Device-to-device Wi-Fi on the way

Electronic devices such as cellphones, computers, televisions and DVD players will soon be able to connect to each other wirelessly througha new Wi-Fi technology expected to be released next year.

The Wi-Fi Alliance, a Texas-based standards group that counts Intel, Cisco and Apple among its members, announced the new technology, called Wi-Fi Direct, on Wednesday. The new standard, which the group expects will become available in mid-2010, will allow consumers to directly connect devices that have been certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance without having to first go through an intermediary "hotspot."

For example, with current technology, a consumer who wants to wirelessly transfer photos and music from a computer to another device, such as a video game console,must typically first connect both devices to a Wi-Fi router. The router then serves as a middle man and moves the data from one device to another.

The new standard will take the middle man out of the equation, eliminating the need for a router.A routerwill still be needed by any devices that seek a connection to the internet.

Wi-Fi Direct is likely to compete against Bluetooth, which also allows devices to connect with each directly. Wi-Fi, however, generally has faster speeds and greater range than Bluetooth.

The Wi-Fi Alliance said the new technology will be a leap forward for the wireless industry.

"The impact is that Wi-Fi will become even more pervasive and useful for consumers and across the enterprise," said executive director Edgar Figueroa in a statement.