Enabling Technologies And
Development
December 2000

Chris Donner

 

Killer (Of) WAP?

BY CHRIS DONNER

Go Right To: Enabling Technologies & Development News

Please, I beg of you, no more about how the "killer app" for my WAP-enabled phone means access to stock quotes and sports scores. It's time to send WAP (wireless application protocol) service providers a message about killer apps: real-time sports scores and stock quotes are a toy, a gimmick for most users, not a killer.

And lauding them as a killer app does WAP, and the communications industry as a whole, a disservice.

Not that I don't believe in the wireless Internet or WAP. But this is still a fledgling technology, barely able to stand. Great potential, surely, but it might behoove the players to back off the hype machine a bit and work more on R&D. I have glimpsed some grandsires of killer apps, however -- a few more promising applications that take advantage of the strengths of WAP and WAP-enabled devices to offer truly interesting services for end users.

For example, a recent release from SkillBay.com lets companies use WAP-enabled devices to staff and manage IT positions. SkillBay.com uses a reverse auction format to help alleviate staffing problems, and their platform is now available for both WAP devices and the Palm VII. Registered candidates and vendors can check various parameters such as bid status and interviews/interviewees, and can even execute transactions through their mobile device.

Another interesting application was recently announced by NetBank, which makes it possible for NetBank customers to take advantage of wireless banking services. Such services include checking balances and obtaining transaction summaries on various accounts (see the news section for more).

One of the more frightening aspects of WAP, in my opinion, is that implementations tend to be more focused on "push" style format than that traditional Internet "pull" format. I just can't get too excited about paying for a service just so a service provider can push advertising and buying opportunities at me day in and day out.

Thus, I was very interested in the recent DoWap.ws announcement of a Web site designed specifically as a publishing tool for creating wireless Web sites. In their press materials, DoWap.ws states that they will focus on user-generated content and business or personal applications. I haven't tried the site yet, but in theory it represents a step toward opening up the wireless Internet to content much more killer (or at least more interesting) than stocks and sports scores.

There's a lot more happening in the wireless/WAP world than just gimmicks and expensive toys. For more details on interesting developments involving WAP and wireless in general, check out the releases in this month's section. And please, just let me get my sports scores from the TV in the corner of my local diner.
-- Chris Donner

Enabling Technologies And Development News

iDial Launches WAPConnect
iDial Networks announced the launch of iDial Wireless, which will include WAPConnect, iDial's phone-to-phone network access service for WAP-enabled devices. For WAP users, WAPConnect is designed to take advantage of Phone.com's Up.Browser features to combine the advantages of a phone with convenience of WAP technology to bring the user low domestic and international calling rates. With the push of a single button, a wireless device will access iDial's network and instruct it to connect the user to their party with phone-to-phone service.

Advantech Rackmount Chassis Is Packed
Advantech Technologies has introduced a 14-slot industrial PC chassis, IPC-610F. This space-saving 19" enclosure supports three front-access half-height and one 3.5" drives, as well as an internal 3.5" HDD. The 4U chassis can accommodate a 14-slot ISA/PCI backplane or a standard Baby-AT or ATX motherboard, compatible with BX chipset boards. Standard Socket 270 supports an Intel Pentium III 800 MHz CPU. The unit is designed for easy maintenance in mission-critical CTI and networking applications. The IPC-610F is priced from $280 for maximum price/performance ratio, and OEM and volume discounts are also available.

Conectium Signs Six WAP Content Agreements
Conectium, an end-to-end mobile Internet solutions provider, today announced it has signed content agreements with six of the region's top news and information companies. The agreements are the first in a series of strategic moves Conectium will undertake in its bid to expand its offerings across the Americas and become the leading pan-regional private label WAP portal development company. To maximize the pan-regional potential of these new alliances, Conectium has launched its operations in the United States through the opening of a new co-headquarters facility in Miami. The new Miami office will work with Conectium's existing operations in Venezuela to facilitate the coordination of its international expansion initiative. "Mobile device users are demanding a more diverse suite of services from wireless carriers beyond the ability to receive short text messages," said Alfonso Riveroll-Pietri, founder and CEO of Conectium. "Consumers want practical content and services tailored to their unique interests and the freedom to transact and conduct business while on the move."

