AUSTIN, TX, March 22, 2011 ? An initiative to transform the user experience in hotspots is underway in the Wi-Fi Alliance�. Service providers and device manufacturers in the organization have formalized a set of industry market requirements that will lay the foundation for a new Wi-Fi CERTIFIED testing program that addresses authentication and provision of service for public Wi-Fi networks.
"Ensuring end users can easily access hotspot networks from various providers is a win for subscribers, service providers and device makers alike," said Kelly Davis-Felner, marketing director of the Wi-Fi Alliance. "We envision an automated, cellular-like experience for Wi-Fi users around the world in security-protected service provider hotspots."
The Wi-Fi Alliance hotspot program will also facilitate the seamless handoff of cellular traffic from data-hungry smartphones, tablets and other portable electronics to Wi-Fi, helping service providers manage demands on constrained licensed spectrum. Data volume over cellular networks is forecast to nearly double from 2011 to 2012, reaching 4.56 million terabytes[1]. In an effort to address this trend, many service providers have recently announced expanded Wi-Fi hotspot deployment plans. As a result, the number of hotspots worldwide is expected to more than double by 2014, from the current estimate of 750,000.
"Wi-Fi's performance and ubiquity make it a compelling solution for data offload, and service providers are leveraging Wi-Fi as an important part of their strategies," said Philip Solis, research director for mobile devices at ABI Research. "Having an industry-wide solution for provision and authentication enables service providers to take those strategies even further. It enables the development of roaming agreements and ready access to Wi-Fi for subscribers of numerous service providers."
The key benefits of the hotspot program include:
* Network Discovery and Selection: Devices discover and automatically choose networks based upon user preferences, operator policies and network optimization
� Streamlined Network Access: In many cases, devices will be automatically granted access to the network based upon credential mechanisms, such as SIM cards, which are widely used in cellular devices today
� WPA2 Security: Over-the-air transmissions are encrypted using the latest-generation security technology
* Immediate Account Provisioning: The process of establishing a new user account at the point of access will be streamlined, eliminating user steps and driving a common provisioning methodology across vendors
The planned launch of the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED hotspot certification program is targeted for the first half of 2012. To learn more about Wi-Fi Alliance and see a list of member companies, visit www.wi-fi.org.
About the Wi-Fi Alliance
The Wi-Fi Alliance is a global non-profit industry association of hundreds of leading companies devoted to the proliferation of Wi-Fi technology across devices and market segments. With technology development, market building, and regulatory programs, the Wi-Fi Alliance has enabled widespread adoption of Wi-Fi worldwide.
The Wi-Fi CERTIFIED? program was launched in March 2000. It provides a widely-recognized designation of interoperability and quality and it helps to ensure that Wi-Fi enabled products deliver the best user experience. The Wi-Fi Alliance has completed more than 9,000 product certifications to date, encouraging the expanded use of Wi-Fi products and services in new and established markets.
Wi-Fi�, Wi-Fi Alliance�, WMM�, Wi-Fi Protected Access� (WPA), the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo, the Wi-Fi logo, the Wi-Fi ZONE logo, and the Wi-Fi Protected Setup logo are registered trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance; Wi-Fi CERTIFIED?, Wi-Fi Direct?, Wi-Fi Protected Setup?, Wi-Fi Multimedia?, and the Wi-Fi Alliance logo are trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
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