Others are quick to point out, though, that mobile WiMax isn't 4G at all.

"You have to be careful when you talk to an operator when they call it 3G and 4G," Nokia's Debrecht said. "There will be a 4G in terms of what the standardization bodies determine, but that won't be the same as what the carriers may be calling 4G."

In other words, the two tracks -- 4G and wireless broadband -- likely will converge in the future in the form of OFDMA-based technology of some sort. However, beyond that, nobody can talk particulars. One big reason for that is that the 4G standard-setting process hasn't started in earnest.

"If people start throwing ideas around now, we could have a standardization body in 2009 or 2010, so it could be 10 years before we see true 4G technology -- 2011 or 2012 and probably even longer than that," Debrecht said.

What does the future hold?