News
Issue #2002 - 39 (October 2002)
(Updated Oct. 15, 2002)

TECHNOLOGY

WiFi5 is Dead ; Long Live WiFi

Wi-Fi5 designation was expected to be the moniker, the Wi-Fi Alliance planned to give any wireless networking product it certified that used the 802.11a standard. 

But a week ago, the alliance - -an association of companies that certifies whether wireless local area networking products meet Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) standards--scrapped those plans. It instead decided to call the new products "Wi-Fi," the same name it gives certified equipment based on the 802.11b standard, said Wi-Fi Alliance President Dennis Eaton.

"A single brand name for both products will reduce confusion and help consumers with their buying decision," Eaton said.

Those who got an early glimpse of the Wi-Fi5 name on certification labels didn't get it, Eaton said. It left them wondering, "what happened to WiFi2, WiF3 and Wi-Fi4," Eaton said. But those technologies don't exist. The "5" in Wi-Fi5 referred to the 5GHz radio frequency that 802.11a uses. 802.11b equipment operates within the 2.4GHz radio frequency.

For more information: www.wifi.org

MobileInfo Comments and Advisory:  This will reduce confusion on the surface but responsibility for interoperability of IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.11b devices on access points and wireless LANs will move to the vendors and WiFi certification. Let the customer know the environment in which these devices will work.

Note: This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Readers should take appropriate caution in developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology architectures.  All trademarks used in this summary are the property of their respective owners.