© 2012 Wi-Fi Alliance. All rights reserved. 19 September 2012

Frequently Asked Questions on Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Miracast™

1. What is Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Miracast?

Miracast is an interoperability test program for products that provide seamless wireless display of content, including graphical, video and audio content, across Wi-Fi devices—anywhere, at any time, without cables or even a connection to a Wi-Fi network. Equipment that passes the testing is designated “Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Miracast.”

2. What is the difference between Miracast and Wi-Fi Display?

Miracast is the brand for the certification program operated by the Wi-Fi Alliance. Devices that pass this certification testing can be referred to as “Miracast devices”. Miracast certification is based on the Wi-Fi Alliance Wi-Fi Display Specification. This is the underlying technological specification developed by Wi-Fi Alliance members, and is copyrighted and owned by the Wi-Fi Alliance.

3. What types of equipment are tested?

Miracast is an optional certification program for video-capable devices, such as TVs, handsets, tablets, laptops, over-the-top set-top boxes, cameras and projectors.

4. Must both the content source and display be Miracast devices?

To enjoy Miracast, both the display and the source devices must be certified for Miracast. Miracast may be used on devices without embedded Wi-Fi through the use of a Miracast-certified adapter that supports an interface such as High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) or Universal Serial Bus (USB).

5. What features does Miracast certification test?

Miracast certification testing ensures that devices interoperate across vendors, provide simplified discovery and setup, and implement content protections if premium content is supported. Miracast devices are also tested for implementation of WPA2™ security.

6. Do Miracast devices implement the latest Wi-Fi core technology? What about technologies on the near horizon?

Miracast uses many of the building blocks that, over the years, have enriched the user experience and increased their trust in Wi-Fi, including Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n (improved throughput and coverage), Wi-Fi Direct™ (device-to-device connectivity), Wi-Fi Protected Access® 2 (WPA2™) (security), Wi-Fi Multimedia™ (WMM®) (traffic management) and Wi-

© 2012 Wi-Fi Alliance. All rights reserved. 19 September 2012

Fi Protected Setup™. Some Miracast devices will also support Tunneled Direct Link Setup (TDLS), which allows them to connect via an infrastructure network.

Miracast is expected to directly benefit from continuous advances in Wi-Fi performance, such as those offered by the upcoming 5 GHz program, based on 802.11ac.

7. How is Miracast related to Wi-Fi Direct?

Wi-Fi Direct allows devices to connect directly to each other, without the need for a Wi-Fi AP, and often requiring just the push of a button. Wi-Fi Direct allows source and display devices to discover one another and provides the underlying device-to-device connectivity for Miracast. Miracast builds upon Wi-Fi Direct with mechanisms to negotiate video capabilities, setup content protection (if needed), stream content, and maintain the video session.

8. What formats does Miracast support?

For video, Miracast supports the ITU-T H.264 video codec (AKA Advanced Video Coding [AVC]) for high-definition video. It supports the Constrained Baseline Profile (CBP) and the Miracast-specific Constrained High Profile (CHP), at levels ranging from 3.1 to 4.2. Supported display resolutions include common Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) formats, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) formats, and handheld formats. For audio, Miracast supports a number of Linear Pulse-Code Modulation (LPCM), Advanced Audio Coding (AAC), and Dolby Advanced Codec 3 (AC3) modes.

9. How does Miracast protect premium content?

Miracast supports High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) 2.0/2.1. HDCP 2.x is a wireless adaptation of the same trusted content protection mechanisms widely used for cabled interfaces, providing diversity in premium content options. This feature is designed to protect the digital rights of content owners and to encourage their efforts to make their content available.

10. Does Miracast support devices like wireless speakers? (audio only)

Audio-only devices are not part of the Miracast certification program.

11. How do I communicate using the Miracast trademark?

The term “Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Miracast™” designates products that have been certified. The underlying specification or technology is called “Wi-Fi Alliance Wi-Fi Display Specification”. Only products which have completed and passed Wi-Fi certification to the Wi-Fi Display test plan may use the Miracast name. Never use Wi-Fi Display, WFD, or other variants. On second instance, you may refer to “Miracast” products (dropping the term Wi-Fi CERTIFIED). There is no special logo or visual indicator for Miracast.

12. Where can I learn more about the Miracast certification program?

Resources including a listing of certified devices, white paper and the program specification are available at http://www.wi-fi.org/miracast.