How does Wi-Fi Alliance help ensure product compatibility and a good user experience for certified products?

Securing Wi-Fi connections is an important crucial networking, and Wi-Fi Alliance® has isbeen on the forefront of evolving Wi-Fi security.

Passpoint mandates the use of Protected Management Frames for all connections and it leverages the EEE 802.11u specification – a version of 802.1x. It’s restricted to access points and devices capable of WPA2 and WPA3 authentication, specifically the EAP authentication protocol,. That’s which is the current industry standard for network security.

Passpoint technologies are key to support mobile data offload and are key enablers for both mobile operators and internet service provider services.

Hospitality chains may own many brands but a single consolidated rewards program. Without Passpoint, either the rewards program SSID needs to be added at every hotel or users’ phones must be configured with several SSIDs. Passpoint can function with a single profile that identifies the rewards program instead of a hotel SSID. When a user visits an associated property, their device will automatically identify the access point and connect.

Miracast is unique to other wireless display solutions in that a direct peer-to-peer connection between two devices may be formed to share content residing on the source device, without the need for a Wi-Fi network. If streaming content from the internet, a network connection is required.

WiGig is a complement to other WI-Fi CERTIFIED programs, enabling access to the 60 GHz frequency band for multi-band capability.

• WiGig utilizes the 60 GHz radio frequency band, while 2.4 and 5 GHz frequency bands are utilized in and n implementations
• WiGig provides a high throughput, low latency connection for devices within its range of operations
• WiGig uses beamforming to reduce interference and increase capacity

Yes, WiGig is available now. Search Wi-Fi CERTIFIED WiGig devices in our Product Finder.

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED WiGig enables extremely high data rates, lower latency, and dynamic session transfer in multi-band devices. Products implementing the technology behind Wi-Fi CERTIFIED WiGig features are capable of multi-gigabit data rates up to 8 Gbps – nearly double that of devices implementing Wi-Fi CERTIFIED ac features.

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED WiGig handles today’s most demanding applications, like virtual reality and augmented reality, providing a more immersive user experience.  Utilizing the 60 GHz band, WiGig can offload congestion in the Wi-Fi network. Devices within a WiGig connection range can:

• Transfer an HD movie to a tablet in a few seconds
• Play video and mobile games in device-to-device mode with no noticeable latency
• Stream multiple HD quality videos at one time
• Provide home theater experiences without wires

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED WiGig devices improve wireless performance in the enterprise in the following ways:

• Wireless docking, allowing employees to complete work from a multitude of devices without the burden of a wired connection
• More efficient in-office networking, allowing for large file transfers and bandwidth-heavy applications to run seamlessly
• Projecting graphics, and audio to a large screen in a conference room or auditorium with very low latency

The large majority of devices containing WiGig will be multi-band, combining support for the 2.4, 5, and 60 GHz frequency bands. Users can take advantage of more demanding applications and avoid interference from other devices using WiGig. Many devices will enable seamless transition across frequency bands.

Yes, multi-band Wi-Fi CERTIFIED WiGig devices are interoperable with Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products operating in the 2.4 and 5 GHz frequency bands.

MU-MIMO is an innovative breakthrough that enables simultaneous communication to multiple devices, improving overall speed and enabling network multitasking.

Upgrading devices to use wave 2 features is implementation dependent. Some devices can be upgraded through software, but most will require new hardware.

Passpoint enabled mobile devices can choose networks based on a list of preferred (direct or partner) providers, specific services and/or the best performance characteristics. For service providers offering a managed experience, seamless authentication is a valuable element, and Passpoint networks also support deployments where a click-through screen is essential for acceptance of terms and conditions or branding.

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED ac enables higher data rates, higher capacity and lower latency.  Products implementing the technology behind Wi-Fi CERTIFIED ac with wave 2 features are capable of multi-gigabit data rates– nearly triple that of devices implementing only wave 1 features.

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED ac handles today’s demanding applications and paves the way for new applications in the future.  Certified-ac devices are more robust and offer a greater user experience including:

• Transferring an HD movie to a tablet in under 4 minutes
• Sharing photo albums with friends in seconds
• Streaming three HD quality videos at one time

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED ac devices also improve wireless performance in the enterprise in the following ways:

• Enhanced user experience for teleconference meetings
• Delivering greater in-office networking coverage – more clients for the same number of APs per office area
• Projecting graphics, video and audio to a large screen in a conference room or auditorium

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED ac operates in the 5 GHz band, but devices support the 2.4 GHz band by integrating Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n.  Dual-band devices switch between the more crowded but popular 2.4 GHz frequency band, to the cleaner 5 GHz frequency band to connect more demanding applications and avoid interference from other devices.

