Just as 3G wireless technology is hitting its stride, the national carriers are testing and launching wireless 4G.  Sprint struck first with WiMax (think really big WiFi hotspots), but Verizon is on its heels with lte (Long Term Evolution).  Other carriers are on board with 4G, and the bottom line is that mind-blowing wireless data speeds are here, and will be mainstream soon.

This means more people going online with all kinds of mobile devices.  Netbook sales are soaring, but research shows people might be seriously regretting their mini computer purchase.  iPhone sales are way up, but can a pocket sized computer really take full advantage of 100Mbps data speeds?  Maybe 4G will mean more powerful large screen laptop computers will be relevant again. (I’m writing this on my 17inch laptop, so you can guess what I’m rooting for…) But we’ll likely see the same trends continue – faster & more powerful mobile devices giving people ready access to the Internet all the time.

But is your business ready for everyone to have the real Internet in their pocket or backpack?

Ultimately, you need a mobile strategy – and one that takes into account both small screen browsing and anytime access.  Are you giving people the opportunity to buy or connect with you quickly?  Does your site give users the information they need right away?  (I keep hearing Jakob Nielsen whisper, “Usability” in my ear…)

Faster Internet rocks, but is your business positioned to take advantage or miss out?

Since 2005, there have been roughly around 20 different e-book readers – only a handful have made past the one year mark. Last year, Plastic Logic revealed exciting technology that will be implemented in their new e-reader that is set to come out early next year. With recently formed new partnerships, the Cambridge based company is hoping to be Kindles first real competitor.

About two weeks ago, Barnes & Noble released the world’s largest online bookstore with over 700,000 digital e-books to choose from (Amazon carries 300,000). Later that week, Plastic Logic announced that they are going to partner up with Barnes & Nobles to allow users to download books onto their e-readers on the go. Plastic Logic also announced its exclusive partnership with AT&T and their 3G Network capabilities – providing the missing link to successfully compete with Kindle.

So why is this important? Big things are happening in the electronic book reader market and this could be the much needed push to rally up more competition – potentially lowering costs for all e-readers. The advantages for e-readers are endless but like the iPod in the digital music player market, there needs to be an electronic reader that is extremely easy to use, has a great design, and has a large digital library – including textbooks that college students can download. To read more about this new reader check this link out.

For all you Apple fanatics- there are rumors that with Apple’s recent large order of 10 inch touch screen monitors, they would be able to create a either a Netbook-tablet or a great looking e-reader. Other rumors continue to say that Apple has been receiving large shipments of paperback books – potentially scanning them and syncing them to be sold through iTunes. Maybe this device will combine both the Netbook and the e-reader into one tablet.

Uh-oh Kindle…

Each time we sit down at our computers, many of us are working with a Microsoft program called the Windows operating system.  It is no secret that Google and Microsoft aren’t exactly good friends as companies go.  Well, last week, Google has announced that they are developing their own operating system and that it will be free.  This move hits Microsoft in the gut and hard. Ouch.

Microsoft is reported to hold 90% of the market and sells about 400 million copies of its operating system each year for around $45 a pop.  Did I mention that Google will give theirs away?  When we buy a new computer that is made by Dell or HP or many others, it comes with the Windows operating system.  Now, Google is meeting with computer manufacturers regarding offering their operating system in addition to or instead.

Google is targeting a release of their system in the second half of 2010 and will initially focus on an offering for Netbooks.  A Netbook is a small computer that is built to work with the internet specifically and these little pint sized computers don’t have many of the additional offerings (e.g., DVD player) you would find in a typical laptop.  Netbooks are very popular these days and carry a very small price tag.

Why is Google taking on Microsoft again? Well, Google thinks that they can build a better mousetrap.  They believe that their new operating system will be faster, easier to use and have fewer lines of code.  Google’s goal is to offer a simple operating system that is not weighed down with all the issues that continue to plaque Microsoft regarding performance and security.  Google is starting with a blank sheet of paper and Microsoft has to deal with legacy code that was written in the past.

Converting most people away from Microsoft will be a daunting challenge as people tend to resist change, and especially so when it involves something that they don’t truly understand like the inner workings of their computer.  Most people just want it to work, so Google will face the challenge of getting people to care enough to want to change.  Some folks will switch immediately, however getting the majority of the market to move will be difficult.

In case you have missed it, Google and Microsoft have been battling for years.  Prior to this latest salvo from Google, Microsoft released a new search engine called Bing in an effort to take market share from Google.  Google, which by the way is the most visited website in the world, released Chrome last year as a replacement for Internet Explorer.

For those Mac-o-philes that are reading this, I am sure you are wondering what happens to Apple in all of this?   Well, analysts see Apple getting hurt by Google as well.  A Google Netbook could be sold for as little as $300 and this will hurt Apple’s entry level machine that is priced around $999.

Regardless of what happens, this should be good for the consumer as all three companies… Google,  Microsoft and Apple are going to need to up their game a little as consumers get more choices on what to buy.