The Wi-Fi Alliance has announced Wi-Fi Direct, a new specification that will enable WiFi devices to discover and connect to one another without a router, a move that could potentially threaten Bluetooth technology.

Wi-Fi Direct will allow WiFi enabled devices such as phones, cameras, printers, computers, keyboards, and headphones to connect on a one-to-one basis or several at a time. Standard data rates and connection ranges (100m) will be supported, so any device could make use of high-speed bandwidth provided by a broadband connection.

Though ad hoc connections are already available within the current WiFi specifications, the new discovery features will make it easy for devices to find each other. The trade association will certify devices for Wi-Fi Direct starting in mid-2010.