Qualcomm Atheros Inc., the networking and connectivity subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM), today announced it has been selected to participate in the Wi-Fi Alliance's Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint™ test suite and its devices are among the first to be certified in the program. By supporting a new generation of hotspot technology, Qualcomm Atheros' Passpoint devices will make it easy for end-users to enjoy automatic and secure Wi-Fi access on the go.
With the proliferation of Wi-Fi in smartphones, laptops, tablets and other mobile devices, many consumers use hotspots for convenient mobile connectivity. By offloading data traffic to the Wi-Fi network, hotspots can help ease the growing strain on existing mobile broadband networks.
Based on the Wi-Fi Alliance Hotspot 2.0 Specification, the new Passpoint certification program is the first industry-wide effort to foster multi-provider Wi-Fi roaming. Not only will mobile operators have a new option for offloading today's data-crunched cellular networks, but subscribers will also be able to utilize seamless connectivity in more hotspots than ever before. In addition, Passpoint network equipment will provide users with the assurance of enterprise-grade WPA2™ security for hotspots.
"We believe that Passpoint will provide significant advantages across the mobile ecosystem – from operators and infrastructure providers, to consumers who demand broadband data and content on the go," said Dan Rabinovitsj, senior vice president and general manager, networking business unit, Qualcomm Atheros. "As a leader in the Wi-Fi industry, we are committed to enabling this new generation of Hotspot 2.0 technology in devices and networks around the globe, as demonstrated by our participation in the first Passpoint certification testbed."
Qualcomm Atheros offers a wide array of high-performance network infrastructure solutions for the growing number of hotspots, as well as mobile solutions for smartphones, tablets and computers. The first Qualcomm Atheros products to receive Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Passpoint designation and to be featured in the industry's testbed include the:
Qualcomm Atheros Dual-Band XSPAN® 3-stream 802.11n Access Point
Qualcomm Atheros Dual-Band XSPAN® 2-stream 802.11n WLAN Adapter
"We are very pleased to see Qualcomm Atheros promoting the development of the new generation of Wi-Fi enabled mobile broadband technology," said Edgar Figueroa, CEO of the Wi-Fi Alliance. "Qualcomm Atheros has been an active participant in the industry's development of the Hotspot 2.0 Specification, and we commend their commitment to mobile and networking solutions that will help ensure interoperability through Passpoint certification."
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