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Wi-Fi’s about to get a whole new look to it, one that eerily resembles Bluetooth. The Wi-Fi Alliance has announced it is nearing completing of specifications for Wi-Fi Direct which will provide peer-to-peer connections between any two Wi-Fi devices, such as mobile phones, cameras, headphones, printers, computers, keyboards, and mice. The new standard will be backward compatible to include all currently Wi-Fi certified legacy devices.
Wi-Fi Direct will make connecting to Wi-Fi a lot easier, and it may well prompt a shake-up in the Bluetooth and wireless router industries. Because Wi-Fi Direct essentially replicates Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi is more prevalent, manufacturers may opt to consolidate on the more widely available standard, and consumers more comfortable with Wi-Fi may likewise put pressure for Wi-Fi direct devices and peripherals. With peer-to-peer relationships available the demand for standalone routers could significantly diminish.
Besides getting to have a wireless keyboard without a dongle, finding a Wi-Fi hotspot becomes simpler, as we all become Wi-Fi hotspots.
Image Credit: Sérgio Codespoti/flickr
Links:
[1] http://www.maximumpc.com/user/bartsalisbury
[2] http://www.wi-fi.org/news_articles.php?f=media_news&news_id=909
[3] http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-10374914-266.html
[4] http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/oct2009/tc20091013_683659.htm
[5] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/american_airlines_takes_wifi_skies
[6] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/bluetooth_30_use_grow_exponentially_2011
[7] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/asus_joins_wireless_router_game
[8] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/bluetooth
[9] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/consumer_electronics
[10] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/hardware
[11] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/router
[12] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/wifi
[13] http://www.maximumpc.com/articles/news
[14] http://www.maximumpc.com/user/login?&commentfragment=comments_top_anchor