Back in April, we had heard about the Wi-Fi Alliance creating a new spec that handles device-to-device Wi-Fi, namely for the sake of media sharing, gaming, and syncing tasks. Well, that spec has been officially announced, donning the mantle “Wi-Fi Direct” and begins device certifications in 2010. This is a pretty big step in creating a truly connected home, and should significantly expand the kind of functionality we’ve dabbled in with Bluetooth. Phones are a big part of this spec, but everything ranging from headphones, to printers, and to cameras will be prime targets for Wi-Fi Direct. Enabled TVs will be great for folks who want to get their music, video and pictures into the home entertainment system from their phones without the fuss of setting up Bluetooth dongles. Personally, I find the idea that our phones are becoming connectivity hubs in and of themselves (rather than just the points of entry) is an exciting change in the overall wireless landscape. If you’re worried that we’ll have to wait for new hardware to enjoy Wi-Fi Direct, apparently many existing devices will be forwards compatible. I’m curious if Bluetooth will, in fact, be complementary to this technology or if many of its current uses will be replaced by Wi-Fi in the long run… The battery demand for Bluetooth is much lower, but it seems like that’s the only real differentiator.
[via Wi-Fi Alliance]