The WAP is wireless Internet access to interactive services allowing you to consult and exchange data in real time from a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone,a pocket pager or a PDA.
The WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) is a communication standard enabling mobile real-time interactive data exchange.

How to access the WAP ?

To access WAP services, you must use a mobile phone that is WAP-compatible most mobile phones on the market today have WAP functions) and a   subscription   to a mobile phone operator* (such as Vodafone). If you already have a subscription,   all you have to do is change your phone. Otherwise, you can buy a WAP kit including   a WAP-adapted phone and a subscription.

What is the outlook for the WAP?

For the moment, the WAP is available on the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) from your mobile phone. This year, the WAP will use the GPRS (General Packet Radio System) network to enable ongoing Internet connection. You will no longer be billed for the total amount of communication time, but for the total amount of data transmitted. Communication costs will be reduced, and the services on offer will make WAP use more comfortable. The GPRS is an &intermediate   standard between the GSM standard and the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephone System) standard which will entail replacing mobile terminals by devices adapted to &the GPRS standard.

And in the future… The UMTS will replace the GPRS transmission standard, offering   greater data transmission capacity and speed to send heavier files such as images and video.

About PDAs

A PDA Personal Data Assistant) is a pocket computer (Palm Pilot, Psion, Pocket   PC, Handspring, etc.) midway between a laptop and an electronic organiser. The   WAP standard operates on a PDA using an infrared link from a mobile phone to a   PDA. Today, some PDAs can have online access to the Mobile Internet without going   through a link to another device (Sagem).

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