DigiTimes interviewed Frank Hanzlik, managing director of the Wi-Fi Alliance. Here’s an excert:
Q: How do you see the Wi-Fi Alliance s certification and testing procedures helping the WLAN market?A: Currently, more than 1,400 products support Wi-Fi standards, but only one-third of the products submitted make it through the first stage of tests, as requirements for certification are kept strict.
The 802.11 standards have become more advanced over the last few years, and we now have more than one standard, including 802.11a/g, WPA (Wi-Fi wireless protected access) and WPA2, which are an improvement from the original 802.11b. The Wi-Fi certifications will perform the task of providing across-the-board standards for product quality assurance. This has become a key to competition within the rising number of participants in the market.
The rate of return for certificated goods is only 7%, which is much lower than the 17% for products without certification. The Wi-Fi certified products have proven they can win customers trust for their reliability.
Q: The international standards group IEEE recently approved 802.11i, an updated version of the current 802.11 wireless security standard. Does the Wi-Fi Alliance have any new certifications based on the new 802.11i standard?
A: We launched the first-generation WPA security, supported by more than 500 products, in September last year. With 802.11i finalized on June 23, the WPA2 labs will begin the certification process in September, right on schedule.
Q: Does the alliance have new certification plans apart from the security issue?
A: WLAN products have expanded into the desktop PC and consumer electronics markets. We plan to start new certifications covering QoS (quality of service) capabilities for voice and multimedia services. Currently we do not have the proper name for that process, but the certification will be based on the IEEE 802.11e standard. A list of members who pass the test will be released in September, when the certification is initially announced.
Unlike WPA, the certification for QoS is not included as a compulsory testing item. Similar to the verification process of 802.11i by the IEEE, we set up QoS qualifications before the testing process began.
Q: What do you consider the important growth drivers for the next-generation products in the WLAN industry?
A: Applications in consumer electronics and automotive markets offer great potential, and product differentiation is considered more important than price competition at the moment. Currently, consumer electronics products with a Wi-Fi capability are rare. However, according to Parks Associates, an industry and consumer research firm, demand for consumer electronics products worldwide is expected to jump five-fold by 2007, with total sales of US$150 million. Wi-Fi-enabled consumer products, including DVD players, mobile phones, telephones, televisions and game consoles, will be a boon to the WLAN market and all certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance. In addition, we plan to add a new certification for multimedia devices, while the WLAN market is expanding into the broader consumer electronics market.
Q: Tell us your thoughts about the new 802.11n standard, which will be finalized by the IEEE in 2006.
A: The 802.11n standard is just at the beginning stage of development. If the standard is finalized in the second quarter of 2006, companies can then begin the verification process for products in the third quarter. 802.11n should replace the current 802.11a/b/g standards by then, and should see significant growth in the personal electronics market. We are closely watching how developments for 802.11 are receiving increased communication and interaction within the IEEE.
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