Verizon’s Humphrey Chen to kick off MobileBeat’s 4G discussion

Fourth generation (4G) mobile networks are just 3G networks with more bandwidth, right?

Wrong. They’re the complete renewal of the whole mobile ecosystem.

The nation’s major carriers — led by Sprint and Verizon — are furiously building out their new networks, called 4G because they represent the fourth generation of mobile network technology. These networks will allow mobile phones to operate with blazingly fast data speeds.

But the upgrades will mean a lot more than just speed. They’ll require new devices, more efficient hardware (new types of chips and antennae), efficient operating systems, more efficient use of bandwidth, better energy utilization (batteries) and a revamping of the mobile network’s entire-back end to better deal with all the data flow.

For the consumer, it means rich video calling and media sharing, mobile video and entertainment, and a completely new experience of mobile online gaming and augmented reality, just to name a few applications. The full spectrum of what can be done on a 4G network is in some ways limited by our own imagination. The opportunity for entrepreneurs to influence not only end user behaviors but also the broader enablement of 4G is huge. At the very least, though, the rise of 4G applications will create a world where end users will multi-task on several applications at once — for example, they’ll be able to toggle between multiple video conferences, watch a live NFL game (or the World Cup), and send out rapid tweets, all at the same time.

That’s why we’re delighted to announce that Verizon Wireless’ Humphrey Chen will be kicking off the 4G track at VentureBeat’s upcoming MobileBeat conference with a presentation on what he sees are some key investment opportunities in the new 4G world.

Besides his role as an Executive Director of the New Product Technologies group at Verizon Wireless, Chen is a key participant in the 4G Venture Forum, a group that includes top-tier venture investors dedicated to funding startups and other companies that plan to exploit 4G.

The 4G Venture Forum was initially focused on improving discoverability in a world with tens of thousands of apps.  But, as with many things in this ever-changing mobile landscape, it has evolved and now is more focused on capital intensive opportunities. Participating firms in the 4G Venture Forum have identified $1.3Bn as potentially available for investment purposes in next generation 4G-related technology opportunities.

The 4G Venture Forum initially has evolved to focus more on capital-intensive opportunities, after previously focusing on the funding of capital-efficient applications built for smartphones. Participating firms in the 4G Venture Forum have identified $1.3Bn for potentially available investment purposes in next generation 4G-related technology opportunities.

MobileBeat will feature three sessions on 4G, packed with speakers bent on making 4G a global reality. For developers in 2010, mobile is not just about building cool apps, it’s about the new opportunities afforded to new app development not possible until now. We’re excited to kick off this debate at MobileBeat. See you there!

Don’t miss MobileBeat 2010, VentureBeat’s conference on the future of mobile. The theme: “The year of the superphone and who will profit.” Now expanded to two days, MobileBeat 2010 will take place on July 12-13 at The Palace Hotel in San Francisco. Register now. Tickets are going quickly. For complete conference details, or to apply for the MobileBeat Startup Competition, click here.