News and New Products

No on "n": Wi-Fi group warns against use of "802.11n" in marketing

By Matthew Miller, Special Projects Editor -- EDN, 10/11/2004

The Wi-Fi Alliance today issued a stern warning to its member companies not to use the term "802.11n" in their marketing appeals. The 802.11n standard won't be completed until at least November 2006, and the group hopes to stave off consumer confusion like that which arose a couple of years ago when vendors started trumpeting 802.11g products prior to that standard's approval.

Because the standard, which promises greater bandwidth and range, has not been completed, no 802.11n products currently exist, and usage of the term "802.11n" in marketing materials can only confuse consumers, the alliance argues.

To back up the warning, the group promises to revoke the Wi-Fi certification of any product that claims to have 802.11n capabilities and, because of those nonstandard extensions, adversely impacts the operation of other Wi-Fi-certified products.

A spokesperson says the organization will discourage the use of terms such as "pre-standard" as well. Today's warning represents an announcement of the group's intention to enfore its recently adopted Extensions Policy.