Networking's Big Players Form Ethernet Industry Alliance

Some of the leading players in the network equipment industry have formed a new organization dedicated to promoting Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802 Ethernet standards.

The Ethernet Alliance will support the advancement of existing and emerging Ethernet technologies by providing member companies with the resources to stimulate market acceptance and accelerate the introduction of new networking products. Positioning itself as the "voice" of the Ethernet industry, the alliance will cultivate efforts to define and develop new network technologies based on the IEEE 802 standard, and by providing consumer education on product options.

"Although Ethernet has existed for more than 25 years, it does not have an industry voice that represents the spectrum of IEEE 802 Ethernet standards developments and serves the IEEE 802 Ethernet industry as a whole," alliance president and chairman of the IEEE's P802.3an task force Brad Booth said in a statement. "With the strong support of our founding members, the Ethernet Alliance will be that voice, and we will move aggressively to accelerate the growth and expansion of IEEE 802 Ethernet technologies."

Members include 3Com, ADC, Agere Systems, AMCC, Aquantia, Broadcom, Force10 Networks, Foundry Networks, Intel, Lawrence Berkeley Labs, Pioneer Corporation, Quake Technologies, Samsung, Sun Microsystems, Tehuti Networks, Tyco Electronics, The University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL), and Xilinx. This year, the alliance plans to focus its energies on technology incubation, and has already begun a 100 Gigabit Ethernet incubation process, as well as interoperability demonstrations and education.