Espoo, FINLAND-Nokia Corp., L.M. Ericsson, Motorola Inc. and Unwired Planet Inc. will work together to define a common protocol for wireless data technologies. The initial proposal to consolidate the technologies was presented at the Mobile Data Initiative earlier this year in Munich.
The purpose of the Wireless Application Protocol is to expand the use of wireless data by providing a de facto platform for developing new value-added services. Applications will include management of personal telephone profiles, handling of voice, fax and e-mail; information services such as taxi, restaurants, hotels, stock trading, banking and directory services; Internet services and improved interface to existing services and the addition of more advanced telephony related services.
The final goal is to produce a refined, license-free protocol that is independent of the underlying airlink standard, said Ericsson. The protocol will get its main characteristics and functionality from Handheld Device Mark-up Language and Handheld Device Transport Protocol developed by Unwired Planet, Smart Messaging developed by Nokia and the Intelligent Terminal Transfer Protocol specification developed by Ericsson.
“Our aim is to get a base for a common protocol that the market can comprehend as future-proof,” said Reijo Paajanen, senior vice president for wireless data at Nokia Mobile Phones. “Also, the protocol will be backwards compatible and therefore able to support both existing and future products.”
