Setting up a home wireless network isn't for the meek. Even for the experienced computer user, it can be a nightmare; and often times the successful establishment of a network can only be rationalized through the use of black magic. Now try throwing your iPhone, wireless printer and headset into the mix - and then hope for the best.

Usually this is done via Blue Tooth technology. Blue Tooth is a wireless protocol that creates a small local network for devices to communicate with each other. It's convenient for wireless headsets, and uh...well it's just useful.

Truth of the matter is Blue tooth seems awfully redundant lately. We already have WI-FI, what's the point of having Blue tooth? Does it do something that WI-FI can't? Not really, other than creating a quick and easy local network. If this barrier is lifted, Blue Tooth's days may be numbered, thanks to an up and coming enhancement to WI-FI.

The WI-FI alliance, the trade group that decides all things WI-FI related, announced today a new standard of connectivity: WI-FI Direct. Basically, WI-FI can already do everything that Blue Tooth can do - ad hoc connectivity, form small networks, and so on. But ask your average consumer with a WI-FI device to create an ad hoc P2P network to share pictures off their camera to another user on the other side of the office, and you'll probably get a blank stare. This new standard will hopefully change all that by implementing the element of simplicity.

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

The interesting part of this announcement is the simplicity of creating ad hoc WIFI networks. If ad hoc P2P networks become very popular and commonplace, what role will ISPs have, and what will it mean for the entertainment industry’s anti-file sharing endeavors?

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