Cyclone Adds PMC Module To RAID
Cyclone Microsystems announced the PMC57, a RAID PMC module with one Ultra2 SCSI channel. Designed for a wide range of reliable storage systems where RAID is required, the PMC57 can be hosted on a CompactPCI board to provide fault-tolerant storage and maximum data availability for high-performance embedded systems.

StayinFront Announces WAP Support For Web Works
StayinFront announced the delivery of WAP support for the Internet customer relationship management and e-business application Web Works. StayinFront's HTML-based Web Works system can now also process WML, the markup language that allows Web Works users to gain access to CRM and e-business information from the new mobile WAP devices. "Web Works allows organizations to quickly deploy CRM and e-business applications via the Internet," said StayinFront chief technology officer Tony Bullen. "Now, thanks to WAP enabling, they have even greater flexibility -- with access provided via devices such as cell phones and pagers. This solution will assist with rapid deployment as users may now access the application anywhere, at any time, without having to manage distributed applications and data."

NICE ExecutiveConnect For Wireless
NICE Systems' Wireless ExecutiveConnect gives decision makers the ability to connect to recorded customer interactions in the contact center from anywhere to get a first-hand look at the customer and their needs. Using WAP, Wireless ExecutiveConnect allows executives to connect to their company's NICE recording system using a mobile phone or PDA. The WAP device can then access calls using predefined queries such as "random calls" or "last call" and play those interactions back.

Unimobile.com Enables Two-Way Global Messaging
Unimobile.com released WAP support that enables users of WAP devices worldwide to immediately implement two-way global text messaging and information access. WAP users can now send and receive text messages globally to and from mobile users of WAP devices, cell phones, pagers, Palm and other hand-held devices, as well as with desktop Web browser users. WAP devices can also be used to access worldwide information sources.

RTS Wireless Launches WAP Product Suite
RTS Wireless, a developer of software systems that connect the Internet to a broad array of wireless devices, announced the launch of its WAP Product Suite, designed to offer enterprise, ISP, and network operator customers complete WAP solutions. This is the company's first complete offering that will provide customers with everything they need to access the wireless Internet, including RTS Wireless's Advantage WAP Gateway, the WAP Application Server, and a suite of ready-to-deploy WAP applications like e-mail, contacts, and bookmarks. The WAP Product Suite architecture allows RTS Wireless customers to adopt a building-block approach to fulfill current and future wireless connectivity and application needs.

Com21 Opens Long Island Development Center
Com21 announced the opening of its Long Island Development Center (LIDC). The LIDC team will be devoted to broadband wireless technology development. It joins the recently announced Maryland Development Center, which specializes in the ComUNITY Access System product line, as Com21's latest technology-focused site. "We are delighted to open our Long Island Development Center in Woodbury, NY," said Michael Gordon, vice president and general manager of Com21's Wireless Business Unit. "Com21 is fully committed to the fixed wireless market, and it's exciting to have a bi-coastal team effort completely focused on our wireless products. The Long Island group's efforts will greatly enhance Com21's wireless technology development, and augment the work already accomplished in Milpitas, which produced our wireless VoX (Voice over eXchange) product."

