A new consumer poll, conducted by the Wi-Fi Alliance on the eve of the Consumer Electronics Show, demonstrates that Wi-Fi has become a sought after feature in consumer electronics. The poll results show strong interest in a wide variety of Wi-Fi-enabled entertainment applications, as well as a desire for a convenient, easy method to make those connections. With Wi-Fi CERTIFIED(TM) Wi-Fi Direct technology becoming available later this year, Wi-Fi is poised to become an even more important purchase requirement for consumer electronics devices in 2010.

Seventy-four percent of respondents to the poll reported interest in Wi-Fi-enabled speakers to play music throughout a home, and 74 percent also said they would like to use the technology to watch movies or television on any screen in the house. Seventy-one percent of respondents reported interest in wirelessly connecting quickly and directly to a printer without having to join a network and 54 percent wanted the ability to use Wi-Fi to synch a portable audio player to a music library without use of cables or a docking station.

Consumers were also polled on the forthcoming Wi-Fi Direct technology, which will enable electronics, handsets and notebooks to connect directly to one another without using an access point or requiring an internet connection. Planned for mid-2010, Wi-Fi Direct will be suitable for a wide range of entertainment devices, and will include simple Wi-Fi Protected Setup(TM) methods to connect devices and enable security protections.

When given a description of Wi-Fi Direct, 79 percent of respondents reported that they were interested in seeing Wi-Fi Direct technology incorporated into new devices. Sixty percent agreed that Wi-Fi Direct represents a "more amazing invention than digital television that delivers hundreds of channels to your home."

"It's clear that consumers are ready for a truly connected entertainment experience, and they want high performance and convenience," said Wi-Fi Alliance executive director Edgar Figueroa. "Wi-Fi technology, especially in the age of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED(TM) n and Wi-Fi Direct, delivers the winning recipe to make that vision a way of life."

Although poll respondents indicated a strong interest in connecting entertainment devices without wires, they want the wireless connection to be easy to set up. For example, although about half of the respondents (44 percent) estimated it would take them more than 30 minutes to display digital photos on a television screen today, 68 percent stated they would be interested in doing so "with little more than the push of a button."

"Wi-Fi is fast becoming the technology of choice when it comes to connecting consumer electronics, and we expect that trend to solidify as we enter the next decade," said Victoria Fodale, senior analyst and market intelligence manager at In-Stat. "With industry innovation making it easier and more convenient to connect, consumers will embrace Wi-Fi in devices ranging from TVs and home music systems to gaming devices and portable media players."