wireless application protocol ppt
DESCRIPTION
Wireless Application Protocol pptTRANSCRIPT
WAP
A-Jesuraj
BM08530
MCA-III
Over view
• WAP - Introduction • WAP - The Model• WAP - Architecture • WAP - Environment• WAP - WML Syntax • WAP - WML Script• WAP - Core Services • WAP - Key Benefits • WAP - Modern • WAP - Future Prospects
Contents• Introduction
– What is WAP?
– History
• WAP - The Model
– The Internet Model
– The WAP Model
– How WAP Model Works?
• WAP - Architecture
– Application Layer
– Session Layer
– Security layer
– Transport Layer
1. Introduction
1.1 What is WAP?
• WAP stands for Wireless Application Protocol
• WAP is an application communication protocol
• WAP is used to access services and information
• WAP is inherited from Internet standards
• WAP is for handheld devices such as mobile phones
• WAP is a protocol designed for micro browsers
• WAP enables the creating of web applications for mobile
devices.
• WAP uses the mark-up language WML (not HTML)
• WML is defined as an XML 1.0 application
1.2. The Wireless Application Protocol
• The WAP is the leading standard for information
services on wireless terminals like digital mobile
phones.
• The WAP standard is based on Internet standards
(HTML, XML and TCP/IP).
1.3. History of WAP
• WAP is published by the WAP Forum, founded in 1997
by Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia, and Unwired Planet.
• Forum members now represent over 90% of the global
handset market, as well as leading infrastructure
providers, software developers and other
organizations.
ClientClient ServerServerreq.
resp.
2. WAP Model2.1 Web-Model
2.1 Internet Model
• The Internet model makes it possible for a
client to reach services on a large number of
origin servers.
• Each services is addressed by a unique
Uniform Resource Locator (URL).
• The content stored on the servers is of various
formats, but HTML is the predominant. HTML
provides the content developer with a means to
describe the appearance of a service in a flat
document structure. If more advanced features like
procedural logic are needed, then scripting languages
such as JavaScript or VB Script may be utilised.
2.1WEB Model
• The figure above shows how a WWW client request a resource
stored on a web server. On the Internet, standard communication
protocols, like HTTP and Transmission Control Protocol/Internet
Protocol (TCP/IP) are used.
• The content available at the web server may be static or dynamic.
Static content is produced once and not changed or updated very
often, for example a company presentation.
• Dynamic content is needed when the information
provided by the service changes more often, for
example timetables, news, stock quotes and account
information. Technologies such as Active Server Pages
(ASP), Common Gateway Interface (CGI), and Servlets
allow content to be generated dynamically.
2.2 WAP Model
• The figure below shows the WAP
programming model. Note the similarities
with the Internet model. Without the WAP
Gateway/Proxy the two models would have
been practically identical.
GatewayGatewayencoded req.
encoded resp.
req.
resp.
Encode&
Decode
WAP I WEB
ClientClient ServerServer
WAEUser
Agent
cgi scripts
etc.
WAP I model: Translator WAP - WEB
• WAP Gateway/Proxy is the entity that connects
the wireless domain with the Internet. We
should make a note that the request that is sent
from the wireless client to the WAP
Gateway/Proxy uses the Wireless Session
Protocol (WSP). In its essence, WSP is a binary
version of HTTP.
• A markup language - the Wireless Markup
Language (WML) has been adapted to develop
optimized WAP applications. In order to save
valuable bandwidth in the wireless network,
WML can be encoded into a compact binary
format. Encoding WML is one of the tasks
performed by the WAP Gateway/Proxy.
2.3 How WAP Model Works?
When it comes to actual use, WAP works like this:
• The user selects an option on their mobile
device that has a URL with Wireless Markup
language (WML) content assigned to it.
• The phone sends the URL request via the phone
network to a WAP gateway, using the binary
encoded WAP protocol.
• The gateway translates this WAP request into a conventional
HTTP request for the specified URL, and sends it on to the
Internet.
• The appropriate Web server picks up the HTTP request.
