It’s blazing fast and responsive.

So say the Verizon marketing folks about the newest wireless technology coming to the Manatee/Sarasota area today -- 4G LTE.

Verizon, which launched its Fourth Generation/Long Term Evolution wireless network in December 2010 to 39 major metropolitan areas, has quickly been pushing its introduction through the U.S.

Today Manatee and Sarasota were added to the network. Most areas of the two counties are included and Verizon says users will be able to download files, surf the web, share music and photos up to 10 times faster than the previous 3G network.

The company expects the new technology will be offered throughout the state and the country by 2013.

What does it mean to computer users like me who mainly use computers recreationally for Facebook, sending family and friends email and posting a photo or two?

“It’s extremely fast,” said Chuck Hamby, Verizon’s public relations manager for the Florida region. “We like to say movie in minutes, songs in seconds.”

Devices like smartphones with 3G can be adapted for the newer version.

Coverage strength also has improved with the 700 megahertz wireless frequency so losing a signal isn’t as much of a problem, Hamby says.

Along with 4G LTE’s introduction comes new mobile devices as well -- MiFi, a mobile hotspot, wireless modems, notebooks, tablets and smartphones.

One of the more interesting parts of the new technology push by Verizon began this past week with the opening of a 20,000-square-foot innovation center in Waltham, Mass. The vision for the center is an idea incubator where companies and small businesses meet with engineers to further develop the new technology for use in the business world.

About 300 technology gurus are there to interact with business owners to see how 4G LTE can solve their problems and to develop and test products. A sister center is expected to open later this summer in San Francisco.

It’s impressive that other companies like Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson are partnering with Verizon on the center to create a technology think-tank of sorts.

“This will allow anybody to create for our network,” Hamby said. “Somewhere in Manatee County there could be a small business entrepreneur that has an idea that could be developed.”

What are some tech advances that might be coming to you in the not-too-distant future?

Refrigerators that automatically call their owner’s cell phone to let them know they are out of milk. Or coffee makers that can be turned on from remote locations.

“It’s a possibility in the machine-to-machine technology being developed,” Hamby said.