Short for wireless fidelity, WiFi is the leading communication protocol for wireless local area networks (WLANs). WiFi generically refers to any type of 802.11 network, whether 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g, or a dual-band combination of these IEEE protocols. Products tested and certified as “WiFi Certified” by the WiFi Alliance are interoperable with each other, even if they are from different manufacturers.
The WiFi industry is arguably the hottest sector in wireless -- and certainly one of the fastest growing. WiFi-enabled WLANs are rapidly replacing wired local area networks in both businesses and homes.
Business developments are keeping apace as well. Carriers are strategizing about how to utilize WLANs to enhance or augment 3G. Companies such as Boingo Wireless and WayPort are building and aggregating Wi-Fi “hotspots” in coffee shops, airports, hotels, and other locations across the country; they sell access to these hotspots as wireless Internet service providers (WISPs). Companies like Vivato and Antenova are making technical strides in extending the range of 802.11 networks, while others, like Atheros Communication, are making 802.11 chipsets. Meanwhile, most laptops shipped today are already WiFi-enabled, with Intel’s new Centrino chipsets leading the way.
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