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Wireless application protocol (WAP) is an application environment and set of
communication protocols for wireless devices designed to enable manufacturer-,
vendor-, and technology-independent access to the Internet and advanced
telephony services.
WAP bridges the gap between the mobile world and the Internet as well as
corporate intranets and offers the ability to deliver an unlimited range of
mobile value-added services to subscribers—independent of their network,
bearer, and terminal. Mobile subscribers can access the same wealth of
information from a pocket-sized device as they can from the desktop.
WAP is a global standard and is not controlled by any single company.
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 meet the challenges in advanced
wireless service differentiation and fast/flexible service creation. There are
now over one hundred members representing terminal and infrastructure
manufacturers, operators, carriers, service providers, software houses, content
providers, and companies developing services and applications for mobile
devices.
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WAP also defines a wireless application environment (WAE) aimed at enabling
operators, manufacturers, and content developers to develop advanced
differentiating services and applications including a microbrowser, scripting
facilities, e-mail, World Wide Web (WWW)–to-mobile-handset messaging, and
mobile-to-telefax access.
The WAP specifications continue to be developed by contributing members, who,
through interoperability testing, have brought WAP into the limelight of the
mobile data marketplace with fully functional WAP–enabled devices
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Based on the Internet model, the wireless device contains a microbrowser,
while content and applications are hosted on Web servers.
Advantage
Operators
For wireless network operators, WAP promises to decrease churn, cut costs,
and increase the subscriber base both by improving existing services, such as
interfaces to voice-mail and prepaid systems, and facilitating an unlimited
range of new value-added services and applications, such as account management
and billing inquiries. New applications can be introduced quickly and easily
without the need for additional infrastructure or modifications to the phone.
This will allow operators to differentiate themselves from their competitors
with new, customized information services. WAP is an interoperable framework,
enabling the provision of end-to-end turnkey solutions that will create a
lasting competitive advantage, build consumer loyalty, and increase revenues.
Content Providers
Applications will be written in wireless markup language (WML), which is a
subset of extensible markup language (XML). Using the same model as the
Internet, WAP will enable content and application developers to grasp the
tag-based WML that will pave the way for services to be written and deployed
within an operator's network quickly and easily. As WAP is a global and
interoperable open standard, content providers have immediate access to a wealth
of potential customers who will seek such applications to enhance the service
offerings given to their own existing and potential subscriber base. Mobile
consumers are becoming more hungry to receive increased functionality and
value-add from their mobile devices, and WAP opens the door to this untapped
market that is expected to reach 100 million WAP–enabled devices by the end of
the year 2000. This presents developers with significant revenue opportunities.
End Users
End users of WAP will benefit from easy, secure access to relevant Internet
information and services such as unified messaging, banking, and entertainment
through their mobile devices. Intranet information such as corporate databases
can also be accessed via WAP technology. Because a wide range of handset
manufacturers already supports the WAP initiative, users will have significant
freedom of choice when selecting mobile terminals and the applications they
support. Users will be able to receive and request information in a controlled,
fast, and low-cost environment, a fact that renders WAP services more attractive
to consumers who demand more value and functionality from their mobile
terminals.
As the initial focus of WAP, the Internet will set many of the trends in
advance of WAP implementation. It is expected that the Internet service
providers (ISPs) will exploit the true potential of WAP. Web content developers
will have great knowledge and direct access to the people they attempt to reach.
In addition, these developers will likely acknowledge the huge potential of the
operators' customer bases; thus, they will be willing and able to offer
competitive prices for their content. WAP's push capability will enable weather
and travel information providers to use WAP. This push mechanism affords a
distinct advantage over the WWW and represents tremendous potential for both
information providers and mobile operators.
In the past, wireless Internet access has been limited by the capabilities of
handheld devices and wireless networks.
WAP utilizes Internet standards such as XML, user datagram protocol (UDP),
and Internet protocol (IP). Many of the protocols are based on Internet
standards such as hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) and TLS but have been
optimized for the unique constraints of the wireless environment: low bandwidth,
high latency, and less connection stability.
Internet standards such as hypertext markup 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 utilizes binary transmission for greater compression of data and is
optimized for long latency and low bandwidth. WAP sessions cope with
intermittent coverage and can operate over a wide variety of wireless
transports.
WML and wireless markup 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 scalable from a two-line text display on
a basic device to a full graphic screen on the latest smart phones and
communicators.
The lightweight WAP protocol stack is designed to minimize the required
bandwidth and maximize the number of wireless network types that can deliver WAP
content. Multiple networks will be targeted, with the additional aim of
targeting multiple networks.
All network technologies and bearers will also be supported, including short
message service (SMS), USSD, circuit-switched cellular data (CSD), cellular
digital packet data (CDPD), and general packet radio service (GPRS).
As WAP is based on a scalable layered architecture, each layer can develop
independently of the others. This makes it possible to introduce new bearers or
to use new transport protocols without major changes in the other layers.
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