WiFi Alliance Says WiFi Direct Will Make Connections Easier

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WiFi Alliance Says WiFi Direct Will Make Connections Easier

engine

5:24 pm on Oct 15, 2009 (gmt 0)

WiFi Alliance Says WiFi Direct Will Make Connections Easier [news.bbc.co.uk]

The world of wi-fi is to become a whole lot easier thanks to a major technology upgrade, says an industry group.
The Wi-Fi Alliance said it would soon finish work on a new specification called Wi-Fi Direct.
It will let wi-fi devices like phones and laptops connect to one another without joining a traditional network.
Owners of devices without Wi-Fi Direct will be able to upgrade through a software download, says the technology consortium.

I can see the benefits, however, I can also see some problems such as security.

I shouldn't assume they've got to grips with the security angle, but lets hope so.

kaled

6:47 pm on Oct 15, 2009 (gmt 0)

I have my doubts about this making an impact. In areas with free wifi, it may simplify the connection process, but elsewhere (such as the home or office) security requirements will rule this out.

On the other hand, I had a clever idea about fifteen years for which the technology did not exist at all, but I think I may now resurrect it because this would be perfect.

Kaled.

swa66

8:54 pm on Oct 15, 2009 (gmt 0)

Ad-hoc wifi networks are avialable in the current specifications, mostly it's not used at all, so what is the "terrific innovation" ? To make the devices connect without user intervention: security rules will kill that idea before it get's off the drawing board.

wheel

11:24 pm on Oct 15, 2009 (gmt 0)

I think the phone companies resist this. Didn't many phone companies stop allowing their phones to access the web from a local wifi connection, and instead require it go over their system? My first smart-type phone would connect over wifi or phone, my new crackberry doesn't allow wifi.

mack

12:33 am on Oct 16, 2009 (gmt 0)

I think that might be a hardware issue, rather than a network operator restriction. One area where mobile providers are unhappy is tethering connections. This new wifi specification would make tethering very simple. The networks may have a thing or two to say about this.

Mack.

ergophobe

4:35 pm on Oct 16, 2009 (gmt 0)

Didn't many phone companies stop allowing their phones to access the web from a local wifi connection

Not sure. My brother said that his company will not sell you a phone that has wifi unless you also buy a data plan.

They're likely to lose control of this in the US. There is "phone freedom" legislation being talked about. Right now the wireless market is like the landline market in the 1970s - you had to get a phone from the company that gave you service, or at least a phone approved by them. Some legislators want to stop that. At that point, they won't know *what* has my SIM card in it.

All academic to me - I just want WiMax and other Last Mile technology so we can some day get high speed internet at our home!

mack

6:46 pm on Oct 16, 2009 (gmt 0)

I think the network providers, and the phone manufacturers have a very different agenda. The providers would love to have us tied into dataplans, but the phone producers realise that features sell.

Mack.