What does Wi-Fi Mean?

The term Wi-Fi suggests Wireless Fidelity, resembling the long-established audio-equipment classification term high fidelity (in use since the 1930s[21]) or Hi-Fi (used since 1950[21]). Even the Wi-Fi Alliance itself has often used the phrase Wireless Fidelity in its press releases[22][23]  and documents;[24][25]  the term also appears in a white paper on Wi-Fi from ITAA.[26]  However, based on Phil Belanger's[note 1] statement, the term Wi-Fi was never supposed to mean anything at all.[27][28]

The term Wi-Fi, first used commercially in August 1999,[29] was coined by a brand-consulting firm called Interbrand Corporation that the Alliance had hired to determine a name that was "a little catchier than 'IEEE 802.11b Direct Sequence'".[27][28][30] Belanger also stated that Interbrand invented Wi-Fi as a play on words with Hi-Fi, and also created the Wi-Fi logo.

The Wi-Fi Alliance initially used an advertising slogan for Wi-Fi, "The Standard for Wireless Fidelity",[27] but later removed the phrase from their marketing. Despite this, some documents from the Alliance dated 2003 and 2004 still contain the term Wireless Fidelity.[24][25] There was no official statement related to the dropping of the term.

The yin-yang Wi-Fi logo indicates the certification of a product for interoperability.[24]

Non Wi-Fi technologies intended for fixed points such as Motorola Canopy are usually described as fixed wireless. Alternative wireless technologies include mobile phone standards such as 2G, 3G or 4G.

City-wide Wi-Fi

In the early 2000s, many cities around the world announced plans for city-wide Wi-Fi networks. This proved to be much more difficult than their promoters initially envisioned with the result that most of these projects were either canceled or placed on indefinite hold. A few were successful, for example in 2005, Sunnyvale, California became the first city in the United States to offer city-wide free Wi-Fi,[6]  and Minneapolis has generated $1.2 million profit annually for their provider.[7]

In May, 2010, London, UK Mayor Boris Johnson pledged London-wide Wi-Fi by 2012.[8] Both the City of London, UK[9] and Islington[10] already have extensive outdoor Wi-Fi coverage.

In 2010 Mysore became India's first Wi-fi enabled city and second in the world after Jerusalem. A company called WiFiyNet has setup hotspots in Mysore covering the complete city and a few villages nearby.

Wi-Fi Internet Access

A Wi-Fi enabled device such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone or digital audio player can connect to the Internet when within range of a wireless network connected to the Internet. The coverage of one or more (interconnected) access points — called hotspots — can comprise an area as small as a few rooms or as large as many square miles. Coverage in the larger area may depend on a group of access points with overlapping coverage. Wi-Fi technology has been used in wireless mesh networks, for example, in London, UK.[1]

In addition to private use in homes and offices, Wi-Fi can provide public access at Wi-Fi hotspots provided either free-of-charge or to subscribers to various commercial services. Organizations and businesses - such as those running airports, hotels and restaurants - often provide free-use hotspots to attract or assist clients. Enthusiasts or authorities who wish to provide services or even to promote business in selected areas sometimes provide free Wi-Fi access. As of 2008[update] more than 300 metropolitan-wide Wi-Fi (Muni-Fi) projects had started.[2] As of 2010[update] the Czech Republic had 1150 Wi-Fi based wireless Internet service providers.[3][4]

Routers that incorporate a digital subscriber line modem or a cable modem and a Wi-Fi access point, often set up in homes and other premises, can provide Internet access and internetworking to all devices connected (wirelessly or by cable) to them. With the emergence of MiFi and WiBro (a portable Wi-Fi router) people can easily create their own Wi-Fi hotspots that connect to Internet via cellular networks. Now iPhone, Android, Bada and Symbian phones can create wireless connections.[5]

One can also connect Wi-Fi devices in ad-hoc mode for client-to-client connections without a router. Wi-Fi also connects places that would traditionally not have network access, for example kitchens and garden sheds.

Wi-Fi Uses

To connect to a Wi-Fi LAN, a computer has to be equipped with a wireless network interface controller. The combination of computer and interface controller is called a station. All stations share a single radio frequency communication channel. Transmissions on this channel are received by all stations within range. The hardware provides no indication to the sender about whether the transmission was delivered and is therefore called a best-effort delivery  mechanism. A carrier wave is used to transmit the data in packets, referred to as Ethernet frames. Each station is constantly tuned in on the channel, so each transmission is noticed. In order to determine whether the channel is free, the carrier wave can be sensed by the hardware; if not present the channel is free for transmission.

What is Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi" is a trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance and the brand name for products using the IEEE 802.11 family of standards. Wi-Fi is used by over 700 million people, there are over 4 million hotspots (places with Wi-Fi Internet connectivity) around the world, and about 800 million new Wi-Fi devices every year.[citation needed] Wi-Fi products that complete the Wi-Fi Alliance interoperability certification testing successfully can use the "Wi-Fi CERTIFIED" designation and trademark.