802.11 Helping Define Next Generation Wireless Standards COLLAPSE “802.11 is known as Wi-Fi* and is beginning to take the world by storm. Tens of millions of Wi-Fi devices will be sold this year. That includes the majority of notebook computers sold. Most notebooks today have 802.11 capabilities. The term “Wi-Fi” was the invention of what is now called the Wi-Fi Alliance (WFA — formerly known as the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance). The WFA decided the term “IEEE 802.11b-compliant” was too long and hard for consumers looking for certified products to remember. “Wi-Fi” meant nothing at the time, but sounded like “hi-fi,” a familiar term to consumers. Later on, the meaning “wireless fidelity” was attached to “Wi-Fi.” Analysts predict 100 million people will be using this short-range wireless broadband technology by 2006 (The Economist). But 802.11 technology innovation is hardly finished yet. In many ways, it seems as if it’s just beginning…” The full text at http://www.intel.com/standards/case/case_802_11.htm