The Wi-Fi Alliance announced that Wipro Technologies, the Global IT Services Business of Wipro Ltd will serve as a Wi-Fi Alliance Authorized Test Laboratory. For members located in India and other areas in Asia, utilizing the Wipro facility in Bangalore will streamline certification and provide faster time-to-market for Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products.

The number of Wi-Fi devices shipped globally and in India continues to grow as more consumer products incorporate Wi-Fi technology, such as mobile phones and digital cameras. According to a recent white paper authored by Tonse Telecom and the Wi-Fi Alliance, the Wi-Fi market in India is expected to exceed $744 million by 2012.

"The Wi-Fi market in India has enormous potential and establishing Wipro as a Wi-Fi Alliance Authorized Test Laboratory will be key to supporting that growth," said Karen Hanley, senior director, Wi-Fi Alliance. "Wipro is ideally suited both in location and in capability. Having access to testing services in the India region can reduce time to market and cost of development, as these testing facilities will be closer to many of our members’ product development activities."

Wipro’s lab was previously authorized for the Wi-Fi Alliance pre- certification program, which prepared products for Wi-Fi CERTIFIED testing. Extending these capabilities, Wipro will now provide members with interoperability testing on core 802.11 radio standards, as well as Wi-Fi Protected Access(TM) (WPA2(TM)) for security, and Wi-Fi Multimedia(TM) (WMM(R)) and WMM Power Save for quality of service.

"We are very pleased to have received full authorization for Wi-Fi CERTIFIED testing," said Mr. Gangadharaiah C P, senior vice president & worldwide head of Testing Services, Wipro Technologies. "India is increasingly becoming a hub for Wi-Fi product development and we have enjoyed success as a pre-certification lab for the Wi-Fi Alliance. We look forward to providing greater support and certification services to current and future Wi-Fi Alliance members."

The Wi-Fi Alliance has certified more than 3,500 products since the introduction of the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED program in March 2000. There are now 12 Wi-Fi Alliance Authorized Test Laboratories around the globe.