<p>There has been a lot of press about IPv6 and the impending switch over to IPv6 from IPv4.  I have some understanding of IPv6, but I've often wondered how much impact IPv6 has on application development &amp; design (specifically)?</p>

<p>Are there some tangible/well known benefits IPv6 provides which we don't already have today?</p>

<p>I know Windows Vista and Server 2008 support IPv6 out-of-the-box, is anyone using (or designing with IPv6 in mind) today, and if so, what are the benefits?  Should we be considering IPv6 in current and future projects?</p>

<p>Are there any <em>good</em> examples of IPv6-aware applications?  </p>

Initially not much. The switch from IPv4 to v6 should be transparent for most desktop and web applications.
But eventually applications that use network models that are made easier by IPv6 will become more common. For example most users are behind a NAT so mesh-networks are only feasible for a technical audience. Anyone who has had to open ports on his router for P2P software knows this is not something his mom could use.
Streaming and broadcasting are also things that are made easier by IPv6.