(Wi-Fi Alliance, Austin, TX) A membership organization founded in 1999 devoted to certifying 802.11 wireless Ethernet devices for interoperability. The Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo on a wireless radio (PC card, access point, etc.) means that it has passed a thorough interoperability test and will work with any other Wi-Fi CERTIFIED product. A Wi-Fi ZONE logo means that a hotspot, whether offered at no charge or for a fee, uses Wi-Fi CERTIFIED equipment.
Originally founded as the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Association (WECA), Wi-Fi stands for "wireless fidelity," a play on "high fidelity" (hi-fi). See
802.11,
WiMAX,
Wi-Fi hotspot and
WLIF.