The next wireless technology to emerge after 3G will likely be able to directly compete with landline broadband vendors. A technology known as HSDPA can provide typical wireless data speeds of about 3 Mbit/s, which is a big improvement over the slower UMTS technology, which can only manage about 300 kbit/s.
A number of wireless operators, including Cingular in the U.S., are committed to upgrading to HSDPA in the next few years.
This may signal the end of landline voice services as well.
Many people currently keep their landline voice service just so they can get landline broadband. But that benefit will start to disappear as more users switch their landline voice service to wireless and wireless operators offer faster data speeds such as those offered by HSDPA.