Chipset maker Qualcomm on Monday revealed that it will introduce an even faster version of EVDO mobile Internet access. While the company's EVDO Revision A has only just launched in the past few months through Sprint and Verizon, a new version -- simply titled EVDO Rev. B -- is already set to debut this year. The technology uses both a new mobile chipset (the MSM7850) as well as software updates to earlier chips that give an average 9.3Mbps download speed versus the 800Kbps of today.

The unprecedented speed could allow for previously impossible multitasking with a mobile phone, Qualcomm says: owners could take a phone call with streaming Internet TV in the background, or browse the Web at full speed during a conference call. Existing devices could still hope to reach 4.9Mbps while future high-speed phones could reach a much faster 73.5Mbps.

An exact timetable for when US carriers will see these speeds is unknown; however, the firm expects to roll out the MSM7850 this year and should integrate it into actual phones and wireless Internet cards for Sprint and Verizon soon afterwards.