Mobile Broadband Traffic Exploding

Coda Research Consultancy, a media research firm, predicts that mobile data traffic will grow by a factor of 40 <http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-of-the-day-handset-data-traffic-per-month-2010-2015-2010-3?utm_source=Triggermail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SAI_COTD_033110#ixzz0jn42HSEy> in the next 5 years. If this comes to pass, that would mean that, without significant infrastructure improvements, smartphones and other new devices like Apple's iPad could swamp existing cellular networks. Providers are trying to avoid (or at least forestall) these problems by rolling out faster 4G networks across the country.

Still, this may be one more reason why existing AT&T customers should be rooting for Apple to release a Verizon version of its iPhone. Current iPhone customers in some parts of the country complain about slowdowns in service. But if the fast-growing iPhone user base is spread across multiple carriers, that should at least spread the pain, especially as the 3G version of the iPad gets ready to hit the market.