CES 2010 latest news

More and more people expect Wi-Fi from their cell phones, according to a survey released Wednesday by ABI Research.

The survey was conducted in February, with more than 1,000 U.S. mobile-phone users between the ages of 18 and 59 participating.

A Windows Mobile smartphone with Wi-Fi connectivity.

(Credit: CNET)

The results showed that 77 percent of people with Wi-Fi-enabled mobile phones are completely or very satisfied with their devices. Among those who have Wi-Fi on their phones, 74 percent use the feature, and 77 percent say they will also seek Wi-Fi connectivity in their next phone.

According to the study, about 44 percent of smartphones currently have the Wi-Fi feature. This figure is expected to increase to 90 percent by 2014. This is interesting, as almost 60 percent of those owning Wi-Fi-enabled phones have had their phones for less than a year.

These findings fall in line with a report earlier this year by the Wi-Fi Alliance stating that despite the economic downturn, the Wi-Fi industry would continue to grow. The Wi-Fi Alliance tests and issues the Wi-Fi Certified certification to ensure that Wi-Fi products from different vendors can work well with one another.

According to Edgar Figueroa, executive director of the Wi-Fi Alliance, since 2000, the group has completed more than 5,000 certifications of consumer and enterprise devices. To date, 311 handsets--including smartphones--have been recognized as Wi-Fi Certified.

Personally, I think that Wi-Fi connectivity is a great feature for smartphones, as long as vendors can solve the problem of the feature draining a phone's battery quickly. Nonetheless, I use my iPhone 3G's Wi-Fi features all the time--especially considering that my phone's 3G mode hardly works well in the San Francisco Bay Area.

How about you? Which Wi-Fi phone do you use, and how often do you turn the Wi-Fi feature on?

The Wi-Fi interface of Apple's iPhone.

(Credit: Dong Ngo/CBS Interactive)

Despite the economic downturn, the Wi-Fi section of the high-tech industry has been doing well.

According to In-Stat and Wi-Fi Alliance, the groups that certify wireless networking devices to ensure their interoperability, Wi-Fi chipsets were sold in a total of 387 million units in 2008, a 26 percent increase from 2007.

This was thanks to the demand by both consumers and businesses for a wide range of Wi-Fi-enabled devices. Almost all new mobile computers now have build-in Wi-Fi and so do most smartphones. The Wi-Fi implementation has branched out to other devices too, such as game consoles or media players. By now, it's clear that Wi-Fi has become an essential technology.

However, the increase of Wi-Fi chipset sales varies by category:

• Cellular Wi-Fi phones: 56 million units shipped (up 52 percent)
• Stationary consumer electronic devices (gaming consoles, digital televisions, set-top boxes, printers): 48 million units shipped (up 51 percent)
• Portable consumer electronic devices (handheld games, cameras, portable music players): 71 million units shipped (up 33 percent)
• Notebook PCs, mini notebooks, ultramobile devices, mobile Internet devices: 144 million units shipped (up 23 percent)

The companies predict that in 2009 the demand for Wi-Fi chipsets will continue to rise in cellular Wi-Fi handsets, portable consumer electronics, home networking, and mobile PCs. Like notebooks, all handheld gaming devices ship in 2009 will have Wi-Fi.

Last year also marks the proliferation of the 802.11n or Draft N wireless networking chipset. So far Wi-Fi Alliance has certified more than 500 consumer products for advanced Wi-Fi performance. More than half of the mobile computers shipped in 2008 support this advanced generation of Wi-Fi.

CNET readers and my friends often ask me if they should upgrade their home network to a Wireless-N (802.11n) router or wait till the current Draft N 2.0 specification is ratified by the IEEE.

The logo you should look for on a router.

(Credit: Wi-Fi Alliance)

The answer is: there's no reason to wait, and here's why.

Wireless-N routers offer much better throughput performance than Wireless-G routers (up to 300Mps as opposed to 54Mbps). They are also offer significantly longer range and better signal stability. Most importantly, they are backward compatible with existing wireless adapters.

What you should make sure, though, is that the router has the Wi-Fi certification, a sign that it has been tested and certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance for interoperability.

To be certified, a wireless network device has to go through hundreds of tests to make sure that it offers security, protocol, and performance adherence. This means it will not have any problem working well with any other Wi-Fi-certified products, from any vendor.

So far, the Wi-Fi Alliance has tested and certified over 5000 products. According to the organization, the majority of wireless network equipment on the market is now Wi-Fi certified, and about 50 percent of those are based on Draft N 2.0 specifications.

It's rumored that the final 802.11n standard will be ratified by mid-2009 or early 2010, though personally, I wouldn't bank on this. By that time, it's highly likely that existing Wi-Fi-certified routers will be upgradable to the final specification via a firmware upgrade.

Last but not least, Wireless-N routers are also much more affordable than they were a year ago. You can get one for less than $100. Go check out our Top 5 Wireless-N routers and transform your wireless network.