The Wi-Fi Alliance is hoping to usher in a new generation of wireless technology as early as next year.

Beginning in mid-2010, new versions of digital cameras, cell phones and computers will be able to "talk" directly to each other without having to connect to a wireless network first.
    
According to Wi-Fi Alliance Marketing Director Kelly Davis-Felner, the new technology - called Wi-Fi Direct - will make it much easier to transfer pictures, movies, and other information from one device to the other.
    
In addition, the new devices will be faster than Bluetooth and have a wider range.

In one example, you could connect your Smart Phone to a computer wired to the Internet and check e-mail, without paying for it on your phone's data plan.