What is WI-FI?
| Technology: | WI-FI (Wireless Fidelity) |
| Purpose: | Wireless Internet access |
| Frequency: | 2.4GHz |
| Range: | 150 feet indoors |
| Speed: | 11 Mbps |
| Devices: | Laptop computers, PDAs, cell phones |
| Compatibility: | Other 2.4GHz devices, like cordless phones |
| Wireless Fidelity |
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Wi-Fi is another name for IEEE 802.11b. It is a trade term promulgated by the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA). "Wi-Fi" is used in place of 802.11b in the same way that "Ethernet" is used in place of IEEE 802.3. Products certified as Wi-Fi by WECA are interoperable with each other even if they are from different manufacturers. A user with a Wi-Fi product can use any brand of Access Point with any other brand of client hardware that is built to the Wi-Fi standard. The Wi-Fi Alliance is a nonprofit international association formed in 1999 to certify interoperability of wireless Local Area Network products based on IEEE 802.11 specification. Currently the Wi-Fi Alliance has 205 member companies from around the world, and 915 products have received Wi-FiŽ certification since certification began in March of 2000. The goal of the Wi-Fi Alliance's members is to enhance the user experience through product interoperability. |
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