After years of preparations, the IPv6 communications protocol is live, worldwide. While the IPv4 and IPv6 protocols will have to run in parallel for some time -- using bridging technologies to ensure that one side can reach the other, the foundation has been laid for the future of the Internet. The various issuing bodies are running out of IPv4 addresses -- there are 4.2 billion possible combinations addressable with the current system. IPv6 allows for 3.4 x 10^38 (10 to the 38th power) addresses, accommodating more devices and users on the Internet as well as providing for greater flexibility
