Every Web Hosting Account Is WAP Enabled
Wireless Application Protocol, better known as
WAP, is quickly becoming one of the hot new technology standards in the
communications marketplace. So what exactly is WAP and how will it change the
way you and others receive information?
What is WAP?
WAP grew out of an industry forum made up of more than 200 members called the
WAP Forum which defines the protocol as, "an open, global specification
that empowers mobile users with wireless devices to easily access and interact
with information and services instantly".
What does WAP do?
By providing Internet communications and advanced telephony services to wireless
devices such as digital mobile phones, pagers and personal assistants, WAP
enables users of these devices to quickly and securely access information via
the Internet from any location, without having to dial into a network or use a
computer. For example, a sales executive who is out of the office making
customer visits can use a WAP-enabled wireless device to access up to the minute
mission-critical business information on the customers order status minutes
before walking into a customer's office.
When will WAP enabled wireless devices be
available?
Several of the leading wireless manufacturers are well under way in bringing
the first WAP enabled wireless devices to market. The WAP Forum reports that,
"there will be more than 100 million WAP compatible devices shipped before
the end of the Year 2000".
Which wireless networks does WAP work with?
WAP is designed to work with most wireless networks such as CDPD, CDMA, GSM,
PDC, PHS, TDMA, FLEX, ReFLEX, iDEN, TETRA, DECT, DataTAC and Mobitex.
What operating systems are compatible with
WAP?
WAP is a communications protocol and application environment. It can be built on
any operating system including PalmOS, EPOC, Windows CE, FLEXOS, OS/9, JavaOS
etc. It provides service interoperability even between different device
families.
How do I set up my site to support WAP?
WAP uses Wireless Markup Language (WML) and Handheld Device Markup Language
(HDML) is much the same way as the Internet uses HTML. Full WML and HDML
specifications are available from WAP.Net.
The web server already knows how to deal with WML or HDML files which has the
extensions of .wml and .hdml respectively. Unlike
the index.htm file there is no default WML or HDML file for the server to
deliver when a WAP device connects to the web server. To overcome this the full
path of the WML or HDML page has to be entered into the wap device. For example, to
connect to WML page you would have to enter: http://www.your_domain_name.com/index.wml,
not just http://www.your_domain_name.com.
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