New Wi-Fi Spec Lets Devices Be 'Direct' With Each Other

A Wi-Fi industry group that includes Intel, Cisco and Apple, among others, is readying a new peer-to-peer specification that will let Wi-Fi devices connect to each other without having to use a nearby hotspot.

The Wi-Fi Alliance said that the new Wi-Fi Direct spec can be implemented in any Wi-Fi device --mobile phones, cameras, printers, notebooks, keyboards and headphones.

The specification, previously code-named "Wi-Fi peer-to-peer," is not only aimed at consumer products, but also targets enterprise applications, provides management features for enterprise environments, and includes WPA2 security.

"Wi-Fi users worldwide will benefit from a single-technology solution to transfer content and share applications quickly and easily among devices, even when a Wi-Fi access point isn't available," Wi-Fi Alliance Executive Director Edgar Figueroa said in a statement. "The impact is that Wi-Fi will become even more pervasive and useful for consumers and across the enterprise."

The consortium plans to start certification for this new specification in mid-2010. However, only Wi-Fi Alliance members will be able to certify devices to the new specification. In addition to the aforementioned companies, other members include Motorola, Broadcom, Nokia, Sony, LG Display, as well as a slew of printer vendors including Ricoh, Fuji Xerox, Oki, Canon, Brother and Epson.

"Empowering devices to move content and share applications without having to join a network brings even more convenience and utility to Wi-Fi-enabled devices," said Victoria Fodale, senior analyst and market intelligence manager at In-Stat, in a statement.

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