WLANA (Wireless LAN Association) The wireless LAN association consists of 10 members from the wireless LAN market of which 3Com, Cisco, Intersil, Intermec, and Symbol have widely accepted products. Xilinx is also an active member and avid participator of the wireless LAN association. The primary goal of the WLANA, who are a group of component and equipment vendors, is to create greater awareness of wireless technology. They try to provide to managers and other end-users, in media and businesses every means of learning the benefits & uses of wireless devices, and how it can serve as a competitive advantage in their various vertical markets. They hope to evangelize the benefits of wireless networking in horizontal applications with emphasis in wireless activities within the home for file sharing, e-mail, scheduling, and messaging services.

IEEE 802.11:

The IEEE 802 standards committee formed the 802.11 Wireless Local Area Networks Standards Working Group in 1990. The 802.11 working group took on the task of developing a global standard for radio equipment and networks operating in the 2.4GHz unlicensed frequency band for data rates of 1 and 2Mbps. The 802.11 working group has recently completed the standard. The standard does not specify technology or implementation but simply specifications for the physical layer and Media Access Control (MAC) layer. The standard allows for manufacturers of wireless LAN radio equipment to build interoperable network equipment. The membership of the committee consists of individuals from a number of companies and universities, who research, manufacturer, install and use products in wireless LAN network applications. Manufacturers of semiconductors, computers, radio equipment, WLAN systems solution providers, University research labs and end-users make up the core group. The working group is globally represented by companies from the United States, Canada, Europe, Israel and the Pacific Rim.

WLIF - Wireless LAN Interoperability Forum:

The WLIF was created in May 1996 to develop an open interoperability specification for wireless LAN devices. It exists independent of the IEEE 802.11 committee and focuses on wireless LAN interoperability. Its key members include Casio, Data General, Fujitsu, HP, IBM, Intermec, Mitsubishi, Motorola, and Proxim.

WECA - Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance:

Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA) is an industry alliance supporting presence of a single wireless networking standard – the IEEE 802.11 High-Rate standard. The group will certify interoperability of products based on the standard 802.11b specifications, similar to WLIF. The alliance will initiate a marketing campaign to educate the consumer. It will communicate the benefits of interoperability and reduce confusion in the marketplace. The founding members include 3Com, Aironet Wireless Communications (now bought by Cisco), Lucent, Nokia, Intersil (Harris Semiconductor), Symbol Technologies. Products that are compliant to the WECA standard will be termed “Fast Wireless,” “802.11 High-Rate,” or “Ethernet Wireless.” WECA hopes to reduce the confusion in the marketplace regarding the number of wireless standards. The group will focus on evangelizing the benefits of wireless networking for horizontal applications and distant itself from the arguments between equipment vendors. WECA plans to market 802.11 High-Rate as a consumer technology for the home networking market as well. The group has approached the HomeRF Group about adopting 802.11 High-Rate as their second-generation standard.