Wi-Fi Alliance Reveals New WiGig CERTIFIED Logo; Wireless USB To Get WiGig Boost
The Wi-Fi Alliance has designated WiGig CERTIFIED as the certification brand for products approved in its forthcoming interoperability program. In addition, the 60GHz WiGig wireless standard will power a new wireless version of USB.
The "WiGig CERTIFIED" certification brand will be designated with a new logo, available for use on certified products entering the market as soon as next year.
WiGig CERTIFIED products will operate in the 60 GHz frequency band and deliver multi-gigabit speed, low latency traffic, and security-protected connectivity between nearby devices. Many WiGig CERTIFIED products are expected to be Wi-Fi CERTIFIED as well, and products implementing both WiGig and Wi-Fi will include mechanisms to facilitate seamless handover between the two technologies.
"We are excited to expand the Wi-Fi Alliance interoperability program to include WiGig CERTIFIED products, which will deliver the same security and interoperability that consumers have come to expect with Wi-Fi," said Edgar Figueroa, Wi-Fi Alliance president and CEO. "WiGig CERTIFIED will be an excellent complement to Wi-Fi CERTIFIED, advancing our vision of seamless connectivity and extending the user experience to new applications."
In addition to developing a certification program to validate product interoperability, Wi-Fi Alliance has initiated several projects to address 60 GHz implementations of data, display, and audio applications.
Wi-Fi Alliance has engaged with the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) and has formally transferred the WiGig Serial Extension Specification to that organization, which plans to use it as a foundation to develop a 'Media Agnostic USB Specification.' It is expected that WiGig CERTIFIED and Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products will implement USB functionality.
"The USB-IF is pleased to accept the transfer of the WiGig Serial Extension Specification from Wi-Fi Alliance, and it shares the commitment to enhance wireless connectivity with USB devices," said Jeff Ravencraft, USB-IF President and COO. "The forthcoming Media Agnostic USB Specification will give consumers more flexibility to wirelessly connect their USB enabled devices."
The WiGig Serial Extension (WSE) v1.2 specification from the Wi-Fi Alliance will provide the initial foundation for the Media Agnostic USB specification. The WSE specification has been formally transferred to the USB-IF from the Wi-Fi Alliance, and the WSE specification already incorporates the USB protocol.
Wireless devices implementing the Media Agnostic USB specification will be compliant with SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) and Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0).
The USB-IF has established a Media Agnostic USB Work Group which is currently developing the MA USB specification 1.0.
Wi-Fi Alliance has also engaged in an agreement with the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) to facilitate the certification of products based on the WiGig Display Extension Specification, which is expected to be implemented in some WiGig CERTIFIED products.
The integration of WiGig Alliance into Wi-Fi Alliance has concluded, with all technology and work efforts now consolidated in Wi-Fi Alliance.
WiGig was designed to carry video, audio and data at high speeds over unlicensed frequencies in the 60GHz range, far above the bands used by Wi-Fi. WiGig is faster than Wi-Fi, up to 7Gbps (bits per second), but works over shorter distances.
WiGig CERTIFIED products will operate in the 60 GHz frequency band and deliver multi-gigabit speed, low latency traffic, and security-protected connectivity between nearby devices. Many WiGig CERTIFIED products are expected to be Wi-Fi CERTIFIED as well, and products implementing both WiGig and Wi-Fi will include mechanisms to facilitate seamless handover between the two technologies.
"We are excited to expand the Wi-Fi Alliance interoperability program to include WiGig CERTIFIED products, which will deliver the same security and interoperability that consumers have come to expect with Wi-Fi," said Edgar Figueroa, Wi-Fi Alliance president and CEO. "WiGig CERTIFIED will be an excellent complement to Wi-Fi CERTIFIED, advancing our vision of seamless connectivity and extending the user experience to new applications."
In addition to developing a certification program to validate product interoperability, Wi-Fi Alliance has initiated several projects to address 60 GHz implementations of data, display, and audio applications.
Wi-Fi Alliance has engaged with the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) and has formally transferred the WiGig Serial Extension Specification to that organization, which plans to use it as a foundation to develop a 'Media Agnostic USB Specification.' It is expected that WiGig CERTIFIED and Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products will implement USB functionality.
"The USB-IF is pleased to accept the transfer of the WiGig Serial Extension Specification from Wi-Fi Alliance, and it shares the commitment to enhance wireless connectivity with USB devices," said Jeff Ravencraft, USB-IF President and COO. "The forthcoming Media Agnostic USB Specification will give consumers more flexibility to wirelessly connect their USB enabled devices."
The WiGig Serial Extension (WSE) v1.2 specification from the Wi-Fi Alliance will provide the initial foundation for the Media Agnostic USB specification. The WSE specification has been formally transferred to the USB-IF from the Wi-Fi Alliance, and the WSE specification already incorporates the USB protocol.
Wireless devices implementing the Media Agnostic USB specification will be compliant with SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) and Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0).
The USB-IF has established a Media Agnostic USB Work Group which is currently developing the MA USB specification 1.0.
Wi-Fi Alliance has also engaged in an agreement with the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) to facilitate the certification of products based on the WiGig Display Extension Specification, which is expected to be implemented in some WiGig CERTIFIED products.
The integration of WiGig Alliance into Wi-Fi Alliance has concluded, with all technology and work efforts now consolidated in Wi-Fi Alliance.
WiGig was designed to carry video, audio and data at high speeds over unlicensed frequencies in the 60GHz range, far above the bands used by Wi-Fi. WiGig is faster than Wi-Fi, up to 7Gbps (bits per second), but works over shorter distances.
