WAP 2.0: Fearsome features

Daily Newsletters

Sign up to ZDNet UK's daily newsletter.

ANALYSIS
WAP's primary objective is to provide an open standard for optimised access via a mobile device to the Internet or intranet. When first introduced, WAP was touted as a revolutionary technology that would totally transform the world of mobile computing. But WAP and WAP-based services couldn't completely facilitate such transformation due to limitations of mobile devices and mobile networks, such as:
  • Small screens
  • Limited device memory
  • Less powerful CPUs
  • Limited bandwidth availability
  • Unreliable connections
  • High latency
However, there are changes on the horizon for WAP in the form of WAP 2.0. In this article, I will give an overview of WAP and how it uses WML to display content. I will also explain how WAP 2.0 improves on 1.x's features, but why you might need to continue using the 1.x standards for now. How WAP works
When accessing a Web site from a browser on a desktop PC, the client requests data and the server sends that data in the form of HTML over an IP network. The Web browser translates the HTML data into viewable text and graphics. On your mobile device, WAP replaces a Web browser with a WAP browser, which can also request data from a Web site. The major difference between how you access the data via a browser on your PC and a WAP 1.x browser is that the WAP browser requires a WAP gateway. This gateway functions as an intermediary between the mobile and Internet networks. When placed between a WAP browser and a Web server, it takes care of the necessary binary encoding of content and can also translate WML to/from HTML. Why you should use WAP
Despite initial concerns about mobile limitations, there are many good reasons to use WAP to implement mobile Web browsing.
  • WAP has its own security model that works on lines very similar to Web security. Hashing algorithms, digital certificates, and public key cryptography provide the critical security required for any real transactions using WAP.
  • WAP development is pretty simplistic. WML and WMLScript provide for almost everything that a mobile Internet application would need. The learning curve for WML or WMLScript isn't very steep; most programmers can pick it up rather quickly.
  • WAP is widely accepted. Major players in the wireless market (like Nokia, Motorola, and Ericsson) are all very active participants in the WAP process.
  • WAP is standard independent. So even a switch to a GPRS network wouldn't really make a difference when browsing. Only better data transfer speeds would contribute to a better browsing experience.

Talkback

I have a L1100 Lg mobile which I purchased abroad last year - I would like to be able to access my mail but up to now cannot find anyone who knows what the settings should be on the phone. I am on Vodafone and they have said I am connected as far as they are concerned but do not have the instructions for the phone. Any ideas....
Thanks,
Sue Nicholls

via Facebook 7 September, 2005 17:29
Reply

Post your comment

In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.

You can also log in with Facebook. Log in or create your ZDNet UK account below

  • Login

Will not be displayed with your comment

By signing up for this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understood our Privacy Policy. Questions about membership? Find the answers in the Community FAQ

Get ZDNet UK's daily newsletter

Enter your email address to sign up

ZDNet UK Live

JCB33

How dare film makers, artists or anybody that invests in creativity stop us pirating their works for free. I want to be able to walk into my local...

4 hours ago by JCB33 on ACTA stumbles in Germany
Moley

@GrueMaster. I prefer horses for courses rather than one size fits all. I, and I suspect most other computer users, do not really wish to have...

6 hours ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
greycynic

The product that scares me every time I have to use it is the Office 2007 version of Excel. The first bug that I found was applying the median...

6 hours ago by greycynic on Ten flawed products that derail productivity
GrueMaster

Nice review and very informative. One thing I'd like to add (in reply to whs001's 1st question), the main reason to have the same interface from...

8 hours ago by GrueMaster on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Frederick Wrigley

I'be been using Mint 12 since the RC came out, and I am far more happy with the Cinnamon, the Mate, and, yes (with extensions), theGnome 3...

8 hours ago by Frederick Wrigley via Facebook on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
bdantas

Excellent article. One small correction, though--although a fresh installation of Linux Mint 12 will, indeed, provide the user with a version of...

9 hours ago by bdantas on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Alan Ralph

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

10 hours ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material
Alan Ralph

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

10 hours ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material
Moley

For Gnome 2 die-hards, it is possible to add icons to the bottom panel (or top top panel, if you prefer) which provide the exact Gnome 2...

10 hours ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
ramwellian

Your comments would seem pretty naive and immature. Your 'solution' appears to be, "gee, let's all just give in to the hackers and give them...

11 hours ago by ramwellian on Cloud computing security: no more oxymoron?
BugStalker

"Interesting thought ... If you installed Win7 as a dual boot on a machine that previously only had Linux, and it wrecked your Linux installation,...

11 hours ago by BugStalker on Windows 7 Declares War on GRUB
whs001

This is an excellent summary of Ubuntu and Mint and the interface differences between them. Most such articles take a very partisan position for...

11 hours ago by whs001 on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Moley

@ewallace. Not so clear. Anyone can obtain the text, for example from here http://www.ustr.gov/webfm_send/2379. I support ACTA so long as it and...

11 hours ago by Moley on ACTA: Facts, misconceptions and questions
45283

I think WinRT is fantastic. I just wish it was an option for people that didn't want to go through Microsoft's App Store with its attendant...

14 hours ago by 45283 on Why Windows 8 needs architectural hygiene for WOA
Burn-IT

Nine people? £30m? Who's back pocket is that lot going in? And IF they say it is for new buildings, what about all the ones the government has...

15 hours ago by Burn-IT on Police set to launch three £30m e-crime hubs
ewallace

Just to be clear, nobody knows what is in the text of ACTA, here is a photograph of the text of ACTA http://twitpic.com/8h9iju as submitted to the...

16 hours ago by ewallace on ACTA: Facts, misconceptions and questions
fgvrg56

Unfortunately main issue is that ASUS is refusing to accept that they make some mistake on this version of asus Transformer prime. 1 - GPS sensor...

17 hours ago by fgvrg56 on Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime Wi-Fi & GPS problems?
Ben Woods

@Marcus A fair question. Just talked with Archos which said it was working on an announcement for next week....

18 hours ago by Ben Woods on Archos confirms G9 Ice Cream Sandwich update schedule
Marcus Karlsson

Any update on this, considering the claimed "first week of February"?

19 hours ago by Marcus Karlsson via Facebook on Archos confirms G9 Ice Cream Sandwich update schedule
apexwm

Bill Goodrich : Just as al_langevin pointed out, with Windows Server 2008 there is no Services for Macintosh anymore. It's gone, not available....

1 day ago by apexwm on Windows Server 2008 drops the ball for Mac compatibility