By adding basic web surfing capabilities to an otherwise
conventional cellular phone, the Wireless Application Protocol
brings mobile phones and Internet access appliances closer to
merging
WAP is a protocol for web-like communication across the Internet
to mobile devices. It is intended to bridge the gap between small
mobile devices and the Internet as well as private intranets. It
offers the ability to deliver the same range of mobile information
and interactive services to subscribers as can currently be
delivered over the Internet to conventional web browsers from
existing web servers.
Services and applications include email, customer care, call
management, unified messaging, weather and traffic alerts, news,
sports and information services, e-commerce transactions and
banking services, online address book and directory services, as
well as corporate intranet applications.WAP is a global ratified
standard. Ericsson, Nokia, Motorola and Unwired Planet founded the
WAP Forum in the summer of 1997 with the initial purpose of
defining an industry-wide specification for developing applications
over wireless communications networks. The WAP specifications
define a set of protocols in application, session, transaction,
security and transport layers which enable operators, manufacturers
and applications providers to develop services, content and
reception hardware that support a common standard. There are now
over 100 members representing technology manufacturers, operators,
carriers, service providers, software houses, content providers and
companies developing services and applications for mobile
devices.
Why bother with WAP?In the past, wireless Internet
access has been limited by the capabilities of handheld devices and
wireless networks.WAP brings existing Internet standards such as
XML, user datagram protocol (UDP) and IP to existing mobile phone
and handheld PC architecture without the need for drastic
redesigning. Many of the protocols are based on Internet standards
such as hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) and TLS (Transport Layer
Security) but have been optimised for the unique constraints of the
wireless environment: low bandwidth, high latency and less
connection stability.Internet standards such as hypertext mark-up
language (HTML), HTTP, TLS and transmission control protocol (TCP)
are inefficient over mobile networks, requiring large amounts of
mainly text-based data to be sent. Standard HTML content cannot be
effectively displayed on the small-size screens of pocket-sized
mobile phones and pagers.WAP uses binary transmission for greater
compression of data and is optimised for long latency and low
bandwidth. WAP sessions cope with intermittent coverage (a common
problem with mobile phones) and can operate over a wide variety of
wireless transports.WML and wireless mark-up language script
(WMLScript) are used to produce WAP content. They make optimum use
of small displays, and navigation may be performed with one hand.
WAP content is scaleable from a two-line text display on a basic
device to a full graphic screen on the latest smart phones and
communicators.WAP is also designed to work on several different
frequencies of phone network: GSM 900 (used by Cellnet and Vodafone
in the UK and overseas), 1800 (used by Orange and One2One in the UK
and also overseas), and 1900 MHz (used in the US and Canada). Other
US and overseas specific cellular standards are also supported.The
use of WAP is not restricted to just cellphones either. WAP
information and applications can be used over digital cordless
landline or DECT phones, which are quickly replacing radio-based
cordless phones in the home by offering improved audio quality and
increased distance from the base station.Given the already large
user base of mobile phones, WML's user interface components have
been designed to map onto existing mobile phone user interfaces
(text-based in line with existing broadcast services such as Short
Message System (SMS)). This means end users can immediately switch
to using WAP-enabled mobile phones and services without having to
learn the mechanics of a different device. It also ensures that
many other existing handsets can be upgraded to support WAP.WAP
specifications enable products which employ standard Internet
technology to optimise content and airlink protocols to better suit
the characteristics and limitations of existing and future wireless
networks and devices.
What can I get with WAP?Despite only
recently breaking into the UK mobile phone market, WAP phones
already have access to a vast amount of UK-specific data. Most of
the services available are news and travel information based.
Basically, those services that previously relied on SMS messages to
transmit messages to handsets.Unlike SMS, WAP is not limited to 160
characters per message, making is more suitable for often longer
material such as news, traffic and travel reports, email, billing
information and so forth. It is also highly suitable for electronic
books and newspapers, share data and promotional information, such
as recipes and supermarket offers; basically, anything you can
access with a web browser can potentially be accessed via a WAP
browser.Security is also very tight. WAP has its own security and
encryption protocols, making it secure enough for online shopping
and betting applications (both Camelot and Virgin are highlighting
WAP phones as an alternative way to play the National Lottery
because it is a secure enough medium with a reliable authentication
routine).There are limitations in how some elements of a WAP page
can be presented though. For example, graphics support is limited
to the WBMP format. These ideally need to be black and white images
to accommodate the mono screens of mobile phones and PDAs. There is
also the consideration of the screen size on the client device. Not
everyone will be lucky enough to be using a Psion 5-like device of
a phone with a full-length display underneath its keypad. Indeed,
people who are updating the operating system on their existing
phones will be using a three to four line display that may be as
narrow as 12 characters.
