Wi-Fi Alliance has launched the Wi-Fi Certified Miracast certification program.
According to the company, Miracast devices provide simplified discovery and setup, so users can quickly transmit video content from one device to another. Miracast users can do things like view pictures from a smartphone on a big screen television, share a laptop screen with the conference room projector in real-time, and watch live programs from a home cable box on a tablet. Miracast connections are formed using Wi-Fi Certified Wi-Fi Direct, so access to a Wi-Fi network is not needed — the ability to connect is inside Miracast-certified devices.
“Wi-Fi users around the world want to experience multimedia on the device of their choice – no matter what brand – and Miracast is the breakthrough they have been waiting for,” said Edgar Figueroa, CEO of Wi-Fi Alliance. “We have been delighted with the level of enthusiasm and support among our member companies for this new offering.”
Miracast supports protected content streaming, enabling devices to stream feature films and other copy-protected materials. To protect premium content, Miracast uses a wireless adaptation of the trusted content protection mechanisms widely used today for cabled interfaces like HDMI and DisplayPort. In addition, the latest WPA2 security protections are automatically enabled on every device, making the transport of all multimedia content private.
“Miracast builds on Wi-Fi Direct with a compelling application,” said Brian O’Rourke from IHS iSuppli Research. “This is a big step forward in a market migration from single-vendor display solutions, into an offering from a wide array of vendors. With more than 1.5 billion Miracast devices expected to ship in 2016, the program is poised to have broad adoption.”
The technology underlying Miracast was developed in Wi-Fi Alliance by a diverse group of mobile and consumer electronics manufacturers and silicon vendors to standardize methods for simplified video sharing. Based on the Wi-Fi Alliance Display Specification, products bearing the Miracast brand interoperate across vendors, making it easy to enjoy video on screens throughout the home or office.
The first products to be designated Wi-Fi Certified Miracast, and which form the test suite for the certification program, are:
• Broadcom Dualband 11n WiFi
• Intel WiDi
• Marvell Avastar USB-8782 802.11n 1×1 Dual-band Reference Design
• MediaTek a/b/g/n Dualband Mobile Phone Client, MT662X_v1 and DTV Sink, MV0690
• Ralink 802.11n Wireless Adapter, RT3592
• Realtek Dual-band 2×2 RTL8192DE HM92D01 PCIe Half Mini Card and RTD1185 RealShare Smart Display Adapter
The first consumer products certified since testing opened to vendors include the LG Optimus G smartphone, Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone and Samsung Echo-P Series TV.
