socialrosiechen: Wi-Fi Direct poised to usurp Bluetooth for device-to-device communication

Friday, October 29, 2010

Wi-Fi Direct poised to usurp Bluetooth for device-to-device communication

The Wi-Fi Alliance has begun certification of Wi-Fi devices that can communicate directly with other wireless devices, without the need for a central hotspot or router.

Wi-Fi Direct finally provides an alternative to Bluetooth, the current leader in device-to-device networks. In fact, other than increased range (and power consumption!) Wi-Fi Direct doesn't really bring anything to the table that Bluetooth can't already handle.

These new Direct devices, along with the usual one-to-one connections, will also be capable of managing many-to-one networks. A Wi-Fi Direct printer could communicate with wirelessly-connected laptops, netbooks and smartphones -- how many homes don't have a wireless router, though? It might also mean that more ad hoc networks emerge in public spaces. A very cute video describing Wi-Fi Direct's applications can be found after the break.

These new Wi-Fi Direct devices (a few of which are listed at the bottom of the press release) should be available by Christmas. You only need one Wi-Fi Direct device to take advantage of this new feature, too -- you don't have to rush out and replace everything!