WAP (Wireless Application Protocol)

• Introduction:

WAP stands for Wireless Application protocol and it is used for wireless application.” Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is an open international standard for application-layer network communications in a wireless-communication environment. Most use of WAP involves accessing the mobile web from a mobile phone or from a PDA.”

A WAP browser works similarly as the computer’s web browser. The only difference is that it maintains the browser & fits the miniature web pages in the small mobile screen. Any user can connect to Website which is written or converted in Wireless Markup Language (WML) and access through WAP browser. This protocol was designed to simplify how wireless users access electronic and voice mail, send and receive faxes, make stock trades and conduct banking transactions.
Talking about the history of WAP, we see that the initial WAP forum was designed in the year 1997 aiming to create a standardized protocol. But later in the year 2002 initial WAP forum was fused into Open Mobile Alliance (OMA). Then many versions of WAp were launched some of them are listed below:
• WAP 1.X- it included a series of WAP which were WAP 1.0 standard (1998), WAP 1.1 (1999) & WAP 1.2 being the final version of the WAP 1.X series (2000).
• WAP Push- it was special encoded message which inluded a link to the WAP address.
• WAP 2.0- This version was released in the year 2002 and it used a cut-down version of XHTML with end-to-end HTTP.

• Features of WAP:

There may be many limitations when we compare a mobile network and a fixed network. But the mobile network also has some unique features of personalizing and positioning of the devices which the WAP language strongly supports. Wireless Telephony Application (WTA) component provided by telephony integration allows integrating a call in any WAP application. Thus with the help of this the user can make a call from the application without exiting the application.

• Applications of WAP:

WAP services have limited information for now but
later if higher speeds become available then the technological matters that are specific to WAP can be resolute. Some of the interesting applications of WAP are as follows:

1. For infotainment which include weather forecasts, horoscopes, news etc.
2. For messaging and other services like e-mail, voicemail.
3. For services such as call management to modify the personal information.
4. For services related to finance i.e. mobile banking services.
5. For services especially based on locations to get mapping and location information.

• Security Issues of WAP:

WAP is a modified form for the earlier handheld devices markup language. WAP intends to operate over any other wireless transmission technologies like GSM, CDMA etc. the security related to WAP is called Wireless Transport Layer Security Specification ( WTLS) which is based on TCP/IP counterpart. There has always been a security threat for a wireless network as anyone can access it. So the basic needs like encryption and authentication is always necessary. Hence, implementing WTLS in PDAs and integrating it with security sys tem such as PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) can be taken as reasonable security terms.

• Future Aspects of WAP:
  

The future of WAP is really much depends upon the consum ers hands on whether the consumers use WAP devices to access the web or use some o ther technologies. Due to low bandwidth & limited input ability, the future of WAP is truly a matter of concern. In upcoming years due to the evolution of 2.5G/3G system, it will facilitate the s ubscribers with much higher data rates and capacity with high bandwidth capabilities. Actually WAP was designed for low power consumption, small screens, for wide scalability over bearers and alternating coverage which are still applicable in 2.5G and 3G networks. The point is that WAP is just an application for web browsing in smart phones but it cannot be considered directly as a web in mobiles.
”WAP is great as long as developers understand that what are inside the applications that matters, and the perceived value of the content to the user.”

• Advantages & Disadvantages:

WAP supports most wireless technologies like CDMA, GSM, TDMA, FLEX etc. Also many operating systems like palm OS, Windows CE also prefer the use of WAP. Hence, some advantages of WAP are as follows:

1. It offers standardization to link the PDAs and mobile phones to internet.
2. Standardization between carriers is being created as many companies join the WAP communication forum.
3. Certain changes in some parts of the protocol can be done without affecting the existing devices.

Well, there are some disadvantages of WAP also which are discussed below:

1. Expensive
2. There are other protocols in the already in the market like SIM Application toolkit which are designed to replace WAP.
3. DUE to the different parameters required by the new services, it is difficult to configure new WAP services in WAP enabled phones.

Thus, WAPs are designed basically for handheld devices with low memory and low bandwidth. With the emergence of new technologies, time will decide the survival of the WAP in the consumer’s market.