It has been over a year since the 4G blog, so it is time for a review.  3G promised us the mobile internet, but due to speed limitations, this promise fizzled as consumers either lacked the patience, or were not in favor of the price/performance of the service.  And we all know: service is king! 

Despite the WiMAX or Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology angle and its associated battle, it is important to look at the functionality that is enabled as a result of the technology in association with some of the technology trends that can be observed: smart devices and cloud services.

Even though a lot of discussion can be had about cloud, it is the services aspect and its associated convergence that makes this an opportune time for 4G top take a foothold.  As devices are getting smarter with larger screens (in the case of mobile phones), they are also getting smaller and more portable (in the case of netbooks).  In both instances, the key is functionality, usability, portability, and connectivity.

It is through the connectivity component that these devices become valuable assets that function as the workplace device of choice. 

However, it is the network speed, reliability, and delivery capability that makes these services available in a consumable manner that addresses the service needs of the consumer.