(Source: MARKETWIRE)
Atheros Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHR), a global leader in
innovative technologies for wireless and wired communications, today
announced that it applauds the Wi-Fi Alliance's development of the
new Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Wi-Fi Direct specification, which enables
wireless devices to connect to one another without traditional
network infrastructure, enabling the easy transfer of content
anytime, anywhere. Atheros' own peer-to-peer Wi-Fi(R) technology,
Atheros Direct Connect, first demonstrated these benefits of
device-to-device connectivity at the 2008 International Consumer
Electronics Show (CES) and is now shipping in mobile consumer
products. Direct Connect is fully future-compatible with the new
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Wi-Fi Direct specification.
Atheros has enabled this innovative capability in its ROCm(R) Wi-Fi
chips for mobile devices, currently shipping in smartphones featuring
Direct Connect AP mode functionality. In the second half of 2009,
Atheros also began shipping XSPAN(R) and Align(TM) 11n-based chips
with Direct Connect, targeting PC applications. New Microsoft Windows
7-enabled netbook, notebook and desktop PCs that feature Atheros'
XSPAN or Align solutions can easily support the Direct Connect
capability when PC manufacturers enable the feature.
"Direct Connect technology provides a compelling example of what
device-to-device connectivity means for Wi-Fi users," said Wi-Fi
Alliance executive director Edgar Figueroa. "Because of the work of
Atheros and other member companies in Wi-Fi Alliance(R), Wi-Fi users
worldwide will soon benefit from Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Wi-Fi Direct: a
single-technology solution that interoperates with hundreds of
millions of Wi-Fi devices in the installed base today."
Direct Connect makes it incredibly easy for users to sync, share and
display content between two or more devices without cables or
portable storage drives. Atheros' technology works with any legacy
Wi-Fi device and it will work even better on products that conform to
the forthcoming Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Wi-Fi Direct specification, which
enhances power management and device discovery.
"Direct Connect is transforming the way consumers move their content
between devices -- wherever they are," said Andy Davidson, senior
director of software engineering for Atheros. "We enthusiastically
support the Wi-Fi Alliance's new Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Wi-Fi Direct
specification as we believe this capability will quickly become a
'must have' feature in Wi-Fi devices."
About Atheros Communications, Inc.
Atheros Communications is a global leader in innovative technologies
for wireless and wired communications.
