The Wi-Fi Alliance announced that more than 200 products have achieved the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED seal of approval for Wi-Fi Protected Setup. The organization has also launched testing support for Near-Field Communication as an additional Wi-Fi Protected Setup network configuration method. Like the push-button method, the NFC technique is especially useful to connect devices that don't have a keyboard-oriented user interface, such as cameras, gaming devices, and other consumer electronics.

    This program, launched in January 2007, helps consumer and small-business users more easily set up Wi-Fi networks with strong security protections. The 200-product milestone reflects wide industry commitment to delivering the best user experience with Wi-Fi technology. In the NFC method, a user touches a card or token to designated areas on an access point and a client device to connect them. NFC joins two previously-tested mechanisms, push-button and PIN entry, to simplify the process of joining devices to a security-enabled Wi-Fi network.

    Products certified for Wi-Fi Protected Setup include dual-mode Wi-Fi/cellular phones, Wi-Fi enabled printers, and more than 80 products featuring next-generation Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 technology. More than half of the devices are also certified for Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality of Service, which optimizes them for voice, gaming, and multimedia applications. Manufacturers now have even more flexibility in how to deploy Wi-Fi Protected Setup, ultimately giving consumers more choice when they buy Wi-Fi CERTIFIED phones and consumer electronics.

    "As consumers increasingly demand Wi-Fi connectivity, not just in laptops, but also in phones and entertainment devices, it's more important than ever that it be easy to connect and protect those devices," stated Wi-Fi Alliance executive director Edgar Figueroa. "Wi-Fi Protected Setup reduces by half the steps involved in setting up a Wi-Fi network, and consumers should look for Wi-Fi Protected Setup icon on products bearing the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo."

    "Because it dramatically eases the network configuration process, Wi-Fi Protected Setup enables further proliferation of Wi-Fi in consumer electronics and handsets," said Kurt Scherf, vice president and principal analyst with Parks Associates. "We expect more and more of those devices to ship with Wi-Fi on board, and it's good to see that the industry has embraced this tool to make Wi-Fi easier for consumers to set up."

    The Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo is your only assurance that a product has met rigorous interoperability testing requirements to ensure that compatible products from different vendors will work together. Look for the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo with color-coded Standard Indicator Icons on product packaging, or search through our web site listing of CERTIFIED products before making a Wi-Fi purchase.