As with all Wi-Fi CERTIFIED devices, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED ac products are tested to ensure interoperability with legacy Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products. Products must operate in the same frequency band in order to connect.

Audio-only devices are not part of the Miracast certification program.

Miracast provides industry-standard protection of premium content through support of High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP). HDCP is a wireless adaptation of the same trusted content protection mechanisms widely used for cabled interfaces, providing diversity in premium content options. This feature is designed to protect the digital rights of content owners and to encourage their efforts to make their content available.

Miracast supports many commonly used audio/video format.  For a complete list, download the Miracast Technical Overview.

Wi-Fi Direct allows devices to connect directly to each other, without the need for a Wi-Fi access point (AP). It simply requires the push of a button or the entry of a PIN. Wi-Fi Direct allows source and display devices to discover one another and provides the underlying device-to-device connectivity for Miracast. Miracast builds upon Wi-Fi Direct with mechanisms to negotiate video capabilities, setup content protection (if needed), stream content, and maintain the video session.

Miracast certification includes testing for audio/video (A/V) latency, quality, and synchronization offset. Testing ensures that devices operate across vendors, provide simplified discovery and setup, meet the minimum display resolution requirement, and implement content protection (when implemented). Miracast devices are also tested for implementation of WPA2™ security. Wi-Fi Alliance members may view details on certification testing in the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Miracast Test Plan.

Both the display and the source devices must be Miracast certified. Miracast may be used on devices without embedded Wi-Fi capability by using a Miracast-certified adapter that supports an interface such as High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) or Universal Serial Bus (USB).

Miracast certification is available for video-capable devices such as TVs, handsets, tablets, laptops, set-top boxes, cameras, and projectors.

Miracast is the brand for the certification program operated by Wi-Fi Alliance. Devices that pass this certification testing can be referred to as “Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Miracast™ devices” or “Miracast^® devices”. Miracast certification is based on the Wi-Fi Alliance Miracast Specification. This is the underlying specification developed by Wi-Fi Alliance members, and is copyrighted and owned by Wi-Fi Alliance. Wi-Fi Display is the original name for the Miracast technology.

Two Wi-Fi CERTIFIED TDLS devices will automatically form a direct connection after linking to the Wi-Fi network.  No user interaction is required.

Passpoint devices use industry-agreed uniform mechanisms for discovering and creating secured connections to hotspots. This allows a subscriber to experience seamless Wi-Fi connectivity to a hotspot anywhere in the world a user’s provider has roaming agreements. Passpoint is specified as a requirement for the Wireless Broadband Alliance’s industry work on Wi-Fi roaming.

Passpoint makes use of elements of IEEE 802.1X, 802.11u, 802.11i, and WPA3™-Enterprise security, as well as some Wi-Fi Alliance defined mechanisms.

Members of Wi-Fi Alliance created the program. The group which developed Passpoint includes service providers, mobile operators, fixed line operators, and makers of mobile devices and infrastructure equipment.

Passpoint provides a better Wi-Fi user experience while mobile. Users with certified Passpoint devices can enjoy the benefits of streamlined network selection and secure connectivity at Passpoint enabled hotspots. Passpoint-enabled devices operate based on user preference.

Most of the existing silicon is Passpoint capable. The hardware and software platform of a given device determines whether it can be upgraded in the field. Equipment that has previously undergone certification testing can be updated and resubmitted for Passpoint certification.

Legacy mobile devices can connect to Passpoint access points configured for open system authentication, although they will not enjoy Passpoint features for network selection, automatic authentication, or expanded security. A user connecting to an open network with a legacy mobile device will manually find the available networks and then select and connect to the preferred network.

The access points used in hotspot and enterprise networks are often configured to support multiple SSIDs (networks) on the same equipment; a configuration that offers a Passpoint-certified network and a separate open network allows Passpoint mobile devices to enjoy the full benefits while supporting legacy clients.

Passpoint is a key enabler for many applications. The scope of Passpoint testing is to ensure that the mechanisms for seamless discovery and creation of a secured link are implemented correctly. It is application-agnostic.

Infrastructure equipment such as access points, and mobile and portable devices such as smartphones, tablets, and notebooks have been certified. Passpoint is available on both SIM and non-SIM Wi-Fi devices.

To benefit from Voice-Enterprise functionality, both the AP and client device need to be Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Voice-Enterprise. Any Wi-Fi CERTIFIED client devices in a Voice-Enterprise network that do not support Voice-Enterprise are interoperable with other Wi-Fi CERTIFIED devices, but do not take advantage of advanced features of voice quality and bandwidth management features of Voice-Enterprise.

