Though it now transmitted data at 10 megabits per second, the rapid evolution of personal computing meant it was becoming a bottleneck.

ECONOMIST: CASE HISTORY: Out of the ether | The

Mr. Shammo said Verizon's 4G network, which is based on technology called Long-Term Evolution, can deliver between 1 and 12 megabits per second of data, allowing for tiered pricing structure similar to home wired Internet service.

WSJ: Verizon Considers Charging for Wireless Data Based on Speed

Both have been designed to use Verizon's fast EV-DO (Evolution-Date Optimised) network capable of speeds in excess of 2.4 megabits per second.

ECONOMIST: The competition this time will be a lot stiffer