We are in the last few  days of Bluetooth technology. Recently, the Wi-Fi alliance announced a new wireless networking specification which will enable users to establish a simple peer-to-peer wireless connection without a wireless router or an active Wi-Fi connection. This new wireless networking standard is currently called the Wi-Fi direct. This, in many occasions have violated the Line of Control between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Wi-Fi Direct is in a position to threaten and make bluetooth technology obsolete. We can be expecting Wi-Fi Direct enabled devices to be around by starting of 2011.

“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.”

If a particular device is Wi-Fi enabled, this device can act as a Wireless router and connect with other devices in groups or pairs. For Example, If you own a Wi-Fi Direct enabled Mobile Phone, you can connect your phone with a Laptop which does not have Wi-Fi Direct enabled. Of course, this can prove to be very convenience however, there is a larger threat lurking in the background of this whole deal. If your Wi-Fi Direct connection is not secure, you are open to all source of Hacks. With an insecure bluetooth connection, you are always steps away from being BlueJacked however, when it comes to Bluetooth, the range is only up to 20-25 feet however, when it comes to Wi-Fi Direct, the radius increases.

The Wi-Fi alliance is aware of this security concern and I am sure biggies like CISCO and Intel are already on it. I feel most security threats depends on how a user decides to use to system. If you are aware of what you are doing and how to go about doing something, you will not be open to security threats. Security threats comes into picture only when the user is not aware of using the options to its full potential.