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Wi-Fi Direct offers connections without the internet

Content can be shared between certified devices

  • Khidr Suleman
  • Khidr Suleman
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The Wi-Fi Alliance has started certifying 'Wi-Fi Direct' products that allow devices to connect without the need for an access point or internet connection.

Mobile phones, cameras, printers, PCs and gaming devices will be able to hook up directly to share content and applications, the Wi-Fi Alliance said.

Over 216 million Wi-Fi enabled handsets will ship this year, and this figure is set to grow at annual rates of 26 per cent through to 2014, the organisation noted.

A Wi-Fi Direct device works by signalling to other devices in the area that it can make a connection. Available devices can be viewed and invited to connect, with two or more connected products forming a Direct Group using Wi-Fi Protected Setup.

Wi-Fi Direct devices include a push-button setup mechanism, and offer WPA2 security protection and typical Wi-Fi throughput and range.

"We designed Wi-Fi Direct to unleash a wide variety of applications which require device connections, but do not need the internet or even a traditional network," said Edgar Figueroa, chief executive of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

"Wi-Fi Direct empowers users to connect devices when, where and how they want, and our certification programme delivers products that work well together, regardless of the brand."

The newly certified devices are also capable of connecting with older Wi-Fi devices, increasing the number of products that can use the feature, the Wi-Fi Alliance added.

James Govenor, co-founder of analyst firm RedMonk, suggested that there is a significant market opportunity for Wi-Fi to fill niches such as embedded devices, in place of Bluetooth that never really fulfilled its potential in this space, and in the enterprise space.

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