Member Advice on the Future of WAP

This is a basic review on WAP itself, this was the only category that I could find to place it in, if anyone knows where else let me know. Enjoy!

WAP is this year's biggest hype, with mobile phone companies and shops bragging that it's the "hippest" way of getting the Internet on the move. However, WAP has not lived up to its debut and it is now being billed as a poor relation interim to second-generation mobile phone technology that will rapidly put it in the retirement home.

WAP stands for Wireless Application Protocol and is basically a way of transmitting data to a mobile device. The big selling point is that WAP will bring the Internet to mobile phones everywhere, enabling you to do everything from chat to shop on the net.

Although around 50 per cent of European Internet sites are now boasting a WAP site, there is still a long way to go between the concept and reality. Consumers, however, need to realise that WAP is a complimentary service to using the Internet via a PC or TV. Anyone who expects whirling colour graphics and full-colour picture via a mobile phone right now will be sorely disappointed.

The big problem with WAP mobile phones today is that they are painfully slow. The UK's mobile phone network runs over a system called GSM. Basically, this means it can transport data at a speed of 9.6kbps, which is snail-like compared to a 56kbps modem over a standard telephone line. With the majority of WAP connections being charged by the second, it is also one sure-fire way of sending your mobile phone bill out of orbit.

Anyone who leads the pack when it comes to gadgets will know there is still a shortage of WAP enabled GSM phones. The other big drawback is that the monochrome screens are minute and the keyboards are so small it takes an hour to string a sentence together.

Surfing the Internet right now via WAP is out of the question. Information available via WAP, such as news headlines and travel information, are pushed out via Internet Service Providers who decide the type of content they believe their members want. This is not down to Big Brother, but because WAP phones are restricted to viewing pages specially written in WML, a stripped-down version of the web's language, HTML.

If you want to use your mobile to check your bank account, reserve theatre tickets and find out the nearest bar to your weekend break hotel, you've got a while to wait. Third Generation (or 3G) comes along in 2002, which promises full-streaming colour video and all the bells. Until then your money is best kept in your pocket, or that of you’re nearest Prada store!

I have used WAP several times it is with Orange who are actually providing access free at weekends until 28th February, their service is not to bad, I like to play the games as you can actually play with someone you cant see or know.

I am sure it will improve and I look forward to 3G!