¶ … particularly topical instance, lets say the internet or the SMS service that everybody is abundantly using these days. There are different shades of technology that color this kind of communication between two communicating devices like the cell phones. Following are the three main types of platforms for this technology and their suitability with the consumers: Wireless Access Protocol, General Packet Radio Service, and the third generation Universal Mobile Telecommunication System. The acronym WAP stands for Wireless Access Protocol. This simply means that it is through WAP the wireless devices communicate. A lot of different types of data can be sent via a WAP. One of the main uses of WAP is in cellular phones and the exchange of data being voice or short messages. WAP is technically compatible with most of the GSM services and clients. There can be either a dedicated WAP server or a traditional web server to 'power' the WAP. All these components must communicate with one another, as WAP itself is only a protocol.

A free, unlicensed protocol for wireless communications that makes it possible to create advanced telecommunications services and to access Internet pages from a mobile telephone. Wireless application protocol is a de facto industry standard supported by a large number of suppliers. WAP supports most wireless network standards including CDMA, GSM, PDC, PHS, TDMA, FLEX, DECT, and Mobitex, as well as operating systems like EPOC. WAP devices understand the WML language (an XML application) that is optimized for small screens and navigation...

WAP also supports WMLScript scripting language. (Ericsson)
The server side of a service works in much the same way as a standard web service. The web server is connected to either a local or remote gateway using TCP/IP and UDP connections. Most commonly this would be via permanently connected leased lines, though under exceptional circumstances this could be via digital or analogue dial-up lines. In the case of a dedicated WAP server, no gateway is required. This is made available on the internet, again using standard web technology (IP address, domain name resolving services and the like). (DSC)

Another technology that involves the connection between two hand held sets of mechanism is GPRS, which is short for General Packet Radio Service. GPRS is an enhancement to GSM and is also very technically compatible. It utilizes packet switching technology, which means that information is transmitted in short bursts of data over an IP-based network. Standardized by ETSI in December 1997, GPRS products are currently under development by GSM equipment vendors. GPRS is a large, complex system that merges cellular telephone radio transmission technology and Internet information delivery protocols. Initial implementations of GPRS operated within the framework of present GSM technology.

Quick session setups and fast data transmission speeds gives GPRS a sound place. It is a packet-linked technology that enables high-speed (115 kilobit per second) wireless Internet and other data communications. GPRS offers a tenfold increase…