• The server processes the request, just as it would any other
request. If the URL refers to a static WML file, the server delivers
it. If a CGI script is requested, it is processed and the content
returned as usual.
• The Web server adds the HTTP header to the WML content and
returns it to the gateway.
• The WAP gateway compiles the WML into binary form.
• The gateway then sends the WML response back to the phone.
• The phone receives the WML via the WAP protocol.
• The micro-browser processes the WML and displays the content
on the screen.
3. WAP- Architecture
Application (WAE)
Session (WSP)
Security (WTLS)
Transport (WDP)
Transaction (WTP)
Medium: GSM, CDMA, UMTS ...
WAP
Application
HTTP
Security (TLS)
IP/UDP
TCP
Medium: ...
WEB
WAP I – protocol stack
• WAP is designed in a layered fashion so that it can be extensible,
flexible, and scalable. As a result, the WAP protocol stack is divided
into five layers.
Application Layer
• Wireless Application Environment (WAE). This layer is of most
interest to content developers because it contains, among other
things, device specifications and the content development
programming languages, WML and WMLScript.
Session Layer
• Wireless Session Protocol (WSP). Unlike HTTP, WSP
has been designed by the WAP Forum to provide fast
connection suspension and reconnection.
• WSP-The WAP session protocol (WSP) layer provides a
lightweight session layer to allow efficient exchange
of data between applications.
Transaction Layer
• Wireless Transaction Protocol (WTP). The WTP runs on top of a
datagram service such as User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and is
part of the standard suite of TCP/IP protocols used to provide a
simplified protocol suitable for low bandwidth wireless stations.
• WTP -- The WAP transaction protocol (WTP) layer provides
transaction support, adding reliability to the datagram service
provided by WDP.
• WDP -- The WAP datagram protocol (WDP) is
the transport layer that sends and receives
messages via any available bearer network,
including SMS, USSD, CSD, CDPD and GPRS.
Security Layer
Wireless Transport Layer Security (WTLS). WTLS incorporates security
features that are based upon the established Transport Layer Security
(TLS) protocol standard. It includes data integrity checks, privacy, service
denial, and authentication services.
• WTLS -- Wireless transport layer security (WTLS), an optional security
layer, has encryption facilities that provide the secure transport service
required by many applications, such as e-commerce.
Transport layer
Wireless Datagram Protocol (WDP). The WDP
allows WAP to be bearer-independent by adapting
the transport layer of the underlying bearer. The WDP
presents a consistent data format to the higher layers
of the WAP protocol stack, thereby offering the
advantage of bearer independence to application
developers.
• Each of these layers provides a well-defined interface to
the layer. This means that the internal workings of any
layer are transparent or invisible to the layers. The layered
architecture allows other applications and services to
utilize the features provided by the WAP-stack as well. This
makes it possible to use the WAP-stack for services and
applications that currently are not specified by WAP.
The WAP protocol architecture is shown below alongside a typical Internet Protocol stack.
What is the purpose of WAP?
• To enable easy, fast delivery of relevant
information and services to mobile users.
• It consists of a WML language specification, a
WMLScript specification, and a Wireless
Telephony Application Interface (WTAI)
specification.
What type of devices will use WAP?
• Handheld digital wireless devices such as
mobile phones, pagers, two-way radios,
smartphones, and communicators -- from
low-end to high-end.
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, Mobitex.
What operating systems are compatible with WAP?
• WAP is a communications protocol and an
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.
WAP Micro Browsers
• To fit into a small wireless terminal, WAP uses a Micro Browser.
• A Micro Browser is a small piece of software that makes minimal
demands on hardware, memory and CPU. It can display
information written in a restricted mark-up language called WML.
• The Micro Browser can also interpret a reduced version of
JavaScript called WMLScript.
Why are network operators behind WAP?
• With minimal risk and investment, WAP
enables operators to decrease churn, cut
costs, and increase revenues by improving
existing, value-added services and offering
exciting new informational services.
Why are equipment manufacturers interested in WAP?
• Being a global open specification suite, WAP
has generated the critical mass for
manufacturers. This has opened up new
product and marketing opportunities in the
wireless industry and provides new revenue
to participating companies.
