Overview
As users of cellular phones and other wireless devices increasingly rely on WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) applications to surf the web for information, there is a growing need for systems to organize, manage, and host these applications.
WAP hosting is a new realm of activity in HRL. It encompasses the development of the software and hardware needed to organize and manage WAP applications on a WAP server. We are currently in the process of studying the WAP arena, and have identified several potential areas of involvement, including:
- Profiling/Personalization
Providing efficient WAP access to personal and/or corporate information, such as company news or personal calendars. - Wireless Application Testing
Developing application testing facilities for various GSM providers and handsets. Because of the wide range of manufacturers and providers operating in the cellular market, testing is crucial to ensure that WAP applications display properly on all devices. - Billing
Creating a billing infrastructure for WAP services based on existing billing systems and standards (such as GSM and those used by telcos). - Payments
Developing a mobile payment service that supports a wireless payment infrastructure. For example, users could purchase canned drinks from a machine, using their cellular phones instead of coins. - Content Distribution
Enabling roaming users to receive content efficiently, by means of high performance content distribution to locations close to the users. For example, a company could put its directory on servers in different countries, giving employees on the road faster access to company phone numbers. - Wireless Security
Developing end-to-end transaction security and data privacy.