Wi-Fi Alliance won't wait for IEEE
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(InfoWorld) - âI-triple-what?â was the question being asked last week, after the Wi-Fi Alliance said it will start certifying next-generation wireless LAN products by the first half of 2007, regardless of whether the IEEE has signed off on new wireless specifications for them. The announcement last Tuesday was a break from tradition for the Alliance, which tests and certifies wireless LAN products from different vendors for interoperability; typically, the group waits until the IEEE has fully certified a wireless standard before testing products against it and putting its seal of approval on those that pass the test. In question is final approval of a specification for 802.11n, a proposed wireless standard that would support data throughput of 100Mbps or higher. A nasty fight over how to use multiple antennas and radios to achieve that performance boost has pushed back the expected approval of the specification several times. Final ratification of the specification is now scheduled for April 2008. With Wi-Fi products supporting some 802.11n features already available, the Wi-Fi Alliance couldnât wait around, said Managing Director Frank Hanzlik. The Alliance will use a two-phase certification process, testing for interoperability against whatever parts of the standard it believes are solid and unlikely to change, Hanzlik said. In Phase 2, the Alliance will use the approved IEEE standard, whenever itâs finished. Vendors strongly back the Wi-Fi Allianceâs dual-stage plan, even though some chip set makers have already performed interoperability tests for draft 802.11n products, Hanzlik claimed. âThe only way to really get the right kind of user experience is if thereâs an industrywide interoperability program,â Hanzlik added.
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San Franciscoâs mayor, Gavin Newsom, remains committed to a plan to roll out a citywide Wi-Fi network despite EarthLinkâs decision to bow out an agreement to build the system.
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The Wi-Fi Alliance on Monday launched the action phase of its plan to get faster wireless networking products into the market, kicking off certification testing of gear based on a draft version of the IEEE 802.11n standard.
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Chip maker wants you to know about the benefits of a wireless network.
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The Wi-Fi Alliance "strongly discourages" manufacturers from launching products using standards that haven't yet been approved.
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A second consortium puts in a bid for the faster 802.11n spec. But don't expect a battle over formats.
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The battle over home entertainment networking is heating up as a coalition proposes yet another standard for the IEEE&#39;s consideration.
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Intel on Thursday announced a component that&#39;s compatible with all Wi-Fi standards, which will let the chipmaker reach the full audience of individuals who want to wirelessly connect to local area networks.
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New component will help next generation of Intel's wireless chip technology reach full audience for Wi-Fi.
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The Wi-Fi Alliance said on Tuesday it  will begin next year to give its seal of approval to new  products that wirelessly send high definition video around the  house using a faster version of the popular short range  technology called Wi-Fi.
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Collaborations to help spread WiMAX are still up in the air.
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Nowhere is wireless network reliability, coverage and speed more important than in healthcare applications.  Columnist Craig Mathias says new-generation WLAN systems are up to the task.
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The wireless-infrastructure leader is connected to a profitable future.
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The fickle finger of an IEEE committee may be goading along a death rattle for the organization's goal of reaching a 100 Gb/s Ethernet standard.â¦
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Technology behind super-fast wireless networks is close to getting official approval.
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Networking consortium submits proposal for faster Wi-Fi, as battle lines are drawn between rival groups.
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Sleepy Spokane, Wash., has a secret: it's the wireless hot spot of the future