How does Bluetooth relate to WAP?• Bluetooth is a local area low power radio link between
devices. Many of the usage scenarios for Bluetooth will also
involve one of the devices communicating over the air using
WAP.
• While many Bluetooth members are also WAP members, and
it is expected that many future handheld wireless devices will
deploy both Bluetooth and WAP technology, the two
technologies fundamentally address different problems.
Will WAP comply with Third Generation wireless standards?
• Yes, WAP has been designed to be as
independent as possible from the underlying
network technology.
Is WAP necessary with higher bandwidth 3G networks?
• Even as bandwidths increase, the cost of that bandwidth does not
fall to zero. These costs result from higher power usage in the
terminals, higher costs in the radio sections, greater use of RF
spectrum, and increased network loading. In addition, the original
constraints WAP was designed for -- intermittent coverage, small
screens, low power consumption, wide scalability over bearers and
devices, and one-handed operation -- are still valid in 3G networks.
• Finally, we can expect the bandwidth required by application users
to steadily increase.
• Therefore, there is still a need to optimize the
device and network resources for wireless
environments. We can expect WAP to optimize
support for multimedia applications that continue
to be relevant. If WAP is very successful in mass-
markets on 2.5G networks, 3G networks may be
needed purely for capacity relief.
How does Bluetooth relate to WAP?
• Bluetooth is a local area low power radio link between devices.
Many of the usage scenarios for Bluetooth will also involve one of
the devices communicating over the air using WAP.
• While many Bluetooth members are also WAP members, and it is
expected that many future handheld wireless devices will deploy
both Bluetooth and WAP technology, the two technologies
fundamentally address different problems.
Can we use WAP in other country?
• Yes, if the service provider in that country
supports roaming & WAP on their network.
Can we access all WAP sites?
• We can only access WAP sites available on
WAP server of our service provider.
•
How can we configure my mobile for WAP?
• Before configure please, make sure that our
SIM card is enabled for this facility & our
phone is having WAP browser.
•
Is WAP service expensive and how we can activate it?
• WAP service is very cheap (check with our
service provider). We need to have a WAP
enabled phones & our SIM card should
support data/fax communications. Check with
our service provider regarding WAP services.
Examples of WAP use
• Checking train table information
• Ticket purchase
• Flight check in
• Viewing traffic information
• Checking weather conditions
• Looking up stock values
• Looking up phone numbers
• Looking up addresses
• Looking up sport results
Sayeed Ahmed
BM08536
MCA-III
Contents
• Environment• WML Syntax • WML Script
WAP-Environment
• The Wireless Application Environment (WAE) provides an
environment that enables a wide range of applications to be
used on wireless devices.
• "WAP - The wireless service enabler" the WAP WAE
programming model was introduced.
Addressing model
• A syntax suitable for naming resources stored on servers.
• WAP use the same addressing model as the one used on the
Internet.
• ie: Uniform Resource Locators (URL).
Wireless Markup Language
• A lightweight markup language designed to meet
the constraints of a wireless environment with low
bandwidth and small handheld devices.
• The Wireless Markup Language is WAP’s analogy to HTML
used on the WWW. WML is based on the Extensible
Markup Language (XML).
WML Script• WMLScript is based on ECMA Script, the same scripting language that
JavaScript is based on.
• It can be used for enhancing services written in WML in the way that it
to some extent adds intelligence to the services, for example
procedural logic, loops, conditional expressions, and computational
functions.
Wireless Telephony Application (WTA)
• A framework and programming interface for telephony
services.
• The Wireless Telephony Application (WTA) environment
provides a means to create telephony services using WAP.
Hardware and Software Requirement
• At minimum, developing WAP applications requires a web server and a
WAP simulator. Using simulator software while developing a WAP
application is convenient as all the required software can be installed
on the development PC.
• Although software simulators are good in their own right, no WAP
application should go into production without testing it with actual
hardware.
The following list gives the necessary hardware and software to test and develop
WAP applications:
a Web server with connection to the Internet
a WML to develop WAP application
a WAP simulator to test WAP application
a WAP gateway
a WAP phone for final testing
Microsoft IIS or Apache on Windows or Linux can be used as the web server
and Nokia WAP Toolkit version 2.0 as the WAP simulator.
