Is IPv6 finally gaining ground?

When the Internet Engineering Task Force approved Internet protocol version 6, proponents acclaimed it as a major development. Since then, IPv6 has received support only in some areas. In Asia, for example, the profusion of smart cellular phones and PDAs has caused the demand for IP addresses to outstrip the limited supply provided by IPv4, the previous Internet protocol version. Meanwhile, equipment and OS vendors have just begun supporting IPv6, as have manufacturers of devices using wireless and embedded technologies. However, there is relatively little support for IPv6, particularly in North America, from the Internet service providers (ISPs) and network administrators who would use the protocol and thus are key to its success. The paper considers how IPv6's current adoption status is a study in contrast between initial vendor support and a lack of deployment by ISPs and network administrators.