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Two influential organizations in the wireless industry have joined forces to address the challenge of certifying converged WiFi/mobile handsets
April 6, 2006
LAS VEGAS -- The Wi-Fi Alliance(r) and CTIA - The Wireless Association(r) today announced a partnership agreement to develop and promote certification programs for converged Wi-Fi(r)/mobile handsets. The groups will cooperate on development of test programs for overlapping aspects of converged Wi-Fi/mobile phones. This agreement results from liaison activities that have been taking place between the two groups since early 2005.
The initial focus of this cooperation will be on Radio Frequency (RF) performance mapping in a mixed network environment. Future work will explore other technology challenges of convergence, such as handover between cellular and Wi-Fi networks, cross-radio signal sensitivity and battery life.
Converged handsets are reaching the market from leading manufacturers. These devices offer consumers a rich, dynamic wireless broadband experience and improved in-building coverage. They also allow carriers to allocate spectrum efficiently and provide differentiated services to subscribers. ABI Research expects the market for Wi-Fi/Mobile handsets to reach 100 million units annually by 2009.
"As more converged phones become available, and carriers announce plans to support convergence, cross-industry collaboration becomes critical to address pressing technological challenges," said Wi-Fi Alliance Managing Director Frank Hanzlik. "We are pleased to partner with CTIA, who has a proven track record developing test programs that have been embraced by mobile carriers."
Wi-Fi Alliance
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