Configure Web Server for WAP• In the WAP architecture, the web server communicates with the
WAP gateway, accepting HTTP requests and returning WML code to
the gateway.
• The HTTP protocol mandates that each reply must include
something called a Multi-Purpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME)
type.
• In normal web applications, this MIME type is set to text/html,
designating normal HTML code.
• Images, on the other hand, could be specified as image/gif or
image/jpeg, for instance. With this content type specification, the
web browser knows the data type that the web server returns.
• In WAP applications a new set of MIME types must be used,
as shown in the following table:
File type MIME type
WML (.wml) text/vnd.wap.wml
WMLScript (.wmls) text/vmd.wap.wmlscript
WBMP (.wbmp) image/vnd.wap.wbmp
WAP - WML Syntax
• The topmost layer in the WAP architecture is made up of WAE (Wireless
Application Environment), which consists of WML and WML scripting
language.
• WML scripting language is used to design applications that are sent over
wireless devices such as mobile phones. This language takes care of the
small screen and the low bandwidth of transmission.
• WML is an application of XML, which is defined in a document-type
definition.
• WML pages are called decks. They are constructed as a set of cards,
related to each other with links.
• When a WML page (decks) is accessed from a mobile phone, all the cards
in the page are downloaded from the WAP server to mobile phone
showing the content.
• WML commands and syntaxes are used to show content and to navigate
between the cards. Developers can use these commands to declare
variables, format text, and show images on the mobile phone.
WAP Program Structure
A WML program is typically divided into two parts: the document prolog
and the body. Consider the following code.
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE wml PUBLIC "-//WAPFORUM//DTD WML 1.2//EN"
"http://www.wapforum.org/DTD/wml12.dtd">
<wml>
<card>
...
</card> .
..more cards...
</wml>
WAE - WML
InputElements
Deck
CardNavigation
Variables
<WML> <CARD> <DO TYPE=“ACCEPT”> <GO URL=“#eCard”/> </DO Welcome! </CARD> <CARD NAME=“eCard”> <DO TYPE=“ACCEPT”> <GO URL=“/submit?N=$(N)&S=$(S)”/> </DO> Enter name: <INPUT KEY=“N”/> Choose speed: <SELECT KEY=“S”> <OPTION VALUE=“0”>Fast</OPTION> <OPTION VALUE=“1”>Slow</OPTION> <SELECT> </CARD></WML>
• The first line of this text says that this is an XML document and the version
is 1.0.
• The second line selects the document type and gives the URL of the
document type definition (DTD). This DTD gives the full XML definition of
WML.
• The DTD referenced is defined in WAP 1.1, but this header changes with
the versions of the WML. The header must be copied exactly so that the
tool kits automatically generate this prolog.
• The body is enclosed within a <wml>...</wml> tag pair as shown above.
The body of a WML document can consist of one or more of the following:
• Deck
• Card
• Content to be shown
• Navigation instructions
Decks and Cards
WML pages are often called "decks". A deck contains a set of cards. A card
element can contain text, markup, links, input-fields, tasks, images and
more. Cards can be related to each other with links.
Navigation between the cards is done by the phone computer - inside the
phone - without any extra access trips to the server.
WML Commands:
• The commands used in WML are summarized as follows:
Formatting:Command Description
<p> Paragraph
<b> Bold
<big> Large
<em> Emphasized
<I> Italicized
<small> Small
<strong> Strongly Emphasized
<u> Underlined
<br> Line Break
• Inserting images:
• Using Tables:
<img src="image-path/image - name" alt="Picture not available" />
Command Description
<table> Definition of a table
<tr> Defining a row
<td> Defining a column
<Thead> Table header
• Variables:
• Declared as
• Used as:
$ defines as identifier
<setvar name="x" value="xyz"/>
• Forms:
Command Description
<select> Define single or multiple list
<input> Input from user
<option>Defines an option in a
selectable list
<fieldset> Defines a set of input fields
<optgroup>Defines an option group in a
selectable list
• Task Elements
Command Description
<go>Represents the action of
switching to a new card
<noop> Says that nothing should be done
<prev>Represents the action of going
back to the previous card
<refresh>Refreshes some specified card
variables.
