The Wi-Fi Alliance recently announced the release of a new peer-to-peer protocol that will allow implementors to connect to each other and send and receive data without the need to have a base station.
The protocol, dubbed WiFi Connect, will allow devices equipped with WiFi to easily connect to devices such as cellphones, cameras, printers, and even keyboards and computer mice. According to ArsTechnica.com, the WiFi Alliance also said that the technology will also allow devices to connect with legacy WiFi-equipped devices in most cases.
The technology seems to be aiming competition with Bluetooth, which is the industry leader when it comes to peer-to-peer connectivity. With the introduction of WiFi Direct, the need to implement both protocols (Bluetooth and WiFi) in devices will be eliminated.
What's more is that WiFi Direct can allow devices to send and receive data at much faster rates. Right now, average Bluetooth sending and receiving rates stand at about 2Mbps. WiFi Direct could most likely delivere at 54Mbps or even faster--and at longer distances as well. The only drawback is that it might consume more power than Bluetooth.
The technology is mainly aimed for enterprise use, with the inclusion of enterprise management features and WPA2 security, though it will also be available for personal use.
The Alliance is expected to release the specifications of the protocol as soon as they are finalized, while certification will be done by 2010.
Will this be the end of Bluetooth? I certainly don't think so. The protocol has been here for a long while already and has proven that it is indeed the leader when it comes to peer-to-peer protocols. With their efficiency of use, Bluetooth will still certainly find its place in mobile phones, which usually need to operate at lower power rates. If that happens, manufacturers of other devices may be well forced to stick with Bluetooth owing to the need to connect with mobile phones. We will see in the long run.
