The next step of bitcoin is a decentrlized p2p based crypto exchange where you can exchange any asset against any other asset.
With that kind of real time barter system we dont even need to hoard or speculate in the same way we do today with coins.
The assets traded can be currencies, shares, animal, lumber, books, oil, gold or whatever there is a market for with at least 2 participants (buyer and seller).
That sounds kind of like Ripple.
Not really.
a) Ripple is centralized (owned by a few) even if their system is built on P2P
b) Ripple is a wallet to transfer assets between people, just like the bitcoin client, not an exchange where you put orders to sell at best possible price to anyone in the market.