• Events:
Command Description
<do> Defines a do event handler
<onevent> Defines an onevent event handler
<postfield> Defines a postfield event handler
<ontimer> Defines an ontimer event handler
<onenterforward> Defines an onenterforward handler
<onenterbackward> Defines an onenterbackward handler
<onpick> Defines an onpick event handler
Sample WML Program
• <?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE wml PUBLIC "-//WAPFORUM//DTD WML 1.1//EN"
"http://www.wapforum.org/DTD/wml_1.1.xml">
<wml>
<card id="no1" title="Card 1">
<p>Hello World!</p>
</card>
<card id="no2" title="Card 2">
<p>Welcome to our WAP Tutorial!</p>
</card>
</wml>
• The result will look something like this in a mobile
phone (note that only one card is displayed at a time):
------ Card 1 ------
Hello World!
Parthiapan
BM08535
MCA-III
Contents
• WAP - WML Script• WAP - Core Services• WAP - Key Benefits
WAP - WML Script
• WMLScript (Wireless Markup Language Script) is the
client-side scripting language of WML (Wireless
Markup Language). A scripting language is similar to a
programming language, but is of lighter weight. With
WMLScript, the wireless device can do some of the
processing and computation. This reduces the number
of requests and responses to/from the server.
WML Script Components:
• WML Script is very similar to Java Script. Almost
WML Script components have similar meaning as
they have in Java Script. A WML Script program
components are summarized as follows:
WML Script Operators:
• WML Script supports following type of operators.
• Arithmetic Operators
• Comparison Operators
• Logical (or Relational) Operators
• Assignment Operators
• Conditional (or ternary) Operators
WML Script Control Statements:
• Control statements are used for controlling the sequence and
iterations in a program.
Statement Description
if-else Conditional branching
forMaking self-incremented fixed
iteration loop
while Making variable iteration loop
break Terminates a loop
continueQuit the current iteration of a
loop
• URL: The URL library contains functions that help us manipulate URLs.
Example Function: getPath(), getReferer(), getHost(), getBase(),
escapeString(), isValid(), loadString(), resolve(), unescapeString(),
getFragment()
• WMLBrowser: The WMLBrowser library provides a group of functions to
control the WML browser or to get information from it.
Example Function: go(), prev(), next(), getCurrentCard(), refresh(), getVar(),
setVar()
• Dialogs: The Dialogs library Contains the user interface functions.
Example Function: prompt(), confirm(), alert()
WML Scripts Comments:
• There are two types of comments in WMLScript:
Single-line comment: To add a single-line comment, begin a line
of text with the // characters.
Multi-line comment: To add a multi-line comment, enclose the
text within /* and */.
• These rules are the same in WMLScript, JavaScript,
Java, and C++. The WMLScript engine will ignore all
comments. The following WMLScript example
demonstrates the use of comments:// This is a single-line comment.
/* This is a multi-line comment. */
/* A multi-line comment can be placed on a single line.*/
WML Script Case Sensitivity:
• The WMLScript language is case-sensitive. For example, a WMLScript
function with the name WMLScript_Function is different from
wmlscript_function. So, be careful of the capitalization when defining or
referring to a function or a variable in WMLScript.
Whitespaces in WMLScript:
• Except in string literals, WMLScript ignores extra whitespaces like spaces,
tabs and newlines. Hence, the code in the earlier "Hello World" example
can be typed in the following way and the result will remain the same:
WML Script Statement Termination by Semicolons:
• A semicolon is required to end a statement in
WMLScript. This is the same as C++ and Java. Note
that JavaScript does not have such requirement but
WML Script makes it mandatory.
