Interest in Wi-Fi Direct Running High Ahead of Spec

Wi-Fi Direct promises to make it easier for consumers to share Wi-Fi-enabled devices like printers and cameras with their computers and each other, and though the final spec is still forthcoming, CES is demonstrating that the vendors are listening.

The Wi-Fi Alliance has gathered more ammunition in support of the coming Wi-Fi Direct
specification set for availability around the middle of this year. An array of vendors
will be demonstrating solutions based on the
Wi-Fi Direct at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this week, including Intel and
Broadcom, which promises to let consumers easily network any number of devices
wirelessly, including keyboards, headphones, video projectors, displays and even cell
phones.

“The only limit is your imagination,” said Sarah Morris, a senior marketing manager
with the Wi-Fi Alliance, the industry trade group
that develops the Wi-Fi specification. “At CES you’ll see technology demonstrations of
Wi-Fi Direct running on a laptop linked to a camera and external display and a cell
phone, all with a persistent connection.”

The Wi-Fi Direct specification is being tested and tuned by Wi-Fi Alliance member
companies who are also developing a “Wi-Fi CERTIFIED” certification for the software
upgrade. Wi-Fi Direct is not new hardware, but a software upgrade compatible with
existing Wi-Fi devices based on the 802.11a/b/g/n standards. Wi-Fi Direct will include
“simple Wi-Fi Protected Setup” methods to connect devices and enable security
protections.

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