What ' s WAP 2.0

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by Russ Green

figures: Click to enlarge
Figure 1

Mobile operators that support WAP 2.0 and MMS services and applications would be is the the ' the ' to capture the growing contribut Ion to ARPU from these data services.

The market for digital premium content services would sustain and drive the future growth of mobile operators ' Average Reve Nue per User (ARPU). The challenge for mobile operators'll is to understand and quickly implement the appropriate technology this supports PR Emium content delivery. Yankee Group confirms that data would be the profit-making service in the future according to its latest Casts worldwide mobile data service revenues to grow from U.S.$64 billion in 2003 to U.s.$200 in 2007.

Digital Premium content Services permit delivery and download of Feature-rich content directly to the mobile device. Current offerings include ringtones, screens icons, audio, and increasingly prevalent services such as picture messaging, I Mages and news flashes, location services, and other mobile multimedia messaging Services (MMS).

The Open Mobile Alliance ' s Wireless Application Protocol version 2 (WAP 2.0) plays an important and strategic role in Enab Ling the mobile operators to pursue this Revenue-rich market for premium content services. The WAP 2.0 standard includes support for MMS, expansion to the capabilities of wireless, and devices for support and functions to improve the user experience. WAP 2.0 is a significant evolutionary step and allows application developers to create compelling mobile content using the Same tools and techniques they ' re already familiar with for other Internet applications.

A Brief outline of the functions and features in different versions of WAP including navigation, configuration and Adaptat Ion, Push and e-mail, and security follows and are shown in Table 1.

It should be noted this WAP 1.2.1 release introduced "push" notification capabilities that could is used to offer some Limited MMS services. However, WAP 2.0 specifications define Application-level protocol-so-MMS can be activities made available a VA Riety of media types. For example, the WAP 2.0 specifications include additional service aspects supported by the MMS Server such as a e-mail s Erver and wireless messaging systems (e.g. SMSC).

Navigation is enhanced with WAP 2.0
The MMS is designed to provide a rich set of content to subscribers in a messaging context. It supports both sending and receiving of such messages by properly enabled client devices. MMS facilitates a dramatic increase in mobile-to-mobile messaging capabilities by enabling color photos, graphics, Animati On, audio, and the clips to is sent along with text. This encourages and advances other Content-rich applications and services such as electronic, postcards animated, and multimedia presentations.

Pictograms permit the use of tiny graphical images, such as a smiling sun, in a consistent fashion. These are popular tools, quickly convey concepts and responses in a small amount of spaces that might otherwise A time-consuming explanation. Such communication can transcend traditional language boundaries, which is particularly useful for data-roaming.

Configuration and adaptation are enhanced with WAP 2.0
By using the other WAP services, such as Push and User Agent profiles (uaprof), MMS provides an efficient messaging solution. Adaptation services can is initiated, which structures the delivered content into a form that's best used by the receiving device, enhancing the user experience.

As more new devices are introduced into the market, content adaptation saves content creation, management, and maintenance Costs. The MMS standard sets out interfaces for servers transcoding content, and companies are already Multidevice support.

Push and e-mail Are enhanced with WAP 2.0
The next generation "push" notification enables differentiated, personalized services to attract and retain mobile Operato R Customers by:

· Creating one-to-one relationships by delivering highly personalized-information-how and when they want it

· Expanding reach and touch through multiple communication channels

· Notifying customers of important, time-sensitive events

WAP push allows content to is sent or "pushed" to devices by server-based applications via a Push Proxy. WAP 2.0 has enhanced this functionality, providing a useful interface for real-time applications of that send notifications T o Their users, such as messaging, stock price, and traffic update alerts. Without push functionality, types of applications require the devices to poll servers for new or updated . In wireless environments, such polling activities constitute inefficient and wasteful use of the wireless net Works.

WAP Push functionality provides control over the lifetime of pushed messages, store and forward capabilities at the Push P Roxy, and control over bearer choice for delivery (i.e., SMS, WSP UDP, HTTP).

Security are enhanced with WAP 2.0
With the plugging of the so-called "WAP Gap" in the WAP 2.0 specifications, true and straightforward end-to-end security F Or content providers is made possible without requiring customized at the infrastructure.

WAP 2.0 introduces the concept of secure proxy tunnels (identical to Internet proxy tunnelling).

Establishing transaction integrity is core to building the network ' s value, attracting new services, and driving ARPU. Secure Payments Place the mobile operator in the center of every mobile transaction and can result in increased revenue op Portunity in the form of higher ARPU and/or transaction fees.

The End-to-end security supported in WAP 2.0 together with enhancements made to the Wireless Identity Module (WIM) specifi Cations make it possible to secure transaction services such as brokerage, banking, and card-based payment with Out the additional costs of deploying enterprise hardware.

WAP 2.0 Also provides for the Future
Operator predicts, mobile networks'll need to support a minimum of different device profiles a D different wireless network interfaces. While this is seems daunting, it provides greater opportunities for a mobile operator to offer enhanced value-added services. For example, External/mobile phone integrated devices such as digital camera, barcode scanner, health care, devices, and S Mart cards are becoming commonplace with greater utility and thus for opportunity.

WAP 2.0 Specifies the interface between Wireless application environment (WAE) and components or entities with embedded AP Plications that execute outside of the defined WAE capabilities. The specification is called External functionality Interface (EFI). The EFI framework provides for future growth and extendability of supported WAP devices. This framework can is used to define the specific interfaces needed for accessing external.

WAP 2.0 Specifications Define a open, standard-based architecture for providing such value-added services without the Res Trictions of the proprietary Device/gateway solution. Some features of WAP 2.0 that are instrumental in supporting the open Application and service development:

· Wireless Telephony Application (WTA): This service features tools, provide for a range of advanced telephony applications to is operated from within the app Lication environment that traditionally supports data functionality. These call-handling services, such as making, placing, holding, and redirecting calls, can is seamlessly combined with oth ER data Services. This is truly permits WAP wta-enabled cellphones to be viewed as fully the Internet and integrated Voice-service.

· External functionality Interface (EFI): This is analogous to providing a plug-in module, which extends or enhances the capabilities of browsers or other Applicati Ons. The EFI framework provides for future growth and extendability of supported WAP devices.

· Provisioning: This service provides a standard approach to providing WAP clients with information needed to operate on the wireless Orks. It permits the network operator to manage the devices in its network using a common set of tools.

WAP 2.0:here to Stay
With the introduction's WAP 2.0 release, enhancements in navigation, push and e-mail, and security make it possible F Or the success of the next generation of digital messaging and data services. What was once a cumbersome and difficult user interface (supported by WAP 1.x) are now advanced, powerful, capable, and use r-friendly.

New WAP 2.0 devices and interfaces significantly enhance the 3G wireless Internet experience and capabilities. As a result, the end-user adoption rate for WAP 2.0-enabled services, such as MMS, alerting services, multimedia downloads , and other valuable digital premium content services, would be accelerated. Mobile operators that support WAP 2.0 and MMS services and applications would be is the the ' the ' to capture the growing contribut Ion to ARPU from these data services.