Suppliers and potential users of wireless industrial networking technologies have formed an organisation to promote the adoption of these technologies, especially in the US. The Wireless Industrial Networking Alliance (WINA) will not focus on any specific technology, but aims to help users to understand wireless system capabilities, based on application areas.

Among WINA`s initial goals are to:

• form industry partnerships to sponsor wireless plant demonstrations;

• support Web-based education and demonstration projects;

• certify systems for specific applications; and

• influence and support applicable standards.

According to Robert Poor of the Ember Corporation, who is WINA`s acting chair, the initial meetings last year highlighted numerous technical, logistical, financial and other challenges raised by wireless communications. "Perhaps the most telling findings were the he end-users` perceptions of wireless sensor networks," he says. "Some of their `likes` and `dislikes` were identical - it all depends on the application."

WINA has set up a Web site.