What does WAP stand for

Asks alicevida

A. WAP stands for Wireless Application Protocol. The protocol was formulated by the WAP Forum - which is made up of representatives from the major telecommunications and Internet companies - in answer to great demand for a common standard for Internet transfers to mobile phones.

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Q. What is WAP

A. WAP allows you to connect to the Internet using your mobile phone. It is an open, global specification. WAP content is formulated in specially adapted WML pages, which makes them smaller and readable on tiny screens.

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Q. What content can I access on a WAP phone

A. As mobile phones only have tiny screens the text you receive will be in a very basic format and will consist of news, share information, sports results, train and bus timetables, etc. However, you can also book a plane or theatre ticket, play games and access your email.

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Q. How fast do WAP phones download information

A. Currently, most phones download at 9.6 kbit/s. Third generation or 3G WAP phones are due to launch in the UK in 2002 and will operate at much higher speeds on average at around 384 kbit/s - roughly five times faster than your average PC. You will also be charged for how much information you download, instead of by how much time you spend online.

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Q. How do I use a WAP phone

A. If you buy a WAP phone today it will be configured by an operator for immediate use - unlike two years ago when the first models launched and you had to set it up yourself. All you have to do is find INTERNET on the menu (it may be listed under SERVICES), select it and then select HOME. If your phone is set up properly the Home function will take you to your operator's home page - and from there you can use their browser to read WML pages - and you're off!

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Q. Is WAP content available from other countries outside the UK

A. It is rare to find a technology that has taken off in Europe before the US, but WAP is one of these. Most European countries have a lot of content providers catering for WAP, with the UK in the forefront for innovative services. Australia and New Zealand, Russia and some parts of South America also provide WAP services. The US, India and Israel are all investing heavily in WAP at the moment and will provide a lot of content from 2002.

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Q. What is WML

A. WML stands for Wireless Mark-up Language and is the WAP version of HTML (Hypertext Mark-up Language) pages used on the Internet.

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Q. How would I go about choosing a good WAP phone

A. Choosing a mobile phone really depends on your wireless needs. The best way to choose is to check out the WAP Forum's website - http://www.wap.com/phonereviews/ - it reviews all WAP phones on the market independently, and categorises its reviews by how much you will use the WAP phone e.g. for business only, budget use (targeted at teenagers) etc.

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Q. Can you recommend any interesting WAP sites

A. If you're into online gambling you can now do it on your WAP phone by contacting www.etherbet.com/eb.wml - you can choose your sport and have �1,000 of pretend money to play around with when you first register to get you hooked.

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If trivia is your bag contact www.phoneafact.com/index.wml - it is full of useless information for trivia addicts.

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If you want more news than your browser offers you can contact www.ananova.com - it is one of the best news servers available.

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Quiz addicts can put their general knowledge to the test at http://wap.20Qserve.com/index.wml

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Q. Are there any WAP search engines

A. Some of the best WAP search engines include the following:

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http://mfinder.cellmania.com - has a good search facility

http://wapgoogle.com - WAP version of the fantastic google Internet search engine.

www.excite.co.uk/wap

- WAP version of one of the oldest Internet search engines.

www.mobilewap.com - has 200,000 plus WAP links

www.wap.co.uk - has a really good search facility.

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By Karen Anderson