Consumer vendors not ready for IPv6: report

Stephen Withers
Friday, 20 February 2009 10:42

IT Industry - Market

So is this really a big deal for the typical consumer?

Yes and no. Recent computers and operating systems (including Mac OS X and Windows XP and Vista) are already capable of using IPv6.

The primary problem will be IPv4-only routers. If firmware upgrades are impossible or simply not offered, replacement hardware will be the obvious option.

Fortunately, consumer-level broadband modems and routers are fairly inexpensive, and there's always the possibility that carriers will provide replacements at no extra cost - though they may require a contract extension in return.

Furthermore, the arrival of affordable devices incorporating faster standards (eg 801.11n or Gigabit Ethernet) means network infrastructure devices don't have a useful life that's all that much longer than a PC.

But what about the other devices on your LAN? The growth in home networks has taken items such as networked printers and print servers, VoIP adaptors and phones, networked storage and so on from the domain of corporates and geeks into everyday life for many families.

Add up the cost of all those items, and things could get expensive unless the router can handle a mix of IPv4 and IPv6 on the same network.

The Market Clarity report was compiled for Communications Alliance.