps deliver the best user experience with applications suchas voice, video and gaming.

With arapidly increasing number of draft-based products entering the market, theWi-Fi Alliance began certifying products ahead of the final IEEE 802.11nstandard to help ensure interoperability and the best user experience. The Wi-FiAlliance plans to certify products based on the final version of the 802.11nstandard once finalized by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers).

"With somany companies now bringing Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 products to themarket, and in light of the heavy demand for the advanced technology, it isclear that the Wi-Fi Alliance made the right decision at the right time. Our decision gave users confidence and drove growthin the market," Figueroa said.

A list ofall Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 products and free white papers on 802.11ntechnology are available at www.wi-fi.org.

AUSTIN, TEXAS - 19 May 2008 - With enterprises increasingly upgrading their wireless networks to 802.11n draft 2.0, the Wi-Fi Alliance today released a new white paper addressing deployment considerations for the new technology in enterprise networks. The report is written by Burton Group, a research firm focused on in-depth analysis of enterprise technologies, and provides a look at such considerations as frequency band selection, power management, security, and network management solutions for next-generation Wi-Fi deployments.

"The uptake of 802.11n draft 2.0 has been unprecedented. We are pleased to have joined with Burton Group to deliver this report designed to help enterprise decision makers with their next generation Wi-Fi deployments," said Wi-Fi Alliance executive director Edgar Figueroa. "The report addresses 802.11n WLAN migration strategies and can help enterprises get the most benefit out of this high-throughput, high-range, new generation of Wi-Fi."

Enterprise IT managers have begun piloting and deploying Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 in earnest, and with good reason. This advanced Wi-Fi standard delivers substantial improvements to throughput and range compared to previous generations of Wi-Fi, enabling enterprises to leverage Wi-Fi networks for a widening array of applications and increasing number of users. Moreover, with more than 35 enterprise-grade infrastructure products from a variety of vendors now Wi-Fi CERTIFIED, network administrators have a broad selection of interoperable products from which to choose.

"Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n will eventually surpass wired Ethernet as the dominant enterprise LAN access technology," said Paul DeBeasi, senior analyst at the Burton Group. "Enterprises should begin 802.11n migration planning now by thoroughly understanding the deployment considerations presented in this new white paper."

The Wi-Fi Alliance has certified numerous products based upon 802.11n draft 2.0 since it began testing in June of 2007. Consumers and enterprise users are embracing the technology because of the performance gains it offers. Analyst firm ABI Research forecasts that 47% of all 2008 Wi-Fi chipset shipments will be 802.11n draft 2.0.

To download the white paper and a podcast featuring Wi-Fi Alliance executive director Edgar Figueroa and Burton Group analyst Paul DeBeasi, or to find Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n products for the enterprise, visit www.wi-fi.org.

Austin, TX - February 11, 2008 - The Wi-Fi Alliance today announced that more than 200 products haveachieved the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ seal of approval for Wi-Fi Protected Setup. Thisprogram, launched in January 2007, helps consumer and small-business users moreeasily set up Wi-Fi networks with strong security protections.  The 200-product milestone reflects wideindustry commitment to delivering the best user experience with Wi-Fitechnology.

Productscertified for Wi-Fi Protected Setup include dual-mode Wi-Fi/cellular phones,Wi-Fi-enabled printers, and more than 80 products featuring next-generationWi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 technology. More than half of the devices are also certified for WMM® (Wi-FiMultimedia) Quality of Service, which optimizes them for voice, gaming, and multimediaapplications.

"Asconsumers increasingly demand Wi-Fi connectivity, not just in laptops, but alsoin phones and entertainment devices, it's more important than ever that it beeasy to connect and protect those devices," said Wi-Fi Alliance executivedirector Edgar Figueroa.  "Wi-Fi Protected Setup reduces by half thesteps involved in setting up a Wi-Fi network, and consumers should look forWi-Fi Protected Setup icon on products bearing the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo."

"Because it dramatically eases the networkconfiguration process, Wi-Fi Protected Setup enables further proliferation ofWi-Fi in consumer electronics and handsets," said Kurt Scherf, vice presidentand principal analyst with Parks Associates. "We expect more and more of those devices to ship with Wi-Fi on board,and it's good to see that the industry has embraced this tool to make Wi-Fieasier for consumers to set up."

