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Emma Walsh here, managing editor of the Journal. Routine Diary readers know that tech isn't our typical beat. And when it comes to tech investing, we leave it to the professionals. Fortunately, we have several such specialists in our Rolodex. Our coworker Jeff Brown will be familiar to our long time readers.
In truth, he had numerous triple-digit returns in his Brownstone Research portfolios last year. Here's what Jeff thinks the tech sector will bring us in 2021 Each year, I like to take an appearance at the big picture and forecast what's simply around the corner. Long time readers of my work understand that I follow the most interesting tech trends on the brink of mass adoption.
These trends are experiencing rapid development and producing incredible opportunities for investors. I wish to make certain all our readers are gotten ready for what's next. And with that in mind, let me draw the photo of what I see can be found in the next 12 months 1. 5G Devices Our brand-new 5G (fifth-generation) wireless networks are a topic I have actually been covering for years now.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted supply chains in 2015, an excellent 250 million 5G-enabled gadgets were still sold. Specifically in the second quarter, there were supply chain disruptions, making delays, and work interruptions. And all of this eventually led to Apple postponing the release of the 5G-enabled i, Phone 12 by two months.
When you think about all of that, selling 250 million units is amazing. More importantly, the hold-ups brought on by the pandemic created a lots of pent-up need. And that need is now going to be pressed into 2021. In reality, I anticipate that more than 500 million 5G devices will be shipped in 2021.
Stage 3 of 5G When I've discussed 5G in the past, I have actually described its three different stages. In Phase One, the facilities of these new networks is built out, consisting of all the new towers and fiber-optic circuitry that 5G will need. In Phase Two, 5G gadgets go on sale.
And in Stage 3, 5G services begin to be provided. That's when we begin to see applications operating on 5G networks. Think about things like enormous multiplayer games over a cellphone. That's not possible with 4G. It will be with 5G. And my second 5G prediction for 2021 is that we will start Stage Three by this summertime.
But they will care if there are exciting applications that can just be accessed with a 5G phone. So a growing number of customers will head out to purchase a 5G phone to gain access to these applications. That results in more 5G apps being established. In fact, 5G is going to open up a suite of unbelievable applications: self-driving cars, the Internet of Things, robotic surgery, and more.
The financial investment chances moving forward will be huge. 3. CRISPR Genetic Editing Stepping far from 5G, the next crucial innovation I predict in 2021 is CRISPR hereditary modifying. CRISPR stands for "clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat." It's a mouthful. However it is among the most amazing advancements in biotechnology.