What was the original name of the organization now known as the Wi-Fi Alliance?

The organization now known as the Wi-Fi Alliance was originally called the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance. It adopted that name when it was formed in 1999 to promote interoperability among wireless networking products.

The group tested products against IEEE 802.11 standards and created a recognizable certification program for devices from different manufacturers. Interoperability was especially important because wireless networking equipment from competing companies did not always work reliably together in the early market.

The organization changed its public name to the Wi-Fi Alliance in 2002. Wi-Fi itself is a branding term rather than an expansion of the letters “Wi-Fi”; the alliance promotes the name as a consumer-friendly label. The alliance continues to certify products and introduce generation labels such as Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7.