Theorganization has also launched testing support for NFC (Near-FieldCommunication) as an additional Wi-Fi Protected Setup network configurationmethod.  In the NFC method, a usertouches a card or token to designated areas on an access point and a clientdevice to connect them. NFC joins two previously-tested mechanisms, push-buttonand PIN entry, to simplify the process of joining devices to a security-enabledWi-Fi network.

Like thepush-button method, the NFC technique is especially useful to connect devicesthat don't have a keyboard-oriented user interface, such as cameras, gamingdevices, and other consumer electronics. Manufacturers now have even moreflexibility in how to deploy Wi-Fi Protected Setup, ultimately giving consumersmore choice when they buy Wi-Fi CERTIFIED phones and consumer electronics.

A list ofall products Wi-Fi CERTIFIED for Wi-Fi Protected Setup, as well as a free whitepaper which describes the specification in detail, is available at www.wi-fi.org.


About the Wi-Fi Alliance
TheWi-Fi Alliance is a global, non-profit industry association of morethan 300 member companies devoted to promoting the growth of wirelessLocal Area Networks (WLANs). With the aim of enhancing the user experience forwireless portable, mobile, and home entertainment devices, the Wi-Fi Alliance'stesting and certification programs help ensure the interoperability of WLANproducts based on the IEEE 802.11 specification. Since the introduction ofthe Wi-Fi Alliance's certification program in March 2000, morethan 4,000 products have been designated as Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™,encouraging the expanded use of Wi-Fi products and services across the consumerand enterprise markets. 

 
Media contact: Edelman for Wi-FiAlliance: Michael Diamond,michael.diamond@edelman.com, +1 650-762-2959.

Austin, Texas - November 12, 2007 - The Wi-Fi Alliance todayannounced that more than 4,000 products have been Wi-Fi CERTIFED™ since the testingprogram began in March of 2000. Growth in the diversity of Wi-Fi-enabledproduct types, including consumer electronics and dual-mode mobile phones, aswell as next-generation 802.11n draft 2.0 products, have led to thecertification of more than 1,000 Wi-Fi® products over the last 15months.

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED testinghas grown at a rapid rate as manufacturers of networking and consumer Wi-Fienabled products seek the Wi-Fi Alliance's "seal of approval" for industry-wideproduct interoperability and security. Contributing to this growth is thelaunch of the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 program in June of this year. TheWi-Fi Alliance has certified 140 products for 802.11n draft 2.0 since theprogram began. This is nearly three times the number of products certified for802.11a/b/g in the first three months of their respective testing programs.

ABI Research predictsthat by 2012, 90% of Wi-Fi chipsets shipped will support 802.11n. The increasingmarket adoption of this next-generation Wi-Fi technology is helping drive the802.11n draft 2.0 certification rate.

"Wi-Fi has become a ubiquitous technology that is part ofour daily lives, whether we are connecting at home, at work, at an airport, ata park, or at a local coffee shop. Wi-Fi CERTIFIED brings more confidence thatWi-Fi products will work together and have the latest security protections onboard," said Karen Hanley, seniordirector of the Wi-Fi Alliance. "By offering Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products,manufacturers and telecom carriers help ensure higher customer satisfaction,which ultimately improves their bottom lines."

Market forecasts indicate rapid growth of Wi-Fi technologyis set to continue into the future. ABI Research predicts as many as 1.2billion Wi-Fi chipsets will ship in 2012. Of those shipments, more than 500million are estimated to be in mobile handset devices and 326 million inconsumer electronics. The research firm also predicts that in 2012, the Wi-Fiindustry will generate more than $19 billion in Wi-Fi products in services.

"The 4,000 Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products milestone illustratesthe growing awareness and value of the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED brand as well as manufacturers' commitment to provide users apositive experience with Wi-Fi-enabled products," said Stan Schatt, vice presidentand research director, Networking, ABI Research.

Consumers and enterprise users of Wi-Fi products can find acomprehensive list of the more than 4,000 Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products -- phones,gaming devices, cameras, laptops, access points and more -- at www.wi-fi.org.

Aboutthe Wi-Fi Alliance
TheWi-Fi Alliance is a global, non-profit industry association of morethan 300 member companies devoted to promoting the growth of wirelessLocal Area Networks (WLANs). With the aim of enhancing the user experience formobile wireless devices, the Wi-Fi Alliance's testing and certificationprograms ensure the interoperability of WLAN products based on the IEEE 802.11specification. Since the introduction of the Wi-Fi Alliance'scertification program in March 2000, more than 4,000 productshave been designated as Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ encouraging the expanded useof Wi-Fi products and services across the consumer and enterprise markets.

