The Internet: once a commodity, but rapidly turning into a necessity. What started as a boring way to send mail to acquaintances has turned into the prime marketplace for merchandise and ideas.

And companies are now making our networks faster and in the palm of our hands.

Verizon Wireless announced plans to build a 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network before 2011 at a Nov. 3 event at the MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit.

The company said Oakland and Macomb counties will be targeted in the initial launch including the areas of Auburn Hills, Pontiac, Rochester Hills, Troy, Waterford Township, Shelby Township and Sterling Heights.

The launch will also include more than 60 commercial airports nationwide, including those in the initial areas and other key cities. Verizon hopes to cover the rest of Michigan by 2013.

The 4G LTE program will allow for faster wireless data and a quicker response time than the current 3G network.

4G connections can download a 75-megabyte file in 16 seconds; a device running on a 3G network will take six to eight times longer.

The 4G speeds are expected to grow to 1,000 megabits per second by 2014, and John Granby, president of the Michigan, Indiana and Kentucky region for Verizon, said the speeds are not the only benefit to the new LTE network.

“Initially this advanced technology will offer faster speeds when web browsing and uploading or downloading files and less lag time when streaming videos or video conferencing,” Granby said.

“Our 4G network, however, promises much more with the ability to marry machines or devices to each other through technological intelligence to benefit businesses and consumers alike.”

Demonstrations at the MotorCity Casino event showcased applications that can be used to help companies with efficiency and help police, firefighters and paramedics relay information quicker.

“The possibilities that 4G will offer businesses and consumers are limitless,” Granby said.

These applications can be used for remote medical diagnostics and for responders to send high-definition video of injuries to emergency room doctors for treatment recommendation.

The company said they plan to continue supporting the current 3G network for at least the next decade, but has noted the 3G network will soon filter out, similar to the 2G network once 3G was launched.

Verizon spokespersons have suggested unlimited data plans for smartphones will not be available when the 4G network activates.

Verizon’s chief financial officer John Killian told Business Week that the company will need to redesign pricing plans and will likely not offer a totally unlimited flat rate.

Verizon plans to hold a press conference today, Dec. 1 to finalize the plan and discuss more details of the program.

For more information on the LTE launch, visit news.vzw.com