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7 Appendix A. Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
7.1 Introduction
The Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is a set of protocols that allow the development of
applications and services for use with mobile phones and other mobile devices. The WAP Forum
maintains these protocols and their related standards and specifications.
The WAP Forum consists of a number of high-tech companies from the information technology,
software, and telecommunication industries. The objectives of the WAP Forum are to:
• Bring Internet content and advanced data applications to digital mobile phones
• Create a global wireless protocol specification that works across different wireless network
technologies
• Enable the creation of content and applications that scale across a wide range of bearer networks
and device types
• Embrace existing standards and technology wherever possible
7.2 WAP Architecture
7.2.1 WAP and Internet architecture
In order to apply as much leverage to the existing Internet standard as possible, the WAP stack closely
follows the Internet model. This is illustrated in Figure 12.
Internet
HTML
JavaScript
TM
HTTP
TLS - SSL
TCP/IP
UDP/IP
SMS USSD CSD
IS-136
CDMA CDPD PDC-P Etc..
Bearers:
Wireless Application
Wireless Application
Environment (WAE)
Wireless Session Layer (WSP)
Wireless Transport Layer Security (WTLS)
Wireless Datagram Protocol (WDP)
Other Services
and
Applications
Wireless Transaction Protocol (WTP)
Figure 12: Comparison of Internet and WAP Architecture
This layered architecture allows applications to utilise the features of the WAP stack through well-
defined interfaces. This close link to the Internet architecture allows developers to utilise their existing
knowledge and expertise when developing applications for mobile terminals.
7.2.2 Wireless Application Environment (WAE)
The Wireless Application Environment (WAE) is a general-purpose application environment that uses a
combination of Internet and mobile terminal technology. It provides a framework for the
development of applications on a mobile terminal. WAE contains support for the following
functionality:
WAP Service Developer’s Guide for Nokia 9200 Communicator Series
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