Mediacontact:

Edelmanfor Wi-Fi Alliance: Michael Diamond, michael.diamond@edelman.com, +1 650-429-2772.

AUSTIN, TEXAS - May 16, 2007 - Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 products sporting an eye-catching new logo will soon reach store shelves, as the Wi-Fi Alliance certification program nears its late June launch. The Alliance today unveiled a re-designed consumer logo for Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n Draft2.0 products, and announced the products and reference designs that will comprise its test bed for interoperability certification.

With the potential to deliver up to five times the throughput and up to twice the range of previous-generation Wi-Fi gear, products based on the new 802.11n draft 2.0standard can do more than ever before. Consumers will soon be able to take advantage of whole-home coverage and content-rich applications such as streaming high-definition video, online gaming with multiple users on a single network, and speedy file transfer of photos, music, and more. Enterprise users will be able leverage 802.11n products to increase network capacity and improve robustness.

Wi-Fi certification will ease the purchase process by delivering 802.11n draft 2.0 products that have been tested for industry-wide interoperability, the very latest security protection, and backward compatibility with previous generations of Wi-Fi gear.

"We are proud of the achievement of our member companies in developing this breakthrough certification program," said Wi-Fi Alliance managing director Frank Hanzlik. "This milestone means that consumers and business users alike can feel confident that the 802.11n products they buy will deliver the user experience they require."

"With the arrival of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 products, we end the practice of uncertain claims of Wi-Fi draft compliance by independent vendors," said Ken Dulaney, vice president and distinguished analyst in Gartner Research. "Consumers can now purchase products with improved performance and be assured of interoperability. Prospective buyers should understand that the Wi-Fi Alliance will provide future certification for the eventual 802.11n final specification and assess their own timeframe for a movement to 802.11n."

"Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n is a game-changing milestone for Wi-Fi technology that enables the truly networked home," added Hanzlik. "With the advancements of 802.11n, Wi-Fi is the very best technology to connect computing, communication and entertainment devices. It can enable the entire family to access exciting content throughout the home, while further extending the key productivity advantages of Wi-Fi in the business setting."

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n technology holds wide consumer appeal and will propel users to use next-generation applications more frequently. Recent research from Wi-Fi Alliance and Kelton Research indicates that 78% of US Wi-Fi users are interested in upgrading their Wi-Fi systems in order to gain improved range and/or throughput. Moreover, nearly 70% of the Wi-Fi users polled indicated that a faster Wi-Fi connection would prompt them to use multimedia applications such as video and gaming more frequently.

The following companies supply the products used in the interoperability test bed,and have the first devices to become Wi-Fi CERTIFIED:

• Atheros® XSPAN™ with SST™Draft 2.0 802.11n Dual-Concurrent 2.4/5GHz Router with AtherosAR7100 Series Wireless Network Processor
• Atheros® XSPAN™ withSST™ Draft 2.0 802.11n Dual-Band 2.4/5GHz Card Bus
• Broadcom® Intensi-Fi™ 802.11n Router:BCM94705GMP
• Broadcom® Intensi-Fi™ 802.11n Card:BCM94321MC123
• Cisco Access Point
• Intel® Wireless WiFi Link4965AGN
• Marvell® TopDog™ WLAN solutions(Station Card)
• Marvell® TopDog™ WLAN solutions(Access Point)
• Ralink MIMObility™ RT2800PDChipset featuring the RT2860 802.11n 2T3R MAC/BBP and the RT2850 802.11nDual Band RFIC
• Ralink MIMObility™ RT2800PD Access Point

• In addition, WildPackets OmniPeekWorkgroup Pro is included as a test bed software tool.

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 CERTIFIED products, is available online at www.wi-fi.org.

About the 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 onthe IEEE 802.11 specification. Since the introduction of the Wi-Fi Alliance's certification program in March 2000, more than 3,400 products have been designated as Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™, encouraging the expanded use of 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.

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – January 8, 2007 – The Wi-Fi Alliance has certified the first products implementing its new simplified method for configuring security-enabled networks in the digital home. The new optional certification, called Wi-Fi Protected Setup, is based on a specification developed by Wi-Fi Alliance member companies to provide an industry-standard approach to ease setup of Wi-Fi networks and encourage consumers to always enable security features.

