WAP moves along: More products, services hit the market

Hardly a day passes without several companies introducing new services or products based on the Wireless Application Protocol. With most new handsets expected to be WAP-enabled by next year, vendors are busy putting the finishing touches on their infrastructure, services and products.

Last week was no different, as Saraide.com announced that it has begun trials with Apion's WAP gateway to ensure delivery of its Internet-based wireless data services. Saraide.com will incorporate WAP gateways into its platform, giving operators the option of farming out their entire information delivery process to Saraide.com. "We intend to be up and running on the early end of the rollout of WAP devices," said Bill Barmeier, chief administrative officer for Saraide.com.

Hewlett-Packard also introduced a technology last week, geared toward the business customer, that allows access to most major corporate e-mail platforms. WAP is key to the offering. "WAP enables the convergence of voice and data into the same device over the same network," said Al Morgan, program manager for communications software at HP.

Last week Nokia and Ericsson said that they are testing interoperability between their WAP handsets and server products. Nokia also said that it would license its WAP microbrowser for other equipment manufacturers to build into handsets or personal digital assistants.

Although the number of WAP products and services being tested suggests a large market, operators still must pinpoint successful services. "What isn't clear is how useful it will be," said Barney Dewey, consultant for the Andrew Seybold Group. He refers to WAP as a "starter" technology that will help operators determine what customers want.