In this paper we describe the genesis and development of Wi-Fi as a combined result of (1) a change in the US communications radio spectrum policy in the 1980s, (2) the industry leadership provided by NCR, its corporate successors and collaborators, to create a global standard and to deliver compatible products under the Wi-Fi label, and (3) the influence of the users that moved the application of Wireless-LANs from the enterprise to the home, from indoor to outdoor use, from a communications product to a communications service, and from operators to end-users as the provider of that service. In concluding we assess the implications of this case for the formation of government policy and firm strategy. The case exploration and analysis is based on contributions by experts from the field, having been involved ‘first hand’ in the innovation journey of Wi-Fi.
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