The Voice-Enterprise certification program tests the performance of the Wi-Fi implementations in voice over Wi-Fi application, in a simulated network environment, with four (802.11b) or ten (802.11a/g/n) concurrent voice calls, a high speed video stream, and sustained data traffic loads, designed to represent a fully loaded network. To achieve certification, devices must meet the following thresholds:

• Packet loss of less than 1%
• No more than three consecutive lost packets
• Latency of less than 50 milliseconds
• Maximum jitter of less than 50 milliseconds

To benefit from WMM-Admission Control functionality, both the AP and client device need to be Wi-Fi CERTIFIED WMM-Admission Control. Any Wi-Fi CERTIFIED client devices in a WMM-Admission Control network that do not support WMM-Admission Control will operate as usual in WMM mode, but won’t use the access categories for which admission control is mandated by the AP.

WMM-Admission Control certification is required for the Voice-Enterprise certification program.

On a Wi-Fi network with a dense Wi-Fi deployment designed to support heavy traffic loads, such as an enterprise campus, hospital or educational campus, WMM-Admission Control helps ensure that the network can support good quality voice calls before admitting the voice call traffic stream, and assigns it priority over other traffic, such as downloads, email, and other best effort traffic.

WMM-Admission Control used IEEE 802.11 management frames for the signaling between the AP and the client device.  The AP evaluates the request frame from the client device against the network load and channel conditions.  If the AP can accommodate the request, it accepts the request and grants the client the medium time for the traffic stream.  If the request is rejected, the client device is not allowed to initiate the requested traffic stream, and may decide to either delay the traffic stream, associate with a different AP, or establish a best-effort traffic stream outside the operation of WMM-Admission Control.

As of July 1, 2020, all new Wi-Fi CERTIFIED devices require WPA3. The only way to be sure that a product meets the latest security standards is to purchase only Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products.

Wi-Fi Multimedia, represented by the acronym WMM, is related to Wi-Fi CERTIFIED WMM^® programs. These optional certifications provide multimedia enhancements for Wi-Fi networks that improve the user experience for audio, video, and voice applications.

WMM-Power Save increases the efficiency and flexibility of data transmission. Specifically, the client device can doze between packets to save power, while the access point buffers downlink frames. The application chooses the time to wake up and receive data packets to maximize power conservation without sacrificing Quality of Service.

Wi-Fi Direct supports Wi-Fi speeds up to 250 Mbps. Even at lower speeds, Wi-Fi provides plenty of throughput for transferring multimedia content with ease. The performance of a particular group of Wi-Fi Direct devices depends on whether the devices are 802.11a, g, or n, as well as the particular characteristics of the devices and the physical environment.

Wi-Fi Alliance defined WMM as a profile of the IEEE 802.11e Quality of Service (QoS) extensions for 802.11 networks and started a certification program for WMM to satisfy the most urgent needs of the industry for a QoS solution for Wi-Fi networks. WMM provides prioritized media access and is based on the Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) method.

All Wi-Fi Direct devices can start a group, based on the specification underlying the Wi-Fi Direct program, but it’s most likely that devices with more computing power (laptops, handsets, gaming devices) will more frequently manage the network than those with less power (digital cameras, printers, etc.).

Wi-Fi Alliance estimates that WMM-Power Save can provide from 15 to 40% improvement in battery life depending on the application characteristics.

A Wi-Fi Direct-certified network can be one-to-one, or one-to-many. Connection to multiple other devices is an optional feature that will not be supported in all Wi-Fi Direct devices; some devices will only make 1:1 connections.

Without Quality of Service (QoS), all applications running on different devices have equal opportunity to transmit data frames. That works well for data traffic from applications such as web browsers, file transfers, or email, but it is inadequate for multimedia applications. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), video streaming, and interactive gaming are highly sensitive to latency increases and throughput reductions, and require QoS. WMM defines four access categories (voice, video, best effort, and background) that are used to prioritize traffic to provide enhanced multimedia support.

Group networks based on the specification underlying the Wi-Fi Direct program operate in a security domain that is independent from any infrastructure network. This means that they have protection of the security features certified under the WPA2 program, but are managed separately from the security system in the AP-based network (home, enterprise, hotspot). This means both the group networks based on the specification underlying the Wi-Fi Direct program and the infrastructure networks can be protected, but users don’t need credentials for the infrastructure network to connect to the network based on the specification underlying the Wi-Fi Direct program.