WAP hardwareWAP is not exclusive to
mobile phones, though phones are the area where it is being
implemented the most. Essentially, WAP is intended for all small
computer and non-computer devices. So, in theory, it can also be
applied to palm-size and handheld computers, pagers, watches, car
dashboard displays - basically anything with a screen interface
that would need to work with a wireless data connection to remain
portable.Based on the Internet model, the wireless device contains
a microbrowser, while content and applications are hosted on web
servers. At the moment, the available WAP hardware in the UK is
limited - currently standing at just three devices, although over a
dozen are scheduled for release in the next six months.
How Wap
support has been applied to phones and PDAsThe Ericsson MC218
(218) is a Psion 5MX. It looks the same, has all the same system
software and applications as a 5MX, and it even rolls off the same
production line. There are just two subtle differences: the
Ericsson badge and colour scheme, and the built-in WAP browser and
infra-red modem. The 218 is one of two devices Ericsson currently
has on sale that run Psion's EPOC operating system, a very stable
multitasking OS that uses a StrongARM MX processor. The EPOC
operating system was originally created for pocket-sized computers,
but has since been developed to serve the needs of wireless
information devices produced by members of the Symbian consortium
(Psion, Nokia, Ericsson, Motorola). It is easier to operate,
smaller, less power consuming and faster than other similar
operating systems. EPOC is a highly optimised operating system
platform. It is entirely modular and supports embedded graphics and
voice recording, along with pen and keyboard input.The 218 is a
prime example of how WAP can be used on a larger portable device.
The half-VGA size screen of the 218 makes for a more comfortable
web-like offering and as the 218 has both a full (and very nice)
keyboard and a touch screen, links can be accessed in a single
click, while addresses can be typed in to a permanent address bar
in the browser window. Support for external landline modems as well
as GSM offerings mean that if needed, the 218 has the advantage of
being able to surf WAP pages at up to 56K, rather than just
9,600bps.The built-in GSM modem is optimised for use with Ericsson
phones (many need an IR dongle that plugs onto the base of the
phone), though it will work with other IrDA compatible phones. The
port can be used by any phone with a built in modem, such as the
Motorola Timeport or Siemens S25.Another application for the 218 is
actually authoring WAP pages, as the machine is both capable of
being used to write and mark-up text (using its built-in word
processor) then actually viewing them on a target machine before
uploading them (something you can't do with a WAP-enabled phone,
yet). At the moment, the number of available WAP browsers for
desktop computers on any platform are few and far
between.
Ericsson R380This is Ericsson's attempt at a WAP
phone. While Nokia has augmented its proprietary handset operating
system to accommodate WAP support, Ericsson has opted for a
cut-down version of EPOC.Unlike the Nokia, the R380 is not limited
by its screen size. When used as a conventional mobile phone, it
looks much like any other Ericsson phone, with a small three-line
display. For WAP and PDA use, the keypad folds down to reveal a
larger landscape oriented screen underneath on which you can not
only view WAP pages (using a cut-down version of the browser
included in the 218), but also basic calendar and organiser
functions.The screen is touch-sensitive, much like the 218, but is
much smaller, 360 x 120 pixel screen, or roughly eight lines deep.
However, it is still significantly larger than the 7110 screen, and
of a higher resolution. The R380 also supports scaleable fonts.Text
input is performed not with the numeric keypad, but using an
on-screen keyboard - similar to those used by PalmPilot and Windows
CE devices. The touch screen and a stylus allow for character input
- faster than using the numeric keypad but still not as quick or
easy as the 218's keyboard.Both devices offer the same basic set of
browser functions - bookmarks, forward and back, default home pages
and forms support.
The future for WAPA current area of
interest within WAP Forum is evolution to support multimedia mobile
services. WAP v1.1 and v1.2 are open protocols that allow the
transport of many forms of multimedia content. However, some
multimedia services, especially those based on streaming media,
require further enhancements to WAP.As you read this, the
Government is completing the auction process for the next
generation of mobile phone frequency licences. The role of WAP is
set to increase in the new environment that will be created by the
formation of a new mobile phone network - one with more available
bandwidth and high data transfer rate support. WAP is already
compatible with the planned new mobile networks, but expect to see
the capabilities of WAP expanded to support colour graphics, live
and recorded streaming video and sound - in particular television
services transmitted direct to mobile handsets.
Example WAP
sitesBBC - www.bbc.co.uk/mobile/mainmenu.wmlNews Unlimited -
www.newsunlimited.co.uk/wmlPR Newswire - wap.prnewswire.co.ukDHL
online parcel tracking - wap.dhl.comMail and News.com (Hotmail like
service for WAP phones) - wap.mailandnews.comManchester United FC -
www.wapmanutd.com/menu.wmlWap Online.com (WAP portal site) -
waponline.com/index.wmlBT Cellnet Genie - wap.genie.co.uk
Craig
Hinton