WiFi Alliance has announced new specification to enable WiFi devices to connect to one another without joining a base station. The alliance calls the new specification ‘WiFi Direct’ and will begin certification for this new specification in mid 2010. However, the WiFi Direct specification, which was previously codenamed “WiFi peer-to-peer”, will work on all devices supporting WiFi technology today, including mobile phones, cameras, printers and computers.

“WiFi Direct represents a leap forward for our industry. WiFi users worldwide will benefit from a single-technology solution to transfer content and share applications quickly and easily among devices, even when a WiFi access point isn’t available,” said WiFi Alliance executive director Edgar Figueroa. “The impact is that WiFi will become even more pervasive and useful for consumers and across the enterprise.”

The WiFi Direct will support WPA2 security and the devices will be able to discover one another and advertise available service like Bluetooth, but at higher data transfer rates and longer distances. WiFi direct will enable wireless syncing between devices, for example, your smartphone will automatically sync with your computer when every the two devices are in range without the need of connecting them.

The Wi-Fi Alliance plans to publish its peer-to-peer specification upon completion, and will begin certifying devices for the Wi-Fi Direct designation in 2010.