Wi-Fi Alliance launches web-less Wi-Fi

The Wi-Fi Alliance has begun certifying products capable of making device-to-device connections without the aid of the internet and expected the first products to be released by the end of the year.

The move to certify devices under Wi-Fi Direct was to enhance the usability of Wi-Fi enabled portable devices, the Alliance said in a statement Monday.

"We designed Wi-Fi Direct to unleash a wide variety of applications which require device connections, but do not need the internet or even a traditional network," said Edgar Figueroa, CEO of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

"Wi-Fi Direct empowers users to connect devices - when, where and how they want to, and our certification program delivers products that work well together, regardless of the brand."

Uses the alliance pointed to for Direct certified devices included content and file sharing, printing, synching and gaming.

Devices will employ WPA2 encryption security for communications.

A 2010 survey by the alliance revealed consumers would use Direct for instant messaging, displaying pictures from a portable device on a monitor, video chatting and video games on public transport.

Certified devices would also allow multiple machines to connect to each other simultaneously, according to its information page.

The devices - which the alliance expected would be available by the end of the year - should be able to connect to older Wi-Fi certified machines, including all "n" certified technologies.