WML Script Functions:
• The user-defined functions are declared in a separate file
having the extension .wmls. Functions are declared as
follows:
function name (parameters) { control statements; return var; }
• The functions used are stored in a separate file with the
extension .wmls. The functions are called as the filename
followed by a hash, followed by the function name:
maths.wmls#squar()
WML Scripts Standard Libraries
• There are six standard libraries totally. Here is an overview of
them:
• Lang: The Lang library provides functions related to the
WMLScript language core.
Example Function: abs(),abort(), characterSet(),float(),
isFloat(), isInt(), max(), isMax(), min(), minInt(), maxInt(),
parseFloat(), parseInt(), random(), seed()
• Float: The Float library contains functions that help us perform
floating-point arithmetic operations.
Example Function: sqrt(), round(), pow(), ceil(), floor(), int(),
maxFloat(), minFloat()
• String: The String library provides a number of functions that help
us manipulate strings.
Example Function: length(), charAt(), find(), replace(), trim(),
compare(), format(), isEmpty(), squeeze(), toString(), elementAt(),
elements(), insertAt(), removeAt(), replaceAt()
WAP - Core Services
Banking:
• Accessing account statements
• Paying bills
• Transferring money between accounts
Finance:
• Retrieving stock and share prices
• Buying and selling stocks and shares
• Looking up interest rates
• Looking up currency exchange rates
Shopping:
• Buying everyday commodities
• Browsing and buying books
• Buying CDs
Ticketing:
• Booking or buying airline tickets
• Buying concert tickets
• Booking theatre tickets
Entertainment:
• Retrieving restaurant details
• Looking up clubs
• Finding out what is playing in what cinemas
• Playing solitaire games
• Playing interactive games
Weather:
• Retrieving local weather forecasts
• Looking up weather at other locations
E- Messaging:
• Voice mail
• Unified Messaging
• Enhanced support of legacy SMS services
WAP - Key Benefits
Subscribers:• It is crucial that the subscribers will benefit from using WAP based
services, otherwise there will be no incentive neither for WAP as a whole nor for any of the other groups mentioned below. The key-benefits can be summarised as:
• Portability• Easy to use• Access to a wide variety of services on a competitive market• The possibility of having personalised services• Fast, convenient, and efficient access to services• To fulfil as many customers needs as possible, WAP devices will be
available in various form factors, e.g. pagers, handheld PCs, and phones
Operators:
• Many of the advantages mentioned under "Service Providers" are be
applicable to operators as well. The operator's benefits may include:
• Address new market segments of mobile users by enabling a wider range
of mobile VAS.
• Deploy telephony services that in contrast to traditional telephony
services are easy to create, update, and personalise
• Use the flexibility of WAP as a tool to differentiate from competitors
• Attractive interface to services will increase usage
• Increased revenues per user due to higher network utilization
• Convenient service creation and maintenance, including short time-to-market
• Replace expensive customer care centers with WAP based services (E-care)
• WAP services are designed to be independent of the network, implying that an
operator who runs different types of networks only have to develop its services
ones
• An open standard means that equipment will be provided by many manufacturers
Service Providers:
• WAP opens new possibilities for service and content providers since they
not necessarily have to come to an agreement with a specific operator
about providing services to their customers. The gains are for example:
• Create a service once, make it accessible on a broad range of wireless
networks
• Address new market segments by launching innovative mobile VAS. Keep
old customers by adapting existing Internet services to WAP
• Keep old customers by adapting existing Internet services to WAP
• Convenient service creation and maintenance
• Creating a WAP service is no harder than creating an Internet service
today since WML and WMLScript are based on well-known Internet
technology
• Use standard tools like ASP or CGI to generate content dynamically
• Utilise existing investments in databases etc that are the basis of existing
Internet services
Manufacturers:
• Mobile devices supporting WAP will be available in many different form
factors, e.g. cellular phones, pagers, and handheld PCs. Hardware
manufacturers will also need to supply operators etc with equipment,
such as WAP Gateway/Proxys and WTA servers. Manufacturer benefits
are for example:
• WAP scales across a broad range of mobile networks, meaning that WAP
implementations can be used in devices supporting different types of
networks.
