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To: gdichaz who wrote (10057)	5/14/2000 10:53:00 AM
From: Eric L	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 13582

Cha2, Re: WAP and CDMA << Still trying to find out about WAP >> I have noticed you diligently digging around on the various threads regarding this. <g> One of these days we'll figure this whole thing out. I hope it takes less than a decade. The statement in the Reuters Telstra post that you picked up on is indeed odd (and I believe incorrect, and contains a nonsequitor): "Mr. Simpson said commercial trials starting later this month using Telstra's GSM digital network and the general packet radio service (GPRS) component of the wireless application protocol (WAP) would initially allow users to almost triple their internet access rate to 24Kbps." A later Simpson quote says: "GPRS will handle data initially at 24Kbps, but I expect we will be handling data early in 2001 at 80Kbps," ... and it is not surprising that the GPRS phones will incorporate WAP to facilitate the viewing of web content. The alternative is to use a microbrowser on SIM as several GSM operators will do both on GSM and on GSM/GPRS. As I've noted before, Voicestream will use WAP enabled GPRS phones here in the US but will also use a microbrowser on SIM. Note that the article also says: "Introduction of higher speed GPRS on the GSM network would dramatically increase use of mobile data services as internet-ready handsets became more widely available and users of conventional handsets discovered they could make their handsets internet-capable through the installation of expanded memory SIM cards" << Does this mean that WAP is essential to permit GPRS? >> No. << Is GPRS only available as a "component" of WAP? >> GPRS is not a component of WAP, it is the packet switched air interface overlay of a 2G GSM network. WAP microbrowsers incorporated in CDMA & GSM phones permit web data (reformatted from HTML to WML with graphics stripped) to be viewed on the tiny display of todays mobile handset (CDMA, GSM, GSM/GPRS). WAP servers not only do the formatting but deliver specific applications functionality for mobile data services. << If so, that would explain why GSM suppliers incorporate WAP >> The primary reason that both GSM & CDMA suppliers incorporate WAP on data ready phones is that it provides the mobile user with a way of dealing with web content on a device with a limited MMI. This in turn enables the carrier or a 3rd party to deliver meaningful data services including eCommerce. << Does WAP add anything useful to CDMA? >> I would say so. The 2 largest networks in the US (Verizon & Sprint) both have offered WAP enabled phones and services since they started offering web access and data capabilities. My carrier is Verizon (formerly BAM). I have just started using my 2nd WAP enabled CDMA phone. It is an Audiovox CDM 9000 tri-mode which replaces my Qualcomm QCP 860 dual mode. The WAP browser allows me to connect to the UP server and deal reasonably efficiently with web content from a limited number of web sites that use WML or HDML. Like GSM phones that have been available in the states for several years or CDMA phones that have been available since last summer, I can also connect the ME to a laptop or PDA (Palm et al), use the ME as a modem and access any web site, just as I would with any other modem without the restrictions of WAP. The CDMA WAP microbrowser, however, allows me to use the ME for web access stand alone. In the case of Verizon (BAM), they are using a UP WAP server to provision WAP enabled phones over-the-air provisioning (OTA). In the past (and unlike GSM which has used OTA provisioning since it launched in the States in 1995) this formerly required a trip to a BAM outlet. Best to you as well. - Eric -

To: gdichaz who wrote (10057)	5/14/2000 11:18:00 AM
From: data_rox	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 13582

gdichaz Re: WAP Hope this helps - Data_Rox Everything You Wanted To Know About WAP/XML But Were Afraid To Ask WAP personifies the presentation of the wireless content (Wireless Markup Language or WML) and the transport protocols for the wireless links. These differ substantially from the standards on the Internet - HTML, HTTP and TCP/IP. The WAP Forum, comprised of cell phone manufacturers, provide the primary sponsorship for WAP. WAP is construed as a way to deliver new Internet based services to wireless subscribers. The WAP work flow is initiated when a Web server regenerates its content in WAP's Wireless Markup Language (WML). The content is transported to the carrier's gateway via Internet protocols (TCP/IP and HTTP). The final leg of the journey is the carrier using WAP protocols to transmit the content to the WAP enabled phone over the carriers wireless network. Purported Advantages Of WAP Tailored for mobile interface HTML was originally designed for client devices with large displays and full sized keyboards. WAP defines standards for smaller displays and entry pads such as those found in current generation of mobile phones. Modest hardware requirements Internet protocols such as TCP/IP require access devices to have fast processor and large memory. WAP protocols requires fewer client resources than TCP/IP and HTTP. Optimized for wireless bandwidth Wireless networks have lower bandwidth and less complex routing than Internet transport protocols which waste as much as 40% of link capacity on redundant routing/diagnostic information. Disadvantages Of WAP The wireless protocol is specific to phones and it requires Web content to be created in WML rather than the conventional HTML. WAP could be a necessary short-term solution for wireless services. However, long-term Internet protocols can be adapted to wireless phones, bypassing WAP. Web content is growing exponentially The large base of content, tools and developers supporting HTML makes it the best choice for wired/wireless content. Processing costs get cheaper As IC costs decline, HTTP and TCP/IP become cheaper to implement in phones. Wireless bandwidth increasing As carriers upgrade to 2.5/3G, the HTTP and TCP/IP overhead becomes less significant. Spectrum of wireless devices The diversity of offerings from Palm to WindowsCE based PCs mandate a standard that encompasses all devices. A phone centric standard such as WAP is not expected to have much success. Conclusion The extensible markup language (XML) is emerging as the lingua franca for exchanging information over the Web. XML is an open standard managed by the World Wide Web Consortium or W3C. It is a text based format and can be considered more a set of language rules than a language. XML streams can be sent over HTTP transport to wireless devices.