The article below is rather vapid, but the link to the WAP simulator in the
first link and the other links to run in it are pretty interesting. And the
article itself gives some insight into what "ordinary" people (i.e.,
businesses that may be clients of many on this list) will think about "what
good is wireless?"
Steve Carter
Wireless Application Protocol (WAP):
Stacking the Deck in your Favor
By Adele Bienvenu
By 2004, the number of wireless users in the US will grow to
over 187 million (Cahners In-Stat Group). This, coupled with
the ever-expanding functions of wireless devices, continues
to change the way we communicate with consumers.
So what does all this WAP talk mean to you? You've heard it
over and over, it's in every marketing and technology
magazine, but how do you fit your business into all of
this? I've put together some information, and links, to
shed a little light on the subject.
The web was used by scientists and the government for years
before becoming that which many of us live for, but what gave
it life? Images. Some say the wireless web will die without
the integration of rich graphics. Integration is closer than
you may think. This past week saw a partnership developed to
enrich wireless access with images as well as
location-specific information. SimplyLook, a technology
company specializing in providing streaming images to
wireless devices, and Gravitate, a wireless provider,
joined forces to take the wireless web to the next level.
If you provide a service, product, or offering via the web,
chances are WAP-enabling your site is not far behind. Start
with researching other companies that have taken steps to
create a presence in this new medium. Once you've determined
the need, then move on to the level of effort to implement
WAP on your site. Mobile phones and other wireless devices
that utilize WML (wireless markup language) connect at a
very slow operating speed. Until wireless devices go the
route of streaming rich media, developers are allowed a
minimalist approach to design.
Let's put this all into perspective. How do I use something
like this? Let's say you arrive in Dallas for a business
trip. You're hungry, but don't know what you want for dinner.
What's nearby, in your price range, and has a good
reputation? Using your cell phone, surf on over to
wap.Zagat.com, find exactly what you want, how to get there,
and even get a review.
Although a very basic example, this is happening, now. Sites
like Yahoo, Zagat, Ebay and Excite are preparing for this and
other advancements. Search engines have been built solely to
find WAP enabled sites.
There is no fixed recipe for how to position your business
to the WAPsters of the world. But while we wait for 'the
next big thing to happen to WAP,' prepare yourself, your
site and your team.
Stay a step ahead, and lower the learning curve in the
process.
Get a taste of what the fuss is about by visiting the WAP
enabled sites via CellMania's WML / HDML Simulator @
http://gauguin.cellmania.com/wapdemo/simulator.htm.
Just paste any of the following links into the simulator to
see how others have begun preparing for the mobile revolution.
Phone a Fact - http://www.phoneafact.com/index.wml
-- Dictionary/thesaurus, facts on sports, dates, and more
MSN - http://mobile.msn.com
-- Microsoft is still everywhere you go, but with a
"Find a..." directory, they help you get where you need
to be.
Total Sports - http://totalsports.net/wml/index.wml
-- Get the latest scores, highlights, and news.
Ebay - http://catalyst.2roam.com/www.ebay.com/
-- Keeping track of those online bids is no problem.
Anytime, anywhere.
Financial WAP - http://www.123jump.com/wap
-- Up to the minute stock quotes, news, and financial info.
Webtender - http://wap.webtender.com
-- Useless, but fun.
Yahoo - http://wap.yahoo.com
-- One of the first to go wireless. Portal power lives on.
AlltheWeb - http://mobile.alltheweb.com
-- Search engine to go WAP enabled.
RECOMMENDED WIRELESS INDUSTRY RESOURCES
Anywhere You Go - http://www.anywhereyougo.com
-- Terrific site offering resources, articles, tutorials, and
news on anything and everything WAP.
WAPFreaks.net - http://www.wapfreaks.net
-- They are what the name implies. Crazy for WAP and
willing to share what they know.
[ Did you check the archives? http://www.appelsiini.net/keitai-l/ ]
Received on Wed Jan 24 17:52:12 2001