Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) Forum Expands Membership

Strategic Insights -

The Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) Forum has added seven new international technology companies to its membership, further demonstrating the industry's support for the wireless application protocol standard for Internet communications on wireless devices. The new members include Hewlett-Packard Company, Oracle Corporation, Toshiba Corporation, Bussan Systems Integration Company, Tokyo Digital Phone, Glenayre Technologies Inc., and One 2 One. These companies joined the existing 71 members at the Forum's meeting in Kyoto, Japan, to specify industry-wide plans for releasing WAP-enabled services and applications during 1999.

Key Takeaways:

  • The WAP Forum has added seven new international technology companies to its membership, including Hewlett-Packard Company, Oracle Corporation, Toshiba Corporation, Bussan Systems Integration Company, Tokyo Digital Phone, Glenayre Technologies Inc., and One 2 One.
  • The new members join the existing 71 members to specify industry-wide plans for releasing WAP-enabled services and applications during 1999.
  • The Forum's membership has grown to 78, with widespread representation and support from all sectors of the telecommunications industry.
  • WAP Forum has delivered Wireless Application Protocol V1.0, a set of standard protocols designed to run on top of the Internet IP protocol and other wireless network bearers.
  • WAP V1.0 is a major step in building the wireless Internet, allowing people-on-the-go to access the Internet through their wireless devices to get information such as e-mails, news headlines, stock reports, map directions, and sports scores.
  • WAP provides a single industry-standard mechanism for wireless application interoperability and a standard XML-compliant markup language called WML (Wireless Markup Language).
  • WML will accelerate market growth by providing a clear path for application developers, capitalizing on the extremely large market penetration of mobile devices.

Statistics:

  • 78WAP Forum members as of 1999
  • 71 existing WAP Forum members as of the meeting in Kyoto, Japan
  • 10's of millions of WAP-browser-enabled products expected to be in consumer hands by the end of 2000
  • 75% of the world market in handset manufacturers that have committed to shipping WAP-enabled devices
  • 100 million subscribers worldwide represented by carrier members of the WAP Forum

Sources:

  • "WAP Forum Expands Membership" article dated Jan. 20, 1999
  • Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) Forum website at www.wapforum.org
  • Hewlett-Packard Company website at www.hp.com
  • Oracle Corporation website at www.oracle.com
  • Toshiba Corporation website at www.toshiba.com
  • Bussan Systems Integration Company website at www.bussan.co.jp
  • Tokyo Digital Phone website at www.tokyodigitalphone.com
  • Glenayre Technologies Inc. website at www.glenayre.com
  • One 2 One website at www.one2one.co.uk
  • WIRELESS '99, the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association's (CTIA) 14th annual convention and exposition in New Orleans, Louisiana.