LOS ANGELES – September 12, 2006 – Mobile phone carriers now have an important new source of data about the handsets they consider for use on their networks: a testing program for Wi-Fi / mobile phones developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance and CTIA® -The Wireless Association. The groups today jointly released a test document for laboratory tests that provide radio frequency performance mapping in a mixed-network environment.

This program is a key milestone in the widespread adoption of Wi-Fi / mobile convergence. Until now, carriers had no independent source of data about converged devices. This industry-supported program will provide detailed information about the performance of the Wi-Fi radio in a converged handset, as well as how the cellular and Wi-Fi radios interact with one another. Testing for this program will be conducted in top-tier independent laboratories authorized by CTIA and Wi-Fi Alliance.

“The new test program is another indicator of Wi-Fi’s widespread acceptance and growth from a traditionally PC technology to one that is now common in a variety of consumer devices, including mobile phones,” said Frank Hanzlik, Managing Director of the Wi-Fi Alliance. “Carriers have long relied on CTIA test programs to ensure that subscribers have the best user experience with the handsets they offer, and this program will provide important support as carriers launch their convergence offerings.

“This program is an important step in the development of the convergence market,” said CTIA Vice President of Operations Robert Mesirow. “Without this test program, carriers couldn’t be sure that a Wi-Fi / mobile phone would meet their rigorous specifications, but now they will have the data they need to select the handsets best suited for their networks.”

Leading manufacturers have begun releasing converged wireless phones, which include both traditional cellular and Wi-Fi capabilities. In-Stat forecasts that more than 200 million Wi-Fi / mobile handsets will have shipped by 2010.

The comprehensive testing program provides detailed measurements on key parameters, including: transmit power, receive sensitivity, emitted power, and desensitization in the dual-mode environment. In addition, to complete the testing a device must also be Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ for core Wi-Fi interoperability and CTIA certified for core cellular performance.

CTIA and Wi-Fi Alliance will continue to explore future areas for jointly-developed programs. “There are several technology challenges in converged networks where cross-industry collaboration is the only approach that makes sense,” said Hanzlik.

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™, encouraging the expanded use of Wi-Fi products and services across the consumer and enterprise markets.

About CTIA
CTIA-The Wireless Association is the international association for the wireless telecommunications industry, representing carriers, manufacturers and wireless Internet providers. CTIA is also recognized as the premiere producer of two annual technology events representing the complete wireless, mobile and Internet industries. CTIA WIRELESS I.T & Entertainment takes place in Los Angeles September 12-14; CTIA WIRELESS 2007 takes place in Orlando March 27-29. Visit www.ctia.org.

CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment is a one-of-a-kind event that reflects the dual nature of today’s wireless data industry—technology that offers both mobile solutions to the enterprise and mobile entertainment to the consumer. This event brings together diverse audience segments to satisfy every mobile data need and respond to the ever-growing market demand for wireless services. Visit www.ctia.org/wirelessIT06.

Media contact:
Edelman for Wi-Fi Alliance: Michael Diamond, michael.diamond@edelman.com, +1 650-429-2772.

AUSTIN, TEXAS – August 16, 2006 – The Wi-Fi Alliance today announced Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ as the name for its upcoming consumer ease-of-use program, formerly code named “Wi-Fi Simple Config.” Slated for launch in Q4 of this year, the program is planned as an optional certification based on a standardized method for security setup in home Wi-Fi networks.

Recent research indicates that 43% of Wi-Fi users found that installing security on a home Wi-Fi network moderately-to-very difficult (Wi-Fi Alliance/Kelton Research, 2006). Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ is designed to ease installation and activation of security features on a network to improve the home Wi-Fi user experience.

“Wi-Fi technology is proliferating across a wider range of consumer electronics, so ease-of-use has become more important than ever,” said Wi-Fi Alliance Managing Director Frank Hanzlik. “The Wi-Fi Alliance will continue play a central role in enabling a positive user experience.”

The Wi-Fi Protected Setup certification will join the portfolio of certifications available to Wi-Fi Alliance members that manufacture a wide variety of devices, ranging from PCs and printers to televisions, cameras, and gaming consoles.

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™, encouraging the expanded use of Wi-Fi products and services across the consumer and enterprise markets.

Media Contact: Michael Diamond, Edelman for Wi-Fi Alliance
michael.diamond@edelman.com, +1.650.429.2772

April 4, 2006 -- Wi-Fi: Enabling Connectivity in Consumer Electronics and Phones

Wi-Fi isn't just for PCs anymore. Now more than ever, Wi-Fi is an integral feature in new applications, from cellular phones to cameras, from digital entertainment systems to interactive video games. Whether a finance manager in a large enterprise wants to hold a high-quality VoIP conference call over his corporate WLAN, a teenager wants to compete against his friends on his gaming console, or a family wants to download high-definition video content via a digital media server, Wi-Fi technology is there --- providing the throughput and reliability these applications demand.

