Chapter 7: Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)

Overview

The Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is an open specification that enables mobile users with wireless devices to easily access and interact with information and services instantly. The purpose of WAP is to enable the delivery of relevant information and services to mobile users. Handheld digital wireless devices such as mobile phones, pagers, two-way radios, smart phones and communicators — from low-end to high-end — all can utilize 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, and so on. It provides service interoperability even between different device families. WAP is also applicable in micro-browser environments. Micro-browsers are client software designed to address the challenges of mobile handheld devices that enable wireless access to Internet information (however, a suitable network server has to be deployed to use micro-browsers). WAP is designed to work with most wireless networks such as Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD), code division multiple access (CDMA), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), personal digital cellular (PDC), PHS, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), FLEX, ReFLEX, iDEN, TETRA, Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), DataTAC, and Mobitex.

In comparing Bluetooth with WAP, recall that 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. Although many Bluetooth member companies are also WAP member companies, and it is expected that many future handheld wireless devices will deploy both Bluetooth and WAP technology, the two technologies fundamentally address different problems.



Hotspot Networks(c) Wi-Fi for Public Access Locations
Hotspot Networks(c) Wi-Fi for Public Access Locations
ISBN: N/A
EAN: N/A
Year: 2005
Pages: 88

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