So what is WAP and how does it work?

WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) is actually a secure standard that allows users to access information instantly via handheld wireless devices such as mobile phones, pagers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs). The standard was conceived in 1997 by four companies: Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia, and Phone.com. Just like HTML is the standard markup language for creating Web pages, Wireless Markup Language (WML) is used to create pages that can be delivered using WAP.

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For a more on WAP, these definitions in Techweb and Tech Target should give you an overview to start off with.

What kind of a device can display WAP? To begin with, the device needs a browser that can read these WML pages. Most cell phones and PDAs in the market are WAP enabled and telecom companies are working towards making that possible in the near future.

Imagine, in a few years from now, I could have a WAP display in Anna, my VW Beetle, my refrigerator and Bubbles can have one on his watch. Possible? Very much so, according to telecom analysts. Since WAP pages are optmised for small display screens, this technology is very feasible for wireless mobile devices. Mobile phones today widely use this technology and a review of WAP enabled phones can be found here.

The best place to go to for an overview of what is happening in the WAP world is the WAP Forum. It also has a FAQ section to answer commonly asked questions and the latest developments in the field. WAP.com which call itself 'a guide to the Wireless Internet' also has news, phone and PDA reviews and an area for developers.

Nokia and Ericsson, founders of WAP have dedicated sections that deal with WAP technology, developments and products available.

With terms like GSM, GPRS and HDML, the wireless world can be somewhat confusing. And Bubbles being easily confused, recommends this glossary on the Wireless World that he found extremely useful.

He always thought WAP was a chat room lingo for 'What a Pain', but with the new WAP enabled phone in his life, he has learnt his lessons quickly!

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