NetBank Launches 24x7 Wireless Banking Services
NetBank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, announced the addition of wireless banking services. Along with 24x7 access by phone or PC, NetBank customers can now easily receive account information from any digital cell phone, Web-enabled phone (WAP), or Palm VII without having to log on to the Web. "Integrating wireless technologies into our existing offering gives our customers even greater flexibility in how and when they manage their money," said D.R. Grimes, NetBank CEO. "It also optimizes NetBank's opportunities for personalized, one-to-one marketing. We have a tremendous opportunity before us." Analysts estimate there will be more than a billion mobile phone users worldwide by 2002. NetBank teamed with Air2Web, provider of a wireless application infrastructure platform, to develop its wireless offering. Today customers can receive current balances and transaction summaries on different NetBank deposit accounts -- including checking, money market, and CDs -- through their wireless devices. Customers may download this information on demand or set up automatic notifications, such as receiving the balance on an account at a specific time each day. Additional services are planned for the near future. Soon customers will be able to transfer funds between NetBank accounts or pay bills online from a NetBank checking account.

Motorola, Baltimore Team To Secure Mobile Commerce
Baltimore Technologies and Motorola announced a strategic agreement to provide solutions for secure and trusted transactions via Internet-enabled wireless devices. This agreement will enable customers of Motorola worldwide to benefit from the advanced security and authentication features provided by the Baltimore Telepathy wireless e-security product and services offerings. To enable secure, authenticated wireless transactions, Baltimore will provide mobile root digital certificates for embedding in Motorola's innovative wireless handsets and gateways. In addition, both organizations intend to work together to offer solutions for wireless carriers, consumers, and e-commerce service and application service providers (ASPs). These joint solutions will provide the key requirements for secure mobile commerce and payment transactions: confidentiality, authentication, integrity, and non-repudiation.

ADLINK SBC Boasts Side-By-Side Pentium IIIs
ADLINK Technology has extended the NuPRO series ISA and PCI bus SBC with the introduction of their side-by-side dual processor NuPRO-800 SBC. The NuPRO-800 is a full-size SBC with two Intel Pentium III PC-PGA processors using the 443BX embedded chipset. ADLINK's unique design places both processors on the tail of the NuPRO-800, letting the user take full advantage of the additional slots, either for more SBCs or additional application cards. The NuPRO-800 supports both 66 and 100 MHz bus speeds, three 168-pin DIMM sockets with up to 768 MB SDRAM. The IDE interface supports up to two E-IDE interfaces and up to four IDE devices including HDD, ATAPI, CD-ROM, LS120, and ZIP drives.

Telephony Experts Integrates WAP-Based Calling, Account Management Support
Telephony Experts announced a wireless interface for their distributed telephony switching and billing platform, Talking NT Enterprise SQL, utilizing WAP. Telephony Experts' multimedia switching platform now supports wireless customer access through any WAP-enabled wireless cellular telephone. Users can access system facilities to view account information and call history reports, as well as place Internet triggered callback requests which allow the user to capitalize on lower long distance rates and avoid expensive access charges from hotels, motels, and cellular providers. This advanced technology reduces the load on service providers' customer service departments as it allows for the self-servicing of user accounts for resource intensive tasks such as accounting and billing.

UniPress Extends Help Desk Management To Palm VII
UniPress Software announced that FootPrints, the company's Web-based issue tracking and help desk solution, now supports fully integrated, two-way communication with the Palm VII series handheld computers using the Palm.Net service and other wireless-enabled Palm handhelds, extending the reach of FootPrints beyond the desktop browser to the wireless Web. Organizations can utilize FootPrints to expand help desks into online support centers and improve project workflow for a broad range of CRM, development, consulting, and sales activities. FootPrints runs on Windows NT/2000, Linux, and Unix Web servers.

TNT Goes WAP
TNT has entered the world of wireless technology with the launch of its new WAP tracking facility at http://wap.tnt.com. The new facility enables any customer with a wireless device or WAP-enabled mobile phone to track their international consignments, anytime and anywhere. Customers can now instantly check both the status (in transit or arrived) and location of their international consignment using either a TNT consignment number or their own tracking reference. In addition, customers can also view the date and time of the pick-up or delivery, and the person who signed for the shipment. The tracking facility is available in any country, with telecommunications networks supporting the WAP standard.

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