Page 22 - DCAP512_WAP_AND_WML

WAP & WML

Notes Add to that the fact that the WML specification allows for a range of interpretations of elements
and functions, so even browsers that are 100% WML-compliant may have significant differences
in their implementation of the standard.
Most WAP-enabled devices use the recently renamed Openwave Mobile Browser (formerly
called UP.Browser) developed by Openwave (at one time called Unwired Planet, thus “UP”).

Notes Not surprisingly, Microsoft has thrown its hat into the wireless ring with its browser,
Microsoft Mobile Explorer for cell phones. MME is a dual-mode browser, supporting both
WML and HTML content.

WAP micro browsers are small software that displays information written in a special mark-up
language called wireless markup language (WML) on the internet. WAP micro browsers is a
kind of web browsers, which is also known as mini browsers and mobile browsers. This designed
for handled devices such as PDAs and cellular phones. WAP micro browsers are optimized to
display internet content most effectively on small display screen with the help of low speed
processor. Micro browsers contains small first their require low memory space on wireless
handled devices. The earlier versions of WAP micro browsers were having only essential and
minimal features of web browsers but now some WAP micro browsers are developed that can
handle latest technologies such as CSS 2.1 .

2.1.1 WAP Micro Browsers Technologies

The WAP micro browsers set up the cellular networks and gets content that are written in
XHTML language, also known as WAP 2.0 and WML also known as WAP 1.3, which was based
on HDML. WML and HDML are suitable formats for transmission of data across wireless
connection with low bandwidth. WAP 2.0 specifies XHTML language and WAP CSS, which are
the subsets of the World Wide Web consortium standard. The W3C standard is the forum for
information, commerce, communication and collective understanding. W3C developer’s
technology method standards and guidelines for developing software and tools that run on any
operating system.

2.1.2 Types of WAP Micro Browsers

After the establishment of WAP standards, development of different supporting software for
WAP devices such as WAP operating system and WAP micro browsers took place. Following
are the different types of WAP micro browsers:
Hitchhiker

Hitchhiker was developed to present the entire device use interface (UI). STNC Ltd. Hitchhiker
is believed to be first WAP micro browser that deals with HTML and WAP along with WML
script, Post Office Protocol (POP3). POP3 protocol is used to retrieve e-mail from a mail server,
Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) mail and EcmaScript from a single client.

Microsoft Mobile Explorer

Now Hitchhiker became Microsoft Mobile Explorer 2.0. Mobile Explorer 2.0 was available on
the Sony CMD-Z5, CMD-J5 etc. Mobile Explorer 3.0, the advanced version of Microsoft Mobile
Explorer 2.0 was released that includes iMode compatibility and several schemes.

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