The promise that third-generation (3G) mobile networks will bring more bandwidth to mobile users does not mean that the industry will abandon WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) technology, according to Scott Goldman, chief executive of the WAP Forum. Goldman put down sceptics who say that the popularity of WAP for mobile commerce is only temporary until 3G wireless technology arrives.
"Whoever says that doesn't understand WAP, 3G, and the Internet," said Goldman. "3G is only a pipe that provides bandwidth for greater (WAP) content. WAP will take advantage of the extra bandwidth. WAP does spectrum management to ensure accuracy of wireless data packet transmission, and provides a specialised browser for mobile users," the Forum's chief said.
The 384Kbps (bits per second) 3G technology in a shared spectrum is expected to provide mobile users with an average availability of between 20K bps to 40Kbps.
Built on XML (Extensible Markup Language), WAP is an open, global IP (Internet Protocol)-based standard for mobile users of wireless handheld devices to easily and instantly access and interact with the Internet. XML allows software developers to customise applications, simplifying their appearance to suit the small size of a mobile phone or personal digital assistant (PDA).
Currently there are over 40 million WAP-enabled handsets in circulation worldwide, and over 4.4 million wireless markup language (WML) pages designed for WAP, said the Forum.
As WAP is built on XML, it allows a graceful migration from WML to the extensible hypertext markup language (XHTML), the WAP language of the future, while assuring backward compatibility.
"Anyone using a next-generation phone can access a site of the previous generation. This is important for operators and users who (are assured) that the chain is not broken," Goldman stressed.
Next generation WAP will include color graphics, animation, large file (including music and video) downloading, location-smart services, streaming media and data synchronisation with a desktop personal information manager.
The WAP Forum expects to have a draft of the new standard up by December and the specification out around midway through 2001.
The next generation WAP specification will also embrace Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), the organisation said.
The WAP Forum is the industry association responsible for developing and fostering the growth of WAP. It comprises over 500 members representing more than 95 percent of handset manufacturers, carriers, infrastructure providers, software developers and other wireless application providers.