The Quality of Service (QoS) standard, IEEE 802.11e, outlines how Wi-Fi access points prioritize traffic in order to optimize the way shared network resources are allocated among different applications. Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) QoS is a key enabler of the transition from data-only use of Wi-Fi into voice, audio, and video applications. With an ample throughput rate and data prioritization provided by WMM, Wi-Fi is an excellent technology to handle voice calls, streaming high-definition video and interactive gaming applications under a wide variety of traffic and environmental conditions.

These important capabilities are enabling widespread adoption of Wi-Fi in non-PC devices. Analyst firm In-Stat predicts that consumer electronics and phones, now about 22 percent of the total market for Wi-Fi chipsets, will grow to comprise more than 60 percent of the market by 2009. Moreover, the overall Wi Fi market is expected to grow to nearly four times its current size during the same time frame (In-Stat, 2005) with consumer electronics and voice handsets the key drivers.

Industry Support for WMM
Because WMM is so critical to the user experience with digital home applications, the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) recently announced that the latest version of its Home Networked Device Interoperability Guidelines includes a requirement that Wi-Fi enabled devices become Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ for WMM if they support QoS. The addition of WMM to the guidelines augments the existing requirement that all Wi-Fi enabled devices become Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ as part of DLNA interoperability certification.

The WMM program has seen a strong degree of participation from manufacturers of Wi-Fi devices such as access points, phones and consumer electronics. Certifications in the WMM program have risen steadily since the program's launch in September 2004, with an 81 percent quarterly increase during the fourth quarter of 2005 alone.

WMM: Prioritizing Different Applications for the Best User Experience
WMM is a set of features for Wi-Fi networks that improve the user experience for voice, video, and data applications. Based on a profile of the IEEE 802.11e standard, WMM prioritizes traffic demands from different applications and extends Wi-Fi's high quality end-user experience from data connectivity to voice, audio, and video applications under a wide variety of environment and traffic conditions.

WMM allows a network owner to set four priority levels, which correspond to different types of traffic:
-Voice - highest priority
-Video - second highest priority
-'Best effort' (applications like internet surfing and email) - third highest priority
-'Background' (applications which are not latency-sensitive, such as printing) - low priority

By prioritizing individual data streams according to the individual requirements of the application, WMM helps ensure that network traffic won't degrade the performance of a voice call or other highly sensitive application. With voice as the highest priority, WMM enables a single access point to support multiple concurrent VoIP calls with good quality and minimal latency effects such as delay or jitter.

WMM Power Save: Improving Power Consumption for Battery-Operated Devices
The WMM program includes an optional certification called WMM Power Save that leverages the WMM framework to increase low-power 'dozing' time and therefore increase battery life in small form factor devices.

In WMM Power Save, individual applications decide how often the client device needs to communicate with the access point and how long it can remain in a 'dozing' state. This gives battery-operated devices more flexibility in managing power consumption and a longer battery life. In a typical voice application, the Wi-Fi Alliance estimates battery life improvements ranging from 15 to 40 percent.

Learn More
WMM and WMM Power Save are critical features as Wi-Fi technology proliferates in devices such as phones, gaming devices, and digital home media servers and clients. Device manufacturers and application developers can learn more by downloading two white papers:

-"WMM Power Save for Mobile and Portable Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ Devices"

-"Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ for WMM -- Support for Multimedia Applications with Quality of Service in Wi-Fi Networks"

Both papers are available for free download at www.wi-fi.org. Also available at the web site is a tool to find products which have been Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ for WMM and WMM Power Save.


About the Wi-Fi Alliance
The Wi-Fi Alliance is a global, non-profit industry association of more than 250 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 2,500 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.

Wi-Fi®, Wi-Fi Alliance®, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™, the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ logo, and the Wi-Fi logo are registered trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance. WMM , WPA, WPA2, Wi-Fi ZONE, and the Wi-Fi Alliance logo are trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

AUSTIN, Texas, March 13, 2006 - The Wi-Fi Alliance announced today that the WPA2 security certification program, the second generation of Wi-Fi Protected Access, is now a mandatory feature for all new Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ products, marking the next step in the evolution of Wi-Fi security. Nearly 600 products have been Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ for WPA2 since it was introduced as an optional program in September 2004, building on the existing WPA program.

Consumers and enterprise customers alike can be more confident than ever that their wireless networks are using the latest technology by insisting on Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ wireless gear. WPA2 is fully compatible with WPA, the first generation of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ security, and brings the technology two generations past WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), the original security method for Wi-Fi networks.

