Global wireless standard group the Wi-Fi Alliance has announced a new WiFi specification - Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Wi-Fi Direct – which will enable WiFi-equipped devices to connect directly without needing a network. Wi-Fi Direct devices are likely to become available from mid-2010.
This means that WiFi will be competing with Bluetooth as a peer-to-peer connection technology; WiFi is theoretically faster than Bluetooth although it also tends to consume more power. Full details about the new specification have not yet been finalised. [Press release]