WiFi Alliance Announces WiFi Direct Spec
The Wi-Fi Alliance, that governing body that argues for years about, eventually ratifies, and certifies official Wi-Fi specification, is about to make the peer-to-peer connected world a bit easier. It has just announced that is nearing completion of a new "Wi-Fi Direct" specification for peer-to-peer communications. The Wi-Fi Alliance expects to begin certification for this new specification in mid-2010; products which achieve the certification will be designated "Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Wi-Fi Direct."
So what does this all mean? Well, right now Wi-Fi devices like computers (especially notebooks), printers, cameras, and phones have a pretty hard time connecting to each other directly. If you want devices to talk together, you usually have to connect to some sort of hub or hotspot in what is typically called "infrastructure" mode, instead of directly connecting as an "ad-hoc" network. Ad-hoc networking, simply put, does not work most of the time...at least not without a bunch of fiddling or custom software. Sure, you can get an ad-hoc network running between identical devices made for it, like a pair of Sony PSP handhelds, but try connecting any two notebooks or a notebook to a Wi-Fi enabled printer without a router in between. It's a nightmare.
This new specification should smooth out the kinks and ensure that all the devices that carry the Wi-Fi Direct certification can quickly and easily connect together. Think of how Bluetooth devices pair up comparatively quickly and easily. With the cost of Wi-Fi chips continuing to drop, it could become the emerging standard for wireless keyboards and mice. With virtually every notebook shipping with Wi-Fi built in, it would enable such peripherals to work without dongles jammed in our USB ports.
The best part? It shouldn't require new hardware. For most of the recent Wi-Fi devices on the market, the standard could be added with a firmware update.
Follow Jason Cross on Twitter or visit his blog.
» posted by ITworld staff
PC World
Sign up for ITworld's Daily newsletter
Follow ITworld on Twitter @IT_world
On Twitter now
PC World
Powered by Twitter
Esther Schindler
If the comments are ugly, the code is ugly
claird
SVG a graphics format for 21st century
pasmith
Take Chrome OS for a test spin
Sandra Henry-Stocker
Solaris Tip: Have Your Files Changed Since Installation?
jfruh
Android fragments vs. the iPhone monolith
mikelgan
What Gizmodo missed about the Pro WX Wireless USB disk drive
Sidekick: The Good News & the Bad News
Either way you look at it Microsoft Data Center management did not follow standards or best practices in this failure. In which case it makes me wonder more about the outsourcing of corporate data much less personal data.
- mburton325
Join the conversation here
Quick, practical advice for IT pros. Made fresh daily.
Want to cash in on your IT savvy? Send your tip to tips@itworld.com. If we post it, we'll send you a $25 Amazon e-gift card.













