What Is Wi-Fi?

Wi-Fi is a wireless networking technology that utilises radio waves to allow devices to share data between each other within a certain range.

And for most consumer use, it’s a way for users to gain access to the internet wirelessly in an internal environment, whether they are using a computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. This is different to getting your internet from ‘data’, which is more external and/or on the move.

In short:

• Wi-Fi = internet from a modem/router to a device.
• Data = internet from a phone tower to a device.

Or, even simpler:

• Wi-Fi = inside a building.
• Data = away from a building/modem.

What Does ‘Wi-Fi’ Stand For?

Well, nothing really scientific or technology related. The term was actually born out of a marketing exercise.

Early in the development of Wi-Fi, an organisation called the ‘Wi-Fi Alliance’ (before they were called that…of course) dubbed the technology the ‘IEEE 802.11b Direct Sequence’. And they used the tag line ‘The Standard in Wireless Fidelity’ in their publicity.

Looking for a snappier and more memorable ‘brand’ than ‘IEEE 802.11b Direct Sequence’, the organisation hired a marketing firm to come up with ideas. They presented 10 ideas to choose from, including ‘Wi-Fi’, based on some letters pulled from the original non-scientific tag line – Wireless Fidelity.

Learn More About Wi-Fi

There’s much more to understand about Wi-Fi, including how to set it up and Wi-Fi’s origin story. If you have any issues with setting up your networking products, see Officeworks’ technical support people here.