The history of Wi-Fi Internet access has been relatively short, yet demonstrates a remarkable example of technology companies working together for the greater good. The Wi-Fi standard (also known as IEEE 802.11) was been created through the collaboration of several big-name technology companies, including 3Com, Cisco, Nokia, Apple, and Microsoft. It took only a few years for Wi-Fi to become the biggest standard in wireless communications, and its domination continues to this day.

While the standard was not first adopted until 1997, the Wi-Fi protocol could not have been created without an unusual action by the Federal Communications Commission in 1985. That year, the FCC opened up several disused sections of the radio spectrum -including 2.4ghz and 5.8ghz- for unlicensed public use. Years passed without anyone doing much with this bandwidth, but in 1991 AT&T put together a new wireless system using this bandwidth, called WaveLAN. While only a modest success at the time, the format received a boost when the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) used it to create a universal wireless standard. The result was the original IEEE 802.11 protocol. This was the true beginning to the history of Wi-Fi Internet access.

Manufacturers quickly began making products using this new standard, but experienced problems. The document outlining the standard was 400 pages long, and the IEEE had no compatibility testing facilities. The earliest IEEE 802.11 devices suffered from interoperability issues. In response to this, six companies -Intersil, Nokia, 3Com, Aironet, Lucent, and Symbol – decided to form their own trade association in 1999. This became the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance.

Working together, they set about creating achievable standards and ensuring all 802.11 devices interacted properly, formalizing the 802.11a and 802.11b standards. Their other concern was how to market the resulting products, since “802.11b” was hardly a memorable name. After working with a marketing firm, the name Wi-Fi was arrived at, primarily for its catchiness and seeming relationship to “Hi-Fi” equipment in the audio world. (The idea that this stood for Wireless Fidelity was a later attempt to justify the name. Initially, it was merely branding.) In 2002, they renamed themselves the Wi-Fi Alliance, taking ownership of the Wi-Fi trademark and certifying products that adhere to the standards.

Their big break and push into public markets came thanks to Apple. In 1999, Apple approached Lucent about the nascent standard. If Lucent could provide a Wi-Fi adapter for less than $100, they would start bundling it with their computers. Lucent delivered, and the result was Apple's AirPort brand of connection devices. Wi-Fi quickly caught on in the Mac world, and PC users soon followed. Since then, the format has spread rapidly, becoming the primary basis for most wireless networks in both homes and businesses.

In more recent years, large-scale Wi-Fi networks have emerged. Many cities now offer free municipal Wi-Fi access within their borders. Companies such as Comcast, with its Xfinity wireless brand, have begun providing wireless access side-by-side with their home services. The format got another large push when the fast food chain McDonald's began putting Wi-Fi hotspots into their restaurants, a trend soon followed by their competitors.

The history of Wi-Fi Internet access has been short, but extremely sweet for those backing it. It makes a fine example of how technology companies can work together to create new markets, provide new services to customers, and still put plenty of money in the bank. And while new competitors to Wi-Fi such as the new WiMAX standard have begun to emerge, the ubiquity of Wi-Fi practically guarantees that it will remain for many years to come.