EVERETT, Wash., -- Intermec Technologies Corp. confirmed it plans to submit future products for Wi-Fi-Protected Access (WPA) certification in support of the Wi-Fi Alliance. Based on Institute of Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards and the Wi-Fi Alliance efforts, WPA is a security standard designed to improve on and eventually replace the existing Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) standard. Products carrying the new standard will work with existing Wi-Fi CERTIFIED wireless LAN products and standards.
"Intermec is committed to securing wireless communications and to the constant evolution and refinement of wireless technology," said Intermec Director Dan Park, who leads Intermec's wireless products group. "The WPA standard is the next step in that evolution."
The addition of WPA to Intermec's wireless products and systems means customers are sure to receive the industry's strongest and most up-to-date security technology - including a new Message Integrity Check (MIC) and an improved version of WEP protocol - layered on top of security technologies previously in use.
Developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance and the IEEE 802.11 Standards Working Group of Wireless Local Area Networks, the WPA standard provides robust wireless LAN security. The eagerly awaited standard promises an increased level of security for wireless networks that allows enterprises to conduct business with confidence while reaping the benefits of mobility.
"Leaders in the wireless arena are committed to Wi-Fi Protected Access as an industry-wide security standard. Intermec's commitment to this interoperable initiative, along with the endorsements of other industry decision makers, underscores the broad level of support for WPA technology," said Wi-Fi Alliance Chairman Dennis Eaton.
Intermec plans to introduce wireless networking products that include WPA wireless security technology beginning in Q3 2003.
Intermec Technologies Corp., a UNOVA Inc. (NYSE:UNA) company, is a leader in global supply chain solutions and in the development, manufacture and integration of wired and wireless automated data collection, Intellitag RFID (radio frequency identification) and mobile computing systems.
The Wi-Fi Alliance (formerly WECA) is a nonprofit organization formed in 1999 to certify interoperability of IEEE 802.11 products and to promote Wi-Fi as the global, wireless LAN standard across all market segments. The Wi-Fi Alliance has instituted test suites that define how member products are tested to certify that they are interoperable with other Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products. These tests are conducted at an independent laboratory. Membership in the Wi-Fi Alliance is open to all companies that support the 802.11 family of standards. The Wi-Fi Alliance now comprises over 175 members from the world's leading companies. These companies offer over 650 Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products. For more information, please visit www.wi-fi.org.
