Global acceptance and use of these specifications is paramount to the success of IrDA and its members. The Architectural Council works with the SIGs in the early definition of new specifications, ensuring that they are compatible and offer legacy support to existing specifications. Marketing Committee provides tactical support in developing new markets and strategic support in promoting infrared wireless communication. Technical Committee resolves all technical issues that arise during specification development and the Test and Interop Committee provides tools and services to ensure compliance to specifications and interoperability

 
At the core of the Infrared Data Association are Special Interest Groups or SIGs. SIGs were responsible for developing the protocols currently used to define the way IrDA-enabled devices

IrSimple Profile is IrDA's newest technology for "simple" uni- and bi-directional  communications.  As intuitive as a TV remote control, it features data rates of 4 or 16 Mbit/s.discover, negotiate, and transfer data.We are currently extending this specification to 3 meter distance.

Today, there are SIGs defining specifications for communicating the transfer of digital content at speeds of 1 Gbps  (GigaIR) and on defining common standards to interface with USB to provide data transfer using IR.

The IrDA staff plays a key role in promoting infrared wireless communication, scheduling and coordinating general meetings, trade shows and marketing events, providing public relations services for IrDA and its members, monitoring the use of IrDA specifications, logo’s, trademarks and maintaining and implementing policies and procedures.