There are a few key features to know about Wi-Fi Direct:
- Wi-Fi Direct enlists a technology known as "Soft AP": Soft AP, in a nutshell, is software-based access point
functionality built into Wi-Fi Direct certified devices. These devices are capable of routing and directing network traffic just like access points and routers. - Wi-Fi Direct is expected to provide superior connectivity over Bluetooth: Wi-Fi Direct is not just an alternative
to Bluetooth connectivity; it delivers a better connection and has greater range than Bluetooth. - Legacy Wi-Fi devices are supported: If you have one Wi-Fi Direct certified device; that device can connect
with 802.11n as well as b and g devices. - Wi-Fi Direct has built-in security: WPA2 is bundled into this wireless standard and unlike traditional wireless
routers and access points, cannot be disabled. - Applications are a driving factor of this technology: Portable devices will be able to connect to the myriad
of applications available without need to connect to a Wi-Fi network. - Wi-Fi Direct is not the same as ad-hoc networking: The most significant difference between traditional ad-hoc
wireless networking (traditional peer-to-peer networking) and Wi-Fi Direct is security. In Windows ad-hoc networks, the highest level of security supported is WEP in mixed client environments (Windows 7 will support WPA2 provided all adapters support it, as
well). Wi-Fi Direct, as mentioned, supports WPA2. Another difference, Wi-Fi Direct devices can also simultaneously connect to existing wireless networks. More granular control and better discovery of devices also differentiate Wi-Fi Direct from ad-hoc networking. - Wi-Fi Direct is not meant to replace traditional wireless networks: Wi-Fi Direct devices may not provide the
overall range of a wireless router or AP. There's more flexibility with APs and routers, as they can be placed strategically to provide optimized signal strength. Also, there are security considerations with Wi-Fi Direct; there is a good chance that IT departments
with corporate wireless networks may have issues with controlling Wi-Fi Direct devices.
WiFi 直连的一些特点：
1、WiFi 直连采用“软热点”的技术：
顾名思义，就是将认证的WiFi直连设备通过软件实现的路由数据传输等类热点或是路由器的一些功能。
2、WiFi 直连被期望拥有超越蓝牙的连接性：
WiFi 直连不应该看作是蓝牙的一种替代技术，相反，WiFi 直连可以提供更好的连接性以及更大的连接范围。
3、支持非WiFi直连认证的WiFi设备：
如果你有一个Wi-Fi直接认证设备;该设备可与802.11n、a、b、g设备连接。也即是说，非WiFi直连认证的设备可以与WiFi直连的设备相连接，通信。
4、WiFi直连自带安全功能
WPA2相较于WPA有更强的安全保障。WiFi直连的设备必须要运行这个安全协议，而像热点和路由器则是可以选择性使用WPA2安全协议。
5、应用WiFi直连技术的一个内在驱动：
便携式移动设备可以和无数的应用建立连接，而不用接入到WiFi网络后才可以使用这些应用。
6、WiFi直连和自组织网络是存的区别：
使用WiFi直连技术搭建的网络和一般的无线自组织网络的最大的区别在于安全性。在Windows ad-hoc网络中，受支持的最高安全级别是混合客户端环境中的WEP(如果所有适配器都支持WPA2, Windows 7将支持WPA2)。如前所述，Wi-Fi Direct支持WPA2。另一个不同之处在于，Wi-Fi Direct设备在进行p2p连接的同时也可以连接到现有的无线网络。相较于自组织网络，WiFi直连可以提供更细粒度的控制和更好的设备发现功能。
7、WiFi直连不意味着替代传统的无线网络：
WiFi直连无法提供路由器或者AP全部的功能。AP和路由器有更大的灵活性，因为它们可以被战略性地放置以提供优化的信号强度。此外，Wi-Fi直连也存在安全顾虑，在企业的无线网络下IT部门如何去管理控制这些WiFi直连设备上很可能存在一些安全问题。