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Pacific Wave – November 2000
Hit the Road Jack and
Don’t You Come Back!
WAP, what it
is and what it can do for you. Shelley Grell reports.
You’ve got to
smirk. In the 1980’s, those who didn’t see the need for the technology
considered early users of the mobile phone yuppies and poncy show-offs. Now
almost 40% of us own a cellphone and unflinchingly we’re citing convenience as
our excuse for going mobile! The same will be said for WAP no doubt. Guaranteed
this new technology will be considered cool by early adopters, while Luddites will
think they’re a bunch of posers.
For those
unaware of this new technological advance, WAP - an acronym short for Wireless
Application Protocol - is essentially a micro web browser installed in a
cellphone or a handheld computer that provides access to selected parts the
Internet. With WAP we can send and receive emails, check the weather reports or
share movements and download various news services. The technology is still in
its infancy with limited services as yet available. But WAP, they say, is definitely
where the future technology is heading.
Earlier this
year Vodafone launched its WAP service called ‘My Vodafone’. Judging by the
speed of success of their text messaging service – two million messages sent on
just one promotional free Wednesday alone - there’s high expectation that WAP
is going to prove equally popular, if not more.
My Vodafone
provides a selection of information services. Customers can set up their
account to have specified information sent automatically to their mobile
phones. Not only can they email freely, they can also bank on-line with ASB,
check their horoscopes or the latest sports updates, open and update their
electronic diary or scheduler, and browse information from other Internet sites
such as BBC, iTouch and Reuters using myWAP.
Telecom NZ
plans to launch their WAP service next year
- predicted to be about the same time as the launch of a new broadband
communications network. It will offer pretty much the same options as Vodafone,
but with National Bank on-line banking.
At present the number of WAP Internet sites is small and dial up connections to the service is slow. But with broadband networks soon to arrive and increasing services coming on-line, some say that WAP will be the biggest technology leap since the Internet.
There is an
issue with screen sizes however. Reading text can be frustrating on the small
screen of a mobile phone as you are forever scrolling down. On a handheld
computer it is much easier. The burning question for the mobile industry is,
will the market go for handheld computing technology (i.e. address book, diary,
calculator, games, etc) and WAP services on a phone, or a phone and WAP on a
handheld computer?
Back in 1997, the first WAP Forum was held in the US.
Today, businesses worldwide are jumping on the WAP bandwagon in realisation of its
lucrative potential. Because WAP mobile users will effectively be able to surf
the Net anytime anywhere, they could also, say, compare book prices at
Amazon.com while in a bookshop. Transfer money from one account to another
while stuck in a traffic jam. Bet on-line, book flights, make restaurant
reservations or check the company’s financials, and so on. The possibilities
are endless. And it is just a matter of time before such services will become
readily available.
There are also a number of customised
WAP projects in place or under development. One example in New Zealand is a WAP
solution for Mainfreight Relocations that aims to turn around a quote at the
customer’s premises within minutes. Developed by WAP specialists the Holliday
Group, this WAP solution will enable on-line access to the corporate intranet
from the customer site using the infra red connection between a Palm V handheld
computer and a WAP phone. Representatives will be able to download the customer’s
relocation data requirements onto the Mainfreight database system and have a
quote generated automatically and returned within minutes.
Nokia and
Ericsson were the first to launch WAP mobile phones in New Zealand with the
7110 and R320 respectively. Alcatel is also offering WAP versions of all their
mobile phones. Last month they launched the Alcatel One Touch Series 300
including the 300 WAP.
Charges for
accessing Vodafone’s WAP service is NZ$20 one off connection fee plus peak
charges of $0.15 for the first 30 seconds and $0.39 per minute thereafter.
Off-peak charges are $0.10 for the first 30 seconds and $0.30 per minute
thereafter.
WAP is not
offered on the pre-pay scheme as yet. However, considering the huge popularity
of pre-pay mobile phones, it is likely that this will be reviewed.
Sidebar article
Deciding which mobile phone to buy is the fun part to going mobile. Some devices offer designs that say “I’m sooo cool” to friends and passers by, while others will barely raise an eyebrow. Visit mobile outlets to get a feel for the varying sizes and functionality. (Mobiletronics in Christchurch has an impressive selection.)
You can also
surf the Net but beware, you might come across descriptives like: 'call it
chemistry, electricity, magic. It is a sixth sense that makes you want to pick
up the phone and say, "I want this”.‘ Yeah, right.
Chemistry
aside, the basic differences between makes and models of phones include:
digital or analogue, roaming access, battery life, size, weight, memory, voice
dialling, vibra-alert, intuitive menu, ring tones, colours, games and so on.
Depending on
what phone and call plan you choose, phone prices range from free to over
$1000. Services including text messaging or accessing the Internet can only be
used on digital/WAP phones. In the future most phones will be WAP enabled.
Here’s a closer look at six phones ideal for the business traveller. Prices
include GST and are based on a 24-month contract with Vodafone’s Daytime 200
plan.
A GSM tri-band
mobile phone that you can use in New Zealand, Australia, Europe and North &
South America without having to change your number. Offers voice notes, voice
dial, infrared connection and more. Talk time: 2-3½ hrs, standby: 40-150 hrs*.
Price: $149 with plan, $616 without.
Small,
colourful WAP phone. Smaller screen displays up to 5 lines of text. Built in
hands free loudspeaker, vibrating system, scroll touch button, predictive text
input and 10 prestored/programmable text messaging templates. Talk time: 4¾
hrs, standby: 165 hrs. Price: not released at time of print.
WAP access to
services and Internet content. Roller button provides fast and easy scrolling
and selection. Built in modem. Calendar, messaging, emails, infra red
connection, dual band functionality, discrete ringing options and a choice of
profiles. Ringing tones and icons can be aligned to groups. Talk time: 4½ hrs,
standby: 55-260 hrs*. Price: $499 with plan, $889 without.
WAP enabled.
Slim, light, big screen, wide body with spaced and easy to navigate buttons.
Built in modem, infrared connection, dual band functionality, intuitive menu,
calendar, phone book, voice memo recorder, hands free solutions with profiles
and voice activated dialling, and lots more! Talk time: 215 mins, standby: 79
hrs*. Price: $569 with plan, $949 without.
Everything
today’s business traveller could possibly want. Packed with features, dual band
functionality (even adjusts the clock to the timezone!), e-mail, fax and WAP
options, sleek, light weight, multi-colour, voice dial, predictive text input,
wireless solutions, decides which calls get though and when, and how the
ringing tones should sound. Also offers picture messaging! Talk time: 2-3½
hours, standby: 50-150 hrs. Price: $569 with plan, $949 without.
* Extended
battery options available.
Facts
Last year 275
million phones were sold worldwide with 33% of those sales in the US. In
Finland, home of Nokia phones, over 70% of the population have a mobile phone,
but in the 14-25 age group the number is nearer 100%!
New Zealand
has one of the fastest growing mobile penetration rates in the world with
currently 37% of us owning a mobile phone compared to 17% two years ago.
Telecom is claiming 921,600 connections and Vodafone is over 500,000.