The emphasis on LTE simply highlights that it's not yet viable. Enterprise IT professionals are better off focusing on the growing reach of 3G cellular networks for data services, and their carrier's plans to embrace evolutionary upgrades. At Mobile World Congress, you can expect to hear more debate about the movement to HSPA and HSPA+ cellular services.

Both moves require the availability of spectrum. The GSM Association is expected to launch a coordinated global program to free up and allocate more spectrum for mobile broadband services.

Client infrastructure

The near-term evolution of cellular is the target for Qualcomm's new Gobi2000 radio module, scheduled for deployment in the latter half of 2009. Gobi is the company's programmable multi-mode 3G card: it can support HSPA or CDMA2000 EV-DO networks. The new version adds support for the 800- and 900-MHz bands used most often in Europe, and is faster on the uplink, up to 5.7Mbps over HSUPA. Also new: the built-in GPS chip is now enhanced with Assisted-GPS, which can coordinate satellite and cellular networks to improve positioning, and with Qualcomm's gpsOneEXTRA Assistance, which downloads a positioning assistance data file via an Internet session to speed up initial fixes and overall operation where satellite signals are hard to reach.

Another 4G technology, Mobile WiMAX, will be making news also. will unveil a highly integrated chip that's smaller and uses less power than before, doesn't need external dynamic RAM, delivers over 40Mbps throughput, and covers all three global WiMAX bands: 2.3, 2.5, and 3.5 GHz. It's aimed at makers of mobile devices and customer premises gear, to exploit emerging WiMAX networks such as the one in the United States.