"By requiring WPA2 for all Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ products, we're making it easy for people to be confident that the very latest generation of security is there, built in, and ready to use," said Wi-Fi Alliance Managing Director Frank Hanzlik. "WPA2 helps ensure that only authorized users can access a network, and that the data they send and receive can't be compromised."

"Elevating the requirements for certification ensures users have access to the very latest security technology," said Craig Matthias, a Principal with the wireless and mobile advisory firm Farpoint Group in Ashland, MA. "With nearly 600 products implementing and certifying WPA2 certification before it became mandatory, the industry has demonstrated its overwhelming support for this standard and desire to deliver on end-user expectations for security and authentication."

A complete list of certified products incorporating WPA2 can be seen by visiting www.wi-fi.org. A white paper titled Deploying Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and WPA2 in the Enterprise is also available for free download.

More on WPA2

WPA2 is based upon the full IEEE 802.11i standard, including the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), which is "government-grade" data encryption developed by the U. S. National Institute of Standards and Technology. WPA2 can be configured to support the earlier WPA security protocol.

There are two types of WPA2: Personal and Enterprise. The WPA2-Personal implementation, designed for consumer use, encrypts data with AES and uses a password to establish access to the Wi-Fi network.

WPA2-Enterprise encrypts data with AES and verifies the identity of network users using Extensible Authentication Protocol, or EAP. The WPA2-Enterprise program includes testing for five widely-deployed EAP types to cater to a variety of usage scenarios and device types.

About the Wi-Fi Alliance

The Wi-Fi Alliance is a global, non-profit industry association of more than 250 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 2,500 products have been designated as Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™, encouraging the expanded use of Wi-Fi products and services across the consumer and enterprise markets.

Wi-Fi®, Wi-Fi Alliance®, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™, the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ logo, and the Wi-Fi logo are registered trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance. WMM, WPA, WPA2, Wi-Fi ZONE, and the Wi-Fi Alliance logo are trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

For more information, contact: Edelman for Wi-Fi Alliance: Michael Diamond, michael.diamond@edelman.com, 650-429-2772.

AUSTIN, Texas, April 12, 2005 The Wi-Fi Alliance has added four new widely deployed Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) types to its Wi-Fi Protected Access- (WPATM) and WPA2-Enterprise certification programs. These new EAP types further expand the tested interoperability of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ WPA- and WPA2-Enterprise networking products for enterprise and government deployments.

The newly-supported EAP types include EAP-TTLS/MSCHAPv2, PEAPv0/EAP-MSCHAPv2, PEAPv1/EAP-GTC and EAP-SIM, joining the currently tested EAP-TLS. In addition, supplicants and authentication servers from Wi-Fi Alliance member companies Devicescape Software and Meetinghouse join existing products from Funk Software, Inc. and Microsoft Corp. in the test bed for the program.

"The robust security enabled by WPA and WPA2 provides the high level of confidence required in large-scale, enterprise-class deployments," commented Wi-Fi Alliance Managing Director Frank Hanzlik. "Expanded EAP testing is a direct response to the ongoing demand for interoperability across authentication methods, and delivers greatly increased flexibility to enterprise IT managers."

The Wi-Fi Alliance has long taken a leadership role with regard to interoperable, standards-based security. Since the launch of the WPA program in April 2003, and the release of WPA2 in September2004, nearly 800 products have undergone WPA and WPA2 interoperability certification.

The Wi-Fi Alliance has also released a new white paper titled, Deploying Wi-Fi Protected Access(WPA) and WPA2 in the Enterprise. This paper, ideal for IT managers planning a Wi-Fi deployment,outlines the seven key steps to successfully deploy a secure Wi-Fi network in an enterprise or government setting. The free white paper is available for download from the Wi-Fi Alliance website at www.wi-fi.org

About the Wi-Fi Alliance

The Wi-Fi Alliance is a global, non-profit industry association of more than 200 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 2,000 products havebeen designated as Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™, encouraging the expanded use of Wi-Fi products andservices across the consumer and enterprise markets. For more information, please visit www.wi-fi.org.

For more information, contact:Edelman for Wi-Fi Alliance: Lisa Grantham, lisa.grantham@edelman.com, 650-429-2758 Edelman for Wi-Fi Alliance: Matthew Krebsbach, matthew.krebsbach@edelman.com, 512-334-6326

Mountain View, CA, February 3, 2004 - The Wi-Fi Alliance announced today that over 175 products from over 40 of the worlds leading technology manufacturers have received Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) security certification since testing began in April of 2003. WPA is the current state-of-the-art wireless LAN security technology. The Wi-Fi Alliance has taken the proactive move of requiring WPA for all Wi-Fi certifications awarded since September 2003. A useful online resource for Wi-Fi Protected Access security can be found at www.wi-fi.org/wpa.

