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Wi-Fi has entered the general lexicon of millions of laptop users who have become accustomed to flipping a switch and jumping onto a high-speed Internet connection, whether at a coffee shop, library or park. But what exactly is Wi-Fi, and what about those other acronyms beginning with “Wi” that we have been hearing about of late? Here is a short primer for those who have wondered about the whys in Wi-Fi and its cousins, WiMAX and WiBro. But first, a look at how a “Wi” begins life and then jumps from being a little-known acronym used by a few tech enthusiasts to a technology that changes the way we live.

It almost always begins with companies grouping together to promote a particular technology they are backing. After investing millions of dollars in research and development, the companies want to ensure that the technology becomes the standard that everybody will use. If more than one technology emerges, it is often enough that a big name like Nokia or Intel is supporting a particular technology to catapult it to the ranks of industry standard. Above these industry groups are umbrella organizations like the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, or ETSI, which is based near the French city of Nice and sets telecommunications standards for Europe.

The organization has almost 800 members, including IBM, Motorola and Microsoft, from more than 50 countries. Though unknown to most people, ETSI plays a critical role in dictating how more than 300 million people make everyday use of telecommunications, Internet and other technologies. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, or IEEE, also plays a major role, promoting particular standards, which often are adopted internationally, for many technologies. Wireless: The story of ‘Wi’ - Technology - International Herald Tribune

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