Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Wi-Fi Direct™ Receives Popular Science Top Honor With Best of What's New 2010 Award

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 17, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Less than one month after the Wi-Fi Alliance® launched Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Wi-Fi Direct, the technology behind this new certification program has now been recognized by Popular Science magazine with the Best of What's New 2010 Award.  Each year, the editors of Popular Science search for breakthrough products and technologies that represent a significant leap in their categories, for this award.

"We are proud to have been awarded the Best of What's New 2010 designation from Popular Science," said Kelly Davis-Felner, marketing director of the Wi-Fi Alliance.  "Wi-Fi Direct is industry-shifting innovation and it's already spurring the introduction of a new wave of connectable devices. We're excited to see the technological advancements that will come from this program."

The high tech industry is buzzing about the launch of Wi-Fi Direct certification and the reliable, security-protected connections the underlying technology enables for device-to-device applications.

"We designed Wi-Fi Direct to enable devices to connect and share, sync, print and play – when, where and how users want," said Davis-Felner.  "Wi-Fi Direct certification means that people will get a terrific connectivity experience, regardless of product brand."

Consumer product vendors have already begun to certify Wi-Fi Direct products.  Two smartphones and multiple reference designs have received Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Wi-Fi Direct designation to date.

This makes the second time Wi-Fi Alliance has received a Popular Science Best of What's New award. Wi-Fi Alliance previously received the award for the launch of 802.11b certification.

"For 23 years, Popular Science has honored the innovations that surprise and amaze us − those that make a positive impact on our world today and challenge our views of what's possible in the future." said Mark Jannot, Editor-in-Chief of Popular Science. "The Best of What's New Award is the magazine's top honor, and the 100 winners − chosen from among thousands of entrants − represent the highest level of achievement in their fields."

The Wi-Fi Direct certification program is based on the Wi-Fi Peer-to-Peer technology specification collaboratively developed by silicon and device vendors within the Wi-Fi Alliance. Connections based on the underlying specification will work at typical Wi-Fi speeds and range, protected by WPA2™ certified security protocols.

More information including a current list of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Wi-Fi Direct products, the technical specification, white papers, and more, is available at www.wi-fi.org/Wi-Fi_Direct.php.

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 8,000 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.

About Best of What's New

Each year, the editors of Popular Science review thousands of products in search of the top 100 tech innovations of the year; breakthrough products and technologies that represent a significant leap in their categories. The winners — the Best of What's New — are awarded inclusion in the much-anticipated December issue of Popular Science, the most widely read issue of the year since the debut of Best of What's New in 1987. Best of What's New awards are presented to 100 new products and technologies in 11 categories: Automotive, Aviation & Space, Computing, Engineering, Gadgets, Green Tech, Home Entertainment, Securities, Home Tech, Personal Health and Recreation.

About Popular Science

Founded in 1872, Popular Science is the world's largest science and technology magazine; with a circulation of 1.3 million and 6.8 million monthly readers. Each month, Popular Science reports on the intersection of science and everyday life, with an eye toward what's new and why it matters. Popular Science is published by Bonnier Active Media, a subsidiary of Bonnier Corporation.

SOURCE Wi-Fi Alliance

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