The power conservation achieved depends on the particular application in use, as well as how effectively the application uses WMM-Power Save. The Wi-Fi Alliance has produced a white paper which offers guidance to application developers.

All devices certified under the Wi-Fi Direct program allow the user to connect to an infrastructure or a Wi-Fi Direct network. Some devices certified under the Wi-Fi Direct program support connections to both an infrastructure network and Wi-Fi Direct group at the same time (e.g. a laptop may support an infrastructure connection while also belonging to a Wi-Fi Direct-certified group). Simultaneous connection to a Wi-Fi Direct group and an infrastructure network is an optional feature.

WMM shortens the time between transmitting packets for higher priority traffic.

Most Wi-Fi Direct devices are power sensitive, and in many cases, battery powered. Wi-Fi Direct devices can support the Power Save feature certified under the WMM^® program, and the specification underlying the Wi-Fi Direct program also defines power saving mechanisms.

If implemented correctly, WMM-Power Save will activate automatically when a Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ for WMM-Power Save client device is communicating with a Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ for WMM-Power Save access point. There is no action needed from a user.

Yes. A single device in a Wi-Fi Direct-certified group network may share internet connectivity with other devices in the network by creating simultaneous infrastructure and Wi-Fi Direct connections. A network of devices certified under the Wi-Fi Direct program operates in a security domain separate from the infrastructure network, even when cross-connected.

Wi-Fi Direct devices work just like any Wi-Fi device, with ranges up to 200 meters. They can connect from just a few feet away, but also across a home. This means that making a Wi-Fi Direct group connection will be convenient, even when devices aren’t in immediate proximity to one another.

WMM-Power Save uses mechanisms from the IEEE 802.11e standard.

Yes, the specification underlying the Wi-Fi Direct certification program supports operation in both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Devices operating in the 2.4 GHz frequency band only and devices operating in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands can be certified under the Wi-Fi Direct program. Not all Wi-Fi Direct-certified devices support both frequency bands, however, so you should check which bands your devices support.

Not without your permission. The content available over a Wi-Fi Direct group connection is driven by the applications you are using. While there may be applications which allow an authorized use to “browse” the content on your device, most applications will have a specific focus, such as sharing a game application or transferring photos.

WMM-Power Save is a more finely tuned power save mechanism which draws on a variety of tools to manage power consumption. In legacy power save, the driver decided when to transmit data, while in WMM-Power Save, the application makes the determination about when to transfer data. This enables customization of the power mechanism to the particular application (e.g., Voice over Wi-Fi, video gaming, etc.). WMM-Power Save is backwards-compatible with legacy power save.

The underlying specification connects devices using an approach similar to the traditional AP-to-client connection used in Wi-Fi CERTIFIED infrastructure networks. One Wi-Fi Direct device provides the connection to other participants in a group of Wi-Fi Direct devices in lieu of an AP. A device certified under the Wi-Fi Direct program does not require special hardware compared to traditional Wi-Fi AP devices.

Yes. A Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Wi-Fi Direct device is able to make device group connections with existing Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ gear.

There are two primary approaches to network setup within Wi-Fi Protected Setup: push-button and PIN entry. PIN entry is mandatory in all Wi-Fi Protected Setup devices, while push-button is optional and may also be found in some devices.

Push-button configuration (PBC): in some Wi-Fi Protected Setup networks, the user may connect multiple devices to the network and enable data encryption by pushing a button. The access point/wireless router will have a physical button, and other devices may have a physical or software-based button. Users should be aware that during the two-minute setup period which follows the push of the button, unintended devices could join the network if they are in range.

PIN entry: in all Wi-Fi Protected Setup networks, a unique PIN (Personal Identification Number) will be required for each device to join the network. A fixed PIN label or sticker may be placed on a device, or a dynamic PIN can be generated and shown on the device's display (e.g., a TV screen or monitor). The PIN is used to make sure the intended device is added to the network being set up and will help to avoid accidental or malicious attempts to add unintended devices to the network.

A registrar device (which could be an Access Point/wireless router, PC television, or other device) will detect when a new Wi-Fi device is in range, and prompt the user to enter the PIN, if he or she wishes to add the new device to the network. In this mode, Wi-Fi Protected Setup network encrypts data and authenticates each device on the network. The PIN entry method is supported in all devices.

Devices conduct a negotiation to determine which device is most appropriate. This may be determined by considering a number of factors including but not limited to power management, number of connections supported, richness of user interface and services being offered. The Wi-Fi Direct device that offers the connection manages the creation, admission to, presence, and termination of that network implementing the specification underlying the Wi-Fi Direct program.