Wi-Fi Protected Setup is expected to further enable the proliferation of Wi-Fi technology in PCs and beyond. A wide range of devices are eligible to pursue the certification, including traditional PC equipment, televisions, stereos, and gaming consoles, as well as phones. The first release of the program supports use of a push-button technique or entry of a PIN (personal identification number) to network Wi-Fi devices. Support for methods using Near-Field Communication, in which a user simply touches a token or card to a device, as well as USB Flash drives, is planned for later in the first half of 2007.

“Wi-Fi has quickly become one of the most pervasive wireless technologies, but consumers have told us they want it to be easier to set up and protect,” said Wi-Fi Alliance Managing Director Frank Hanzlik. “Wi-Fi Protected Setup reduces by half the number of user steps required to set up a network, enabling Wi-Fi to be more easily installed across a range of consumer devices.”

“Having an industry-standard approach to simplified network setup will be a big help, as new users adopt Wi-Fi and more experienced users want to connect a wider array of devices,” said Kurt Scherf, Vice President, Principal Analyst with Parks Associates. “We expect 90% of networked homes to include Wi-Fi by 2010, so it’s critical that manufacturers make it as easy as possible to configure.”

The first products to become Wi-Fi CERTIFIED for Wi-Fi Protected Setup are:
•Atheros AR5006X 802.11a/b/g Wireless Network Adapter
•Atheros AR5002AP-2X Concurrent 802.11a and 802.11b/g Dual-band WLAN Access Point
•Broadcom BCM94704AGR 54g Dual-band Access Point Reference Design
•BUFFALO AirStation Wireless-A&G High Power Access Point WHR-HP-AMPGV
•BUFFALO AirStation Wireless-A&G High Power Notebook Adapter STA: WLI-CB-AMG54
•Conexant CX94515 ADSL2+ Gateway
•Intel® PROSet/Wireless Software Version 11.1
•Marvell 802.11a/b/g Wireless USB Client
•Marvell TopDog™ Draft 802.11n Access Point
•Ralink Technology RT5201U (802.11a/b/g USB) / Packet Overdrive™

A white paper entitled “Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ for Wi-Fi Protected Setup: Easing the User Experience for Home and Small Office Networks” provides a detailed look at how Wi-Fi Protected Setup works and is available for free download at the Wi-Fi Alliance web site, www.wi-fi.org. In addition, application developers will find the full Wi-Fi Simple Config Specification, the foundation for Wi-Fi Protected Setup, available for purchase at the web site.

About the 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 3,000 products have been designated as Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™, encouraging the expanded use of 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.

AUSTIN, TEXAS – November 2, 2006

WHAT:The Wi-Fi Alliance, in conjunction with Kelton Research, today announced results of a nationwide survey measuring consumer awareness of Wi-Fi security. Overall findings indicate that consumers view Wi-Fi network protection as an important home security issue and are activating their network’s security accordingly.

Among the key take-aways:
•Keeping it under lock and key. Keeping families and homes safe is a high priority for many Americans, and Wi-Fi networks are no exception. Respondents ranked security for their Wi-Fi network as a “top three” essential element of home security, right behind locking windows and doors and installing a home alarm system. More than 40 percent of respondents felt that a protected Wi-Fi network is an important part of creating a safe home.
•Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s Wi-Fi. Eighty-three percent of Americans agree that using someone else’s Wi-Fi without their knowledge is stealing. Respondents do not approve of neighbors borrowing their signal and want to protect themselves from the 17 percent of Americans who see nothing wrong with using someone else’s network.
•Security is the best policy. Americans are keeping themselves safe by activating their network security. Seven out of 10 respondents have enabled security on their wireless networks, allowing them to enjoy the freedom of Wi-Fi with security protections in place.

WHO:Survey respondents are representative of the total U.S. population, age 18 and older with broadband Internet access at home.

WHEN/HOW: The survey was conducted online by Kelton Research between September 29 and October 10, 2006 and included 549 nationally representative Americans. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. Chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, +/- 4.2 percentage points, from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons represented by the sample.

All decimals are rounded to the nearest percentage point. This may result in certain numerical totals adding up to slightly more or slightly less than 100 percent.

About the 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 3,000 products have been designated as Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™, encouraging the expanded use of Wi-Fi products and services across the consumer and enterprise markets.

Media Contact:
To schedule a meeting with the Wi-Fi Alliance or receive a copy of the survey findings, contact: Dominic Ybarra, Edelman, +1 650-762-2960, dominic.ybarra@edelman.com.