Julie Nicholls, vice president of Pacific Internet, believes devices will not only be smaller, smarter and cheaper, there will also be fewer of them.

"Who's here carrying a phone, a personal organiser, a laptop and a memory stick? Welcome to 2026, when the icons of industry have made sure we all have less to carry with us. Gadgets obsession will be in serious decline," Nicholls said in her opening speech yesterday for her company's Bangkok launch of the "Icon of the Internet" campaign.

The emphasis will shift from how many "toys" we have to utility, usability and streamlining our lives.

"Do you remember 20 years ago, when people used to turn to look at people holding mobile phones to their ears because it was such a novelty? Believe it or not, that will happen again in 2026 - because most people by then will interact via discreetly placed devices that are highly personalised and easily replaceable," she said.

"This is because the intelligence and information for most devices will actually reside on the Internet. One generic digital receiver, transmitter and processor will in the future allow you to do what today needs a phone, PDA [personal digital assistant], iPod and so on," she said.

Pacific Internet sees the convergence of data, fixed and mobile voice and video networks as being one of the most critical forces for change.

By 2026, cheap bandwidth and easy-to-use handsets will be widely available, which will drive widespread adoption of Internet protocol (IP) telephony. Fixed and mobile IP access will seamlessly connect a user as he moves through his day, handing him off from network to network so he's not even aware of who his provider is.

"The level of sophistication that

was previously only available to Fortune 500 companies will help mid-tier businesses establish themselves globally," she said.

By then, the switch to digital television and radio will be complete.

Imagine a future where bandwidth will be almost free, almost limitless - mostly wireless.

"Bandwidth will be as ubiquitous as switching on a light switch to find the electricity is there wherever you need it".

Adaptive wireless systems will mean bandwidth becomes a utility - one that's on tap everywhere, all the time.

Content will follow us around.

"While people are excited now about movies on demand or easy access to personalised information that suits their hobbies and interests, I think the emergence of business-related content that will change and improve our working lives is even more interesting. This will have an enormous impact on how we work in 2026," she added.

Pacific Internet (Thailand) managing director Prithayuth Nivasabutr said "Icon of the Internet" was not just the firm's marketing campaign, but also its determination to become a leading and trusted Internet service provider (ISP) brand for consumers.

Pacific Internet was the first Asian ISP to list on the Nasdaq.

Headquartered in Singapore, the company has offices in Hong Kong, the Philippines, Australia, India, Malaysia and Thailand.