Wi-Fi Protected Access is the security replacement for WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy). Since WEP can be compromised, it should not be considered a secure mechanism to protect Wi-Fi wireless LAN traffic. The Wi-Fi Alliance recommends that WPA be enabled in wireless LAN applications where data security is a concern. WPA has proven to be a very secure and easily implemented security solution. WEP should only be used when a more secure wireless LAN security solution is not available.

Wi-Fi Protected Access meets the wireless LAN security needs of both enterprises and individuals, said Wi-Fi Alliance Managing Director, Frank Hanzlik. This is a very robust, cross vendor interoperable security technology that is both easier to install than its flawed predecessor WEP and far more secure. The Wi-Fi Alliance recommends that WEP be dropped in favor of WPA for applications as soon as feasible.

Wi-Fi Protected Access establishes a strong foundation for secure wireless LAN connections. There are also plans to add additional security capabilities to WPA with the next version of WPA called WPA2. Products certified for WPA2 are anticipated to be available in the middle of 2004. However, users need not wait for WPA2. WPA2 is an enhancement, but most business and personal security needs are met by WPA today, Hanzlik added.

Industry analysts have also found that Wi-Fi Protected Access and Wi-Fi certification have had a positive impact on the security of Wi-Fi technology. Synergy Research has observed that, Until recently, depressed IT spending had a significant negative impact on the market for enterprise wireless products.† Furthermore, security has also been a major concern with Enterprise IT professionals, which has also slowed adoption. However, now that the Wi-Fi Protected Access security solution is available, Synergy has seen a marked increase in Enterprise WLAN sales.

The first WPA certifications were announced in April of 2003, and the certification saw very rapid adoption by wireless LAN vendors prior to it becoming a mandatory feature in September 2003. The Wi-Fi Alliance made Wi-Fi Protected Access security a requirement for Wi-Fi certification due to the importance of security to the end users. It is also important to recognize that Wi-Fi certification is the only way to be sure that wireless LAN products from different vendors and even the same vendor will work together.

The Wi-Fi Alliance currently performs four independent interoperability certifications including IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g and Wi-Fi Protected Access in addition to a combination of all of these technologies. Wi-Fi Protected Access has been required for all certification combinations since September of 2003. A searchable database of Wi-Fi Alliance certifications can be found at www.wi-fi.org/certified_products.

Products awarded the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ logo have undergone rigorous independent testing at one of four labs in Tokyo, Japan; San Jose, California; Winnersh, UK; or Taipei, Taiwan. The Wi-Fi interoperability certification program has become the international standard for providing high-quality interoperability testing for IEEE 802.11-based products.

Companies obtaining Wi-Fi Protected Access product certification include:

See Wi-Fi at CeBIT

Wi-Fi-based wireless LANs will be on display at CeBIT (Hall 13, Wireless Area Network Exchange Pavilion, Stand #D37, Booth #C6), March 18-24, 2004, at the Hannover Fairgrounds in Hannover, Germany.

About the Wi-Fi Alliance

The Wi-Fi Alliance (formerly WECA) is the global Wi-Fi organization that created the Wi-Fi brand. A nonprofit organization, the Alliance was formed in 1999 to certify interoperability of IEEE 802.11 products and to promote them as the global, wireless LAN standard across all market segments.

The Wi-Fi Alliance has instituted a test suite that defines how member products are tested to certify that they are interoperable with other Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ products. These tests are conducted at an independent laboratory.

Membership in the Wi-Fi Alliance is open to all companies that support the IEEE 802.11 family of standards. The Wi-Fi Alliance now comprises over 200 members from the worlds leading companies. These companies offer over 1,000 Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ products. For more information, please visit www.wi-fi.org, and for information on Wi-Fi ZONE public access locations go to www.wi-fizone.org.

Background Information:

WPA Security White Paper: www.wi-fi.org/OpenSection/pdf/Whitepaper_Wi-Fi_Security4-29-03.pdf
WPA Q&A: www.wi-fi.org/OpenSection/pdf/Wi-Fi_Protected_Access_QA.pdf
WPA Overview: www.wi-fi.org/OpenSection/pdf/Wi-Fi_Protected_Access_Overview.pdf
WPA Home Overview: www.wi-fi.org/OpenSection/pdf/WPA_Home_Overview.pdf

Press and analyst contact:

C. Brian Grimm
Wave Communications
for Wi-Fi Alliance
910.686.0870
briang@wavecoms.com