Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ Remains a Key Market Enabler as Certifications Reach 10,000

AUSTIN, Texas, April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 10,000 Wi-Fi CERTIFIED designations have been granted by the Wi-Fi Alliance®, the global, non-profit trade association at the center of the Wi-Fi® industry. Millions of Wi-Fi devices on the market today offer the latest features and security protections, as well as the ability to interoperate across brands, as a result of the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED program.

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Worldwide demand for interoperable, security-protected Wi-Fi products has grown since the program's introduction in March 2000. The rate of product certifications has risen exponentially over the program's lifetime, reflecting the importance of Wi-Fi technology in today's connected world. While it took eight years to reach the 5,000-certification milestone, more than 2,000 certifications were given in 2010 alone.

"We are incredibly proud of the real impact and value of our Wi-Fi CERTIFIED program," said Edgar Figueroa , CEO of the Wi-Fi Alliance. "Wi-Fi technology was in its infancy just ten years ago. Today Wi-Fi is increasingly enabling new products, new applications and new markets that extend our connectivity and enrich our experience. Wi-Fi certification will remain a fundamental part of our connected experience since we continue to develop numerous new capabilities and applications for Wi-Fi."

Manufacturers are certifying and shipping more Wi-Fi devices than ever before to meet demand. ABI Research has reported that annual Wi-Fi shipments grew to 761 million products in 2010 and that the number will reach one billion by the end of 2011. Wi-Fi Alliance certifications grew 62 percent in 2010, the largest year-over-year growth in the history of the program.

The fastest-growing Wi-Fi CERTIFIED product categories were mobile phones and consumer electronics – such as TVs, tablets and gaming devices – which together account for more than half of all certifications. Fittingly, the 10,000th certification was for a LED-LCD TV with Wi-Fi Direct™ and Wi-Fi Protected Setup™. The growth trend in certifications is expected to continue as Wi-Fi technology reaches beyond consumer electronics, mobile devices and computing to have a stronger presence in industrial, smart energy, healthcare, automotive and other categories.

"Wi-Fi continues to add value across a wide range of product categories. Easier setup and configuration, has enabled the technology to quickly move to the mainstream," said Victoria Fodale , senior analyst – mobile devices, ABI Research. "Today Wi-Fi can be found in businesses, homes and cities throughout the world, and Wi-Fi certification has been a fundamental enabler of that success story."

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED devices have passed rigorous tests for interoperability across brands and between legacy generations of Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi certification also mandates support for Wi-Fi Protected Access® 2 (WPA2™) – the latest and most advanced form of Wi-Fi security. The program helps ensure a good user experience and helps manufacturers and service providers decrease support costs by implementing industry-wide, trusted and tested technology solutions. Wi-Fi CERTIFIED testing is performed at a worldwide network of 14 independent Authorized Test Laboratories located in China, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Spain, Taiwan and the United States. 

A full listing of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products can be found at http://www.wi-fi.org/search_products.php

About the Wi-Fi Alliance

www.wi-fi.org

The Wi-Fi Alliance is a global non-profit industry association of hundreds of leading companies devoted to the proliferation of Wi-Fi technology across devices and market segments. With technology development, market building, and regulatory programs, the Wi-Fi Alliance has enabled widespread adoption of Wi-Fi worldwide.

The Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ program was launched in March 2000. It provides a widely-recognized designation of interoperability and quality and it helps to ensure that Wi-Fi enabled products deliver the best user experience. The Wi-Fi Alliance has completed more than 10,000 product certifications to date, encouraging the expanded use of Wi-Fi products and services in new and established markets.  

Wi-Fi®, Wi-Fi Alliance®, WMM®, Wi-Fi Protected Access® (WPA), the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo, the Wi-Fi logo, the Wi-Fi ZONE logo and the Wi-Fi Protected Setup logo are registered trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance. Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™, Wi-Fi Direct™, Wi-Fi Protected Setup™, Wi-Fi Multimedia™ and the Wi-Fi Alliance logo are trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

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Contact:
Karl Stetson
Edelman for Wi-Fi Alliance
karl.stetson@edelman.com
206-268-2215

SOURCE Wi-Fi Alliance

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