14 DAY TRIAL // Wireless networks have come a long way since their initial development, and it would seem that they're on the brink of yet another huge leap ahead. Thus, the Wi-Fi alliance, an international organization in charge of promoting the growth of wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), has just announced that it has begun extensive testing in order to certify the interoperability of various 802.11n draft 2.0 products, which would ultimately lead to the appearance of a whole new range of devices certified to work with each other, despite coming from various manufacturers.
"Wi-Fi certified 802.11n draft 2.0 Wi-Fi brings the digital home of the future to life today, and revolutionizes the capabilities of enterprise networking. It is the most important advance for Wi-Fi technology since its invention," said Wi-Fi Alliance managing director Frank Hanzlik. "With the launch of this certification program, the industry as a whole has come together to deliver the very best user experience - helping ensure that consumers and enterprises can purchase with confidence and make the most of advanced Wi-Fi technology today."
The main reason why the certification of 802.11n draft 2.0 products is so important is the fact that these devices can deliver up to five times the throughput and up to twice the range of those based on previous standards. This permits the development of a wide range of applications that require the transfer of data at higher speeds, whether we're talking about video, gaming or networks. Moreover, the certification program also includes WMM (Wi-Fi Mutlimedia) quality of service, which helps deliver the best user experience with applications such as video, voice, and gaming.
Kurt Scherf, vice president and principal analyst with Parks Associates, also considers that this certification process is very important. "With the advancements offered by 802.11n, Wi-Fi takes center stage as a key technology for networked digital home applications such as streaming high-definition video and interactive gaming. Because Wi-Fi is so easy to use, and certification means different brands of gear work together, we expect the momentum to continue. There will be substantial implementation of 802.11n Wi-Fi in certain consumer electronics products."
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