SPOTLIGHT: WiFi stands for nothing


Phil Belanger is a founding member of the Wi-Fi Alliance who helped decide on the name "Wi-Fi". Belanger says the term does not stand for anything, is not an acronym and has no further meaning. Interbrand invented the term just as they invented "Prozac" and "Compaq" and various other previously nonsensical monikers. Things got confusing after other members of the Wi-Fi Alliance couldn't handle the term being devoid of meaning. So they compromised on a tagline for WiFi: "The Standard for Wireless Fidelity." However, the tag was invented after WiFi and soon dropped, but not before it appeared on various polo shirts, hats and duffel bags. Blog