There's the nine-digit Social Security Number that has worked for generations. There's the five-digit zip code that basically works--although the Postal Service added four new digits for businesses 25 years ago. And, finally, there's your telephone number which may need a "1" and an area code to get to you, even for a local call.

Now there's a bigger problem: The Internet is about to run out of space and needs to expand. The government is working on the problem by expanding the Internet addresses, and private companies will need to expand their addresses from four to six bytes to prevent the freezing of the World Wide Web, according to a Wall Street Journal article.

"Organizations that have money will have addresses, while organizations that don't have money will fall off the 'Net," says Tony Hain, a fellow at the IPv6 Forum, a group backing a new, expanded Internet-addressing system.

The problem here is that you need the Internet to work seamlessly, and you need to be connected to your clients and customers. If you don't have a working group dealing with this issue, get moving. The smart thing to do right now is get a group going, study your options and spring into action.

For more on upcoming Internet headaches:
- check out this WSJ.com article

Related Articles:
IPv6: A hit with Google
IPv6 is running out of time
Vendors slow to embrace IPv6
IPv6: How much will it cost?