Mobiles and WiFi: Everywhere

As reported in the Symbian Blog, the WiFi Alliance are close to announcing a new standard, WiFi Direct. What does that mean? Basically, any device with a WiFi chip will become a hotspot. Your mobile phone, your computer printer, your camera, your laptop, your PC, even your fridge, can all connect to each other wirelessly and share an Internet connection. This functionality won’t just be limited to your own devices, you’ll be able to wirelessly connect to the Internet via any WiFi enabled device.

The implications of this are significant. The local WiFi network and its connection to fixed broadband may yet usurp the Mobile Networks in metropolitan areas. The implications for Morodo and MO-Call type services are also significant as it means the availability of connections points could increase tremendously making free WiFi a real alternative network.

How many connected mobile phones in the World? This week, global mobile subscriptions passed the 5 billion mark. There are now more than 5 billion mobile connections working in the world today. The 6th billionth connection is forecasted for 2012.

Mobile is the largest single market in the history of humankind.

Image: Associated Press