Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ Products
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED is a program for testing products to the 802.11 industry standards for interoperability, security, easy installation, and reliability. The Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo is an assurance that the Wi-Fi Alliance has tested a product in numerous configurations and with a diverse sampling of other devices to ensure compatibility with other Wi-Fi CERTIFIED equipment that operates in the same frequency band. The Wi-Fi Alliance network of independent test labs conducts interoperability testing programs to ensure that wireless devices work together and support secure connections.
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ n: Longer-Range, Faster-Throughput, Multimedia-Grade Wi-Fi® Networks (2009)
The Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n interoperability test program certifies products based on the 802.11n amendment to the IEEE 802.11 standard (802.11n). 802.11n is the latest step in the evolution of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technology. This paper provides an overview of 802.11n technology and describes the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n program in detail.
The 802.11n amendment introduces substantial enhancements in Wi-Fi performance. Today's Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n devices can deliver five times or more throughput and more robust connections at up to twice the range of legacy 802.11 technology. This improved performance is available today in a broad and growing range of products addressing diverse market requirements. As manufacturers incorporate key 802.11n capabilities into their products, the full potential of 802.11n will become evident. Fully featured Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n products have the ability to transport high-definition (HD) video streams through the house, while at the same time accommodating Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) streams and data transfers for multiple users with high Quality of Service (QoS). Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n devices also have the latest generation security protections. In enterprise, campus and municipal networks, 802.11n offers the robustness, throughput, security and QoS capabilities that IT managers seek.
The Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n program is an update to the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 program which was released in June 2007 (draft-n program). The baseline requirements of the program are unchanged, and the updated program adds support for some optional features included in the standard. The Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n program preserves interoperability with more than 700 products certified under the draft-n program, including computers, consumer electronics such as televisions and media servers, and consumer networking devices. The success of the draft-n program extended deeply into the enterprise segment, with more than 100 enterprise-grade access point/switch devices certified. Since all products certified under the draft-n program meet the core requirements of, and interoperate with, the updated program, they are eligible to use the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n logo without retesting.
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED devices have been tested for interoperability to improve the user experience. Consumers show a clear preference for Wi-Fi CERTIFIED devices and many enterprise users specify Wi-Fi CERTIFIED equipment.
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products offer benefits to all players in the value chain. Certified interoperability supports lower return rates, reduced support costs, higher consumer satisfaction and increased sales volumes.
The first Wi-Fi CERTIFIED product was announced in 2000. Since then thousands of products have been certified and numerous certification programs have been launched. Certification programs include basic connectivity, security, authentication, and Quality of Service (QoS), as well as simplified setup of security-enabled home networks, radio performance, convergence with cellular, and high throughput.
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Audience
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Benefits of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Equipment
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Chipset designers, Original Design Manufacturers (ODMs)
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Interoperability among Wi-Fi CERTIFIED equipment opens a large addressable market for Wi-Fi chipset designers and ODMs, where economies of scale can significantly bring costs down. Wi-Fi integration in devices with multiple wireless interfaces is an emerging and attractive market for chipset designers and ODMs and one that requires certified devices, as interoperability is an essential requirement. |
| Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of networking equipment and consumer electronics |
Certification helps ensure interoperability with other equipment vendors' products and allows OEMs a further measure to test quality in their equipment before introducing it into the market, thus reducing overall support costs. Wi-Fi CERTIFIED branding enables worldwide recognition and facilitates entry into new markets. |
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Application developers
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The global reach of Wi-Fi means that applications that support Wi-Fi can be marketed worldwide, lowering development costs and enlarging the addressable market. Wi-Fi Alliance certification programs such as WMM, WMM Power Save, and Wi-Fi Protected Setup provide additional functionality that enables application developers to bring more advanced applications to market. |
Service providers
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Certification brings interoperability to large-scale deployments. Support for Wi-Fi devices is streamlined, even in multi-vendor deployments, helping to contain costs. High awareness of the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED brand among subscribers and can increase marketing impact of new product offerings. |
Retailers
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The Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo is conducive to higher sales and higher customer satisfaction, supporting lower return rates and customer service costs. It also helps sales representatives to direct customers to the appropriate product and to identify the functionality it supports. |
Consumer users
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Wi-Fi CERTIFIED is a trusted brand that offers interoperability, standards-based security, easy installation, and reliability. It is an assurance that an independent third party has tested the product in numerous configurations and with a diverse sampling of other devices to ensure compatibility with other Wi-Fi CERTIFIED equipment. |
Enterprise customers
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Whether deploying a new infrastructure or integrating new equipment into an existing infrastructure, using Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products ensures interoperability of Wi-Fi products from multiple vendors. Fewer network problems and support calls are often additional advantages of using Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products. |
Look for the Logo
 Wi-Fi CERTIFIED devices carry the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo and are available through major electronics retailers. Choosing Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products allows you to mix and match devices from different manufacturers, makes setting up your network quick and easy and lets you choose the latest and greatest features and applications.
The Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo is your only assurance that a product has met rigorous interoperability testing requirements to ensure that compatible products from different vendors will work together. Look for the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo with color-coded Standard Indicator Icons (SII) on product packaging, or search through our web site listing of CERTIFIED products before making a Wi-Fi purchase. "Do not buy any equipment that isn't Wi-Fi CERTIFIED -- you will end up tossing it."
-- Michael Disbato, Burton Group (IT analyst firm)
Testing Programs - Core Technology & Security
There are four generations of Wi-Fi technology currently available - 802.11n is the newest. All devices that undergo Wi-Fi CERTIFIED testing are tested according to their capabilities. An overview of these generations is below:
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Wi-Fi Technology
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Frequency Band
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Bandwidth or maximum data rate
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802.11a
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5 GHz
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54 Mbps
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802.11b
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2.4 GHz
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11 Mbps
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802.11g
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2.4 GHz
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54 Mbps
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802.11n
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2.4 GHz, 5 GHz,
2.4 or 5 GHz (selectable), or
2.4 and 5 GHz (concurrent)
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450 Mbps
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Additionally, all Wi-Fi CERTIFIED devices are tested to ensure that they support robust security capabilities. WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) certification indicates that a device can operate with both strong security and privacy.
Testing Programs - Optional Capabilities
Beyond core certifications, there are Wi-Fi CERTIFIED designations for devices that have undergone testing for additional capabilities:
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Program
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Benefit
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Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS)
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Easy setup of network security using a Personal Identification Number (PIN), button, or by touching two devices together.
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WMM® (Wi-Fi Multimedia™)
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Support for multimedia content over Wi-Fi networks by prioritizing the traffic generated by multimedia applications.
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WMM Power Save
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Conserves battery life while using voice and multimedia applications by managing the time the device spends in sleep mode.
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Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ Products
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