• Fortune, Monday, November 6, 2006 12:30 PM

It is the largest such survey of next-generation Internet experts ever: 86% of more than 1,000 experts say they worry about the progress made by other nations relative to the United States, in addressing the new scheme known as Internet Protocol version 6.

What is it? Wikipedia says the main thing that Ipv6 provides is an increase in the number of unique Web addresses assignable to network devices. That includes anything from cell phones to portable game machines to, someday, lights in your house. IPv4 is the current scheme widely used, which provided about 4.3 billion total addresses--less than 1% of the world population--and inadequate when you consider the burgeoning market for connective devices.

In other words, expect one day that every single electrical device in your life--from your TV to your phone, iPod, heating system, even individual light bulbs--will be given its own unique Web address so you can control it remotely. This is the digital future--enabling faster, more secure, and just more network connections. Chinese, Indian and Asian companies are embracing it far faster than their U.S. competitors.

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