Most of us take it for granted that we can check e-mail with our mobile phones.
But not long ago, this was a truly disruptive technology that changed how we
did business and stayed in touch when we were away from home and the office.

Which begs the question: What new mobile technologies will emerge in the next
few years that will change our lives?

That question was posed to a group of industry analysts, futurists and executives
for key vendors, a group grounded in reality, not fantasy. Yet, they still suggested
13 technologies that will provide dramatically better mobile access, better
devices and better applications. Some of these life-changing technologies are
just around the corner while others years away.

These aren't isolated technologies. Rather, for the most part, they build on
each other so that one won't be possible until another is widely available.
But they all, in their own way, will significantly improve how individuals and
business users are mobile.

Let's see what the future holds.

Better access

Advanced applications and devices require fast, easily affordable access, but
today's 3G cellular data service remains expensive and, with typical speeds
between 400Kbit/sec. and 700Kbit/sec., slow. That's about to change, however,
and the pace of change will remain rapid into the foreseeable future.

Disruption 1: Mobile WiMax

Sprint Nextel Corp. said it will launch its mobile Xohm WiMax network commercially
in a handful of cities next spring with more cities added throughout the year
and 2009. It has the potential to be a game-changer, some experts say.

"If you're looking to 2009 or 2010, WiMax will be somewhat revolutionary
in terms of wireless broadband," said Brian Clark, a partner with M/C Venture
Partners in Boston. "It starts to offer a DSL-level of [wireless] service."

Sprint claims that Xohm's typical (as opposed to peak) speeds will be in the
2Mbit/sec. to 4Mbit/sec. range. And while Sprint hasn't yet provided pricing
details, it has said its WiMax
offering will be priced similarly to DSL and cable access, which is significantly
cheaper than 3G. Even more radically, at least for a company best known as a
cellular operator, Sprint won't demand long-term contracts but, rather, will
use a subscription model.

Verizon Wireless said it will deploy a competing technology called LTE (long-term
evolution), which will have similar speeds to Sprint's Xohm network. However,
most observers believe that LTE and similar technologies deployed by other carriers
won't start to be available until at least 2011. By that time, proponents claim
second-generation mobile WiMax will offer speeds potentially as high as 1Gbit/sec.

Why it's important: Most of the other disruptive technologies discussed here
require fast, affordable wireless access.

What could hold it back: Some of Sprint's shareholders want to

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