Purpose: The use of mobile wireless data services continues to increase worldwide. New fourth-generation (4G) wireless networks can deliver data rates exceeding 2 Mbps. The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework of 4G mobile applications that utilize such high data rates and run on small form-factor devices. Design/methodology/approach: The author reviews existing literature of mobile applications development and proposes using network-related characteristics to create a conceptual framework of these applications. Findings: Combining traffic symmetry and latency yields a 2x3 framework with six categories that characterize current and emerging 4G mobile applications, such as augmented reality, mobile social networking and m-health. Research limitations/implications: With the advent of high-speed 4G networks, completely new mobile applications can be developed to leverage such high data rates, and a framework of such development efforts is highly desirable. Originality/value: The framework is developed based on a perspective of technical characteristics because these characteristics intrinsically constrain the kinds of broadband mobile applications that can be developed. The framework should be useful in exploring opportunities of mobile application development and guiding future research in this area. (Contains 1 table and 2 figures.)