The world of technology is a whirlwind of acronyms. HTML, DHTML, XHTML, and now, WAP and WML. But what are these new players in the tech world, and why should you care? WAP, or Wireless Application Protocol, is a technology that allows users to access the internet using wireless devices like mobile phones. By 2002, it's predicted that there will be over 800 million wireless users worldwide, and all wireless devices will come standard with WAP. This means a vast potential audience for your website, but there's a catch: these wireless users won't be able to access your HTML-based site. Their devices can only read sites built in WML, or Wireless Markup Language. If you want to reach this mobile audience, you'll need to create a WML version of your site. Fortunately, learning WML is not difficult, and there are many resources available online to help you master this new technology.
WAP and WML are two acronyms that are becoming increasingly important in the world of technology. WAP, or Wireless Application Protocol, is a technology that allows users to access the internet using wireless devices like mobile phones. WML, or Wireless Markup Language, is the language that these devices use to read websites. If you want your website to be accessible to the growing number of wireless users, you'll need to create a WML version of your site.
Fortunately, learning WML is not as daunting as it might seem. There are many resources available online that can help you understand this new technology. Some of the best include:
Once you've learned the basics of WML, you can start building your WAP site. There are several tools available to help you with this process, including free software and online editors. Some options include:
Once you've built your WAP site, you'll need to find a host. Some options include:
Remember, the viewing area on a mobile device is much smaller than that of a computer monitor, so you'll need to be concise. Plan for about 10 text lines per WAP "card" (instead of "page"). Due to slow transmission speeds (typically 14.4 to 19.6 Kbps), you'll need to keep text and graphics to a minimum.
Wireless phones use "microbrowsers" to surf the web, so you'll need to ensure your web cards in WML look good on a wireless device. If you don't have a wireless device to test on, you can use The Wapalizer to view any WAP site using your regular browser.
WAP and WML are two technologies that go hand in hand. If you currently have an HTML site, consider creating a WML version to reach a whole new audience: the mobile one. After all, we're a society on the move, and it's important to keep up with the times.
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