Like any new technological development, 4G is a lot closer than you think. Tests are already underway and some battle lines are being drawn with regards to how the market for these services will emerge. This development is on track to coincide with the equally rapid development of real time systems like Twitter and Google Wave. What is likely to emerge are services that create instantaneous streams to deliver and share not just text and hyperlinks, but video, audio, whiteboarding and files. This will be:
a) Faster
b) From a static or mobile device
c) With more reliable synchronization via the cloud
d) Easily archivable and searchable

Even more exciting is the continued evolution in hardware and always on devices. Taking the iPhone as an example, it’s gyroscope has redefined gaming and sent the experience into a much more physical dimension. The Wii is another case, even being used as part of physical therapy regimens.

The near future will bring devices that rapidly stream real time data that can be manipulated physically via mobile devices around the world. This data will be searchable and archivable via the cloud. Data will also be semantically organized and re-configurable into other views that reveal insights for business owners and managers.

With all of the possiblilities that this brings, planning for the roll out of these technologies requires a broad knowledge of what will become available, but it also requires significant focus because, taking Twitter as an example, the most compelling applications often use a subset of what is available. Technologically, Twitter is not particularly complex, but it has met a human need.

4G will provide the playing field for the next Twitter or Facebook, provided that a developers and entrepeneurs are able to ask the right questions and stay focused on meeting human needs, rather than geeking out.

This video presentation from iPass breaks down the current technologies and state of development in 4G. More importantly, is poses the questions that need to be asked by anyone who will be taking part in that space. It is important to remember that 4G, beyond being a mobile technology, will be a convergence of technologies. Desktop, remote, mobile, and new interfaces will continue to make it impossible to focus on one single type of device for anyone anyone hoping to compete in the next several years.
Watch the video presentation and download the free whitepaper here.