Some vendors of wireless devices will likely offer software upgrades for existing products so those devices can take advantage of the power-saving specifications, he said. Users should check with their hardware manufacturers to see if upgraded software will be available.

The new specifications have to be incorporated in hardware in both client devices and access points for users to gain full advantage of the new features, meaning it could take a while for users to see any power savings.

By the end of the year, Wi-Fi capabilities will be included in 90 percent of the laptop computers sold in the U.S., even as Wi-Fi continues to expand beyond the core computer market, according to the Wi-Fi Alliance. "It's all really about improving the user experience," Hanzlik said. "As we begin moving beyond the PC, we think it's going to be very effective" in attracting new users to the technology.

Since March 2000, the Wi-Fi Alliance has certified more than 2,000 products from its 250 member vendors as being compatible to work together under Wi-Fi standards.