• The expected wide adoption of WAP implies that economies of scales can
be achieved, meaning that the huge mass-market can be addressed
• The fact that WAP is designed to consume minimal amount of memory,
and that the use of proxy technology relieves the CPU, means that
inexpensive components can be used in the handsets
• Reuse the deep knowledge about wireless network infrastructure to
develop advanced servers that seamlessly integrates mobile VAS with
telephony
• Seize the opportunity to introduce new innovative products
Tools Providers:
• Today there is a large amount of tools available for creating
applications for the web. Content developers have become
used to the convenience that tools like FrontPage and
DreamWeaver provides. Tools providers will be able to:
• Reuse and modify existing products to support WAP, or even
integrate WAP support in existing tools.
• Address a new customer base in the wireless community.
Sagaya Raj
BM08538
MCA-III
Contents
• WAP - Modern Devices• WAP - Future Prospects
WAP - Modern Devices
• AWAP device is a combination of hardware and software capable of
running a WAP-compliant microbrowser such as a WAP-enabled mobile
phone or a PDA.
• APC can also be used as a WAP device if you download a WAP phone
emulator from one of the developer sites. The emulator allows you to use
a virtual phone on your desktop. Some major suppliers, such as Ericsson,
Nokia, and Openwave, have developer sites where you can download
software development kits (SDKs) containing WAP emulators.
• AWAP phone can run any WAP application in the same way that a Web
browser can run any HTML application. Once you have a WAP phone, you
can access the Internet simply by entering URLs and following the links
that appear.
• Using these devices, easy and secure access to Internet content and
services such as banking, leisure, and unified messaging is made available.
Furthermore, access is not restricted to the Internet; WAP devices will be
able to deal with intranet information in the same way as Internet content
because both are based upon HTML.
WAP - Future Prospects
• The future of WAP depends largely on whether consumers decide to use
WAPdevices to access the Web, and also on whether a new technology
comes along that would require a different infrastructure than WAP.
• On the consumer side, the factors largely involve the limitations of WAP
and of handheld devices: the low bandwidth, the limited input ability, and
the small screens all require users to adapt from their regular Web-
browsing expectations.
• In the next few years, mobile phones will start to benefit from
very high bandwidth capabilities. The 2.5G/3G systems will
allow much higher capacity and data rates than can be
offered by the restricted bandwidth currently available.
• These wireless devices will be supported by a number of
emerging technologies, including GPRS, EDGE, HSCSD and
UMTS:
• So what is the future for WAP? It has been designed to be independent of the
underlying network technology. The original constraints WAP was designed for -
intermittent coverage, small screens, low power consumption, wide scalability over
bearers and devices, and one-handed operation - are still valid in 2.5G and 3G
networks.
• The bottom line is that WAP is not and can never be the Web on your mobile
phone.WAP is great as long as developers understand that it's what's inside the
applications that matters, and the perceived value of the content to the user. The
browser interface itself, while important, will always be secondary to the content.
•
WAP in The Future
• Handset Manufacturers and WAP Services WAP characteristics will shape
the development of handheld devices
• Real-time applications and services demand small and key pieces of
information that will fuel the success of WAP in the mobile marketplace.
e.g. Stock prices, news, weather, and travel information can be provided
via WAP
• Telephony Integration The Wireless Telephone Application (WTA)
framework adds this feature to WAP.
• WAP in the Competitive Environment
• Competition for WAP protocols could come from a number of sources:
subscriber identity module (SIM) toolkit.The use of SIMs or smart cards in
wireless devices is already widespread and used in some of the service
sectors.
• Windows CE.This is a multitasking, multithreaded operating system from
Microsoft designed for including or embedding mobile and other space-
constrained devices.
• JavaPhone..Sun Microsystems is developing PersonalJava. and
a JavaPhone. API, which is embedded in a Java. virtual
machine on the handset. NEPs will be able to build cellular
phones that can download extra features and functions over
the Internet; thus, customers will no longer be required to
buy a new phone to take advantage of improved features.
• The advantages that WAP can offer over these other methods
are the following: open standard, vendor independent
network-standard independent transport mechanism
optimised for wireless data bearers application downloaded
from the server, enabling fast service creation and
introduction, as opposed to embedded software