The number of Wi-Fi Direct-enabled devices shipped is expected to each 173 million in 2011, said research firm In-Stat. Wi-Fi Direct enables peer-to-peer networking capability without the need of a Wi-Fi access point. In-Stat said smart devices with embedded Wi-Fi Direct will be led by desktop PCs, digital TVs, mobile phones and notebook PCs. "Wi-Fi Direct enjoys wide backing from Wi-Fi silicon vendors," said Brian O'Rourke, research director at In-Stat in a statement, "Ultimately though, the key to Wi-Fi Direct's success will lie in the application programming interface software that is developed to make Wi-Fi Direct useful to the consumer." Article