What Is It?

WAP, or Wireless Application Protocol, is an open international standard for applications that use wireless communication. WAP’s goal is to enable users to gain access to the Internet from a mobile device or a wireless client such as a mobile phone, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), pagers, two-way radios, etc. The user will require a WAP device that supports a display (microbrowser) and that can gain access to the Internet. The microbrowser provides all the basic services of a computer-based Web browser, but the information is simplified to operate within its parameters.

WAP sites are Web sites that can be converted to WML (Wireless Markup Language) so Web site information can be relayed to the wireless client. WML is a mark-up language inherited from HTML, but WML is based on the much stricter XML protocols.

Who Is it For?

WAP users are those individuals who possess a wireless mobile device and who choose to display Web site information in that device. Many wireless clients now can display just about any Web site that uses CSS, as that layout allows the wireless device to discard layout design and present text-only information. However, many Web designers and owners now choose to offer Web site information via WML.

Features

At the minimum, it is possible that wireless client users can download and respond to email, track stock market prices, view news headlines, and download music. In many cases, Web sites that utilize XML and CSS often can push its text through minus layout options. WAP users can gain access to Web sites, information about businesses such as phone numbers and addresses, and use the WAP device to communicate with others through various formats other than email.

Compatibility

Although WAP supports HTML and XML, the WML language (an XML application) is specifically devised for small screens and one-hand navigation without a keyboard. WML is scalable from two-line text displays up through graphic screens found on items such as smart phones. WAP also supports WMLScript, a language similar to client-side JavaScript. The WMLScript, however, makes minimal demands on memory and CPU.

WAP supports most wireless networks, including (but not limited to) CDPD, CDMA, GSM, PDC, PHS, TDMA, FLEX, ReFLEX, iDEN, TETRA, DECT, DataTAC, and Mobitex. WAP is supported by all operating systems; however, some devices are specifically engineered to handle WAP including PalmOS, EPOC, Windows CE, FLEXOS, OS/9, and JavaOS.

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