from Certicom
The Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is a leading technology for companies trying to unlock the value of the Mobile Internet.
Certicom products and services provide complete WAP security solutions today for all of those players involved in bringing the Internet to the mobile end-user — including content providers, equipment manufacturers, network operators, application service providers and enterprises.
WAP
The WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) is a suite of specifications that enable wireless Internet applications; these specifications can be found at http://www.wapforum.org). WAP provides the framework to enable targeted Web access, mobile e-commerce, corporate intranet access, and other advanced services to digital wireless devices, including mobile phones, PDAs, two-way pagers, and other wireless devices. The suite of WAP specifications allows manufacturers, network operators, content providers and application developers to offer compatible products and services that work across varying types of digital devices and networks. Even for companies wary of WAP, individual elements of the WAP standards can prove useful by providing industry-standard wireless protocols and data formats.
The WAP architecture is based on the realization that for the near future, networks and client devices (e.g., mobile phones) will have limited capabilities. The networks will have bandwidth and latency limitations, and client devices will have limited processing, memory, power, display and user interaction capabilities. Therefore, Internet protocols cannot be processed as is; an adaptation for wireless environments is required. The entire suite of WAP specifications are derived from equivalent IETF specifications used on the Internet, modified for use within the limited capabilities in the wireless world.
Furthermore, the WAP model introduces a Gateway that translates between WAP and Internet protocols. This Gateway is typically located at the site of the mobile operator, although sometimes it may be run by an application service provider or enterprise.
The WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) is a suite of specifications that enable wireless Internet applications; these specifications can be found at http://www.wapforum.org). WAP provides the framework to enable targeted Web access, mobile e-commerce, corporate intranet access, and other advanced services to digital wireless devices, including mobile phones, PDAs, two-way pagers, and other wireless devices. The suite of WAP specifications allows manufacturers, network operators, content providers and application developers to offer compatible products and services that work across varying types of digital devices and networks. Even for companies wary of WAP, individual elements of the WAP standards can prove useful by providing industry-standard wireless protocols and data formats.
The WAP architecture is based on the realization that for the near future, networks and client devices (e.g., mobile phones) will have limited capabilities. The networks will have bandwidth and latency limitations, and client devices will have limited processing, memory, power, display and user interaction capabilities. Therefore, Internet protocols cannot be processed as is; an adaptation for wireless environments is required. The entire suite of WAP specifications are derived from equivalent IETF specifications used on the Internet, modified for use within the limited capabilities in the wireless world.
Furthermore, the WAP model introduces a Gateway that translates between WAP and Internet protocols. This Gateway is typically located at the site of the mobile operator, although sometimes it may be run by an application service provider or enterprise.