Have you ever wondered why Wi-Fi devices can’t just connect straight to each other without the need for a hotspot? Say you want to transfer content from one device with Wi-Fi to another similarly equipped device, but there isn’t a hotspot around to connect the two. That will all soon change as the Wi-Fi alliance starts certifying the technology that will let us do so.
According to USA Today:
You might take advantage of Wi-Fi Direct even when you are close to a hotspot. If you’re in a coffeehouse say, only one person might have to log into a Wi-Fi account for multiple devices to have an Internet connection. Two or more folks can share apps, play a video game together and more using Wi-Fi direct. Individual users can benefit too. You might wirelessly print pictures off a camera at a kiosk, or display smartphone pictures on a TV.
Wi-Fi Alliance marketing direct Kelly Davis-Felner claims Wi-Fi Direct is both secure (in geeky terms it uses WPA2 technology) and inexpensive. It’s a “little bit of software that lives on top of a garden-variety Wi-Fi chipset,” she explains. Wi-Fi Direct devices can communicate with older Wi-Fi devices. The Alliance also says that Wi-Direct incorporates power-saving measures to preserve battery life. And Wi-Fi Direct performs at typical Wi-Fi speeds and ranges.
The benefits of Wi-Fi Direct are tremendous as it moves beyond the necessity for a hotspot. Of course, it’s not very likely you’ll always be able to grab an Internet connection, but when you do you know you’ll be able to share it with others without having everyone else log on.
While it might take some time for the technology to become ubiquitous, it’s going to become available for the holidays. Tech companies like Atheros, Broadcom, Intel, Ralink and Realtek are committed to driving Wi-Fi Direct, and hopefully several more will follow suit during the coming year.
[Via: USA Today]