|
|
Palm/Cell
Phone Communications
(Part 5 - Setting up WAP on your Palm) |
If you don't have Javascript
enabled, there are HTML links at the very bottom of every page.
This page shows you how to set up WAP (Wireless
Application Protocol) on your
Palm device and offers you a series of handy links and FREE WAP browser downloads.
! |
Note
1: You MUST have visited this page and
configured your Palm and Cell Phone before you follow the instructions on this page -
otherwise the steps mentioned here may not work!
Note 2: Remember, before
you do any of this, make sure you have arranged with your service provider for *data* transfer on your cell phone account (some
carriers just activate voice transfer) |
! |
|
A. What is WAP?
With a WAP (Wireless Application
Protocol) enabled cell phone you can access sites on the Internet and view them on your
cell phone screen.
These sites render in a much smaller 'format'
and existing cell phones require you to browse and enter data using your
phone's keys - which is quite a slow means of looking at/entering information.
With a Palm device and a cell phone providing an Internet connection,
you can view WAP sites on your Palm and browse and enter data using your stylus.
WAP sites have to be written in the WAP
'code'.
They are very small in size and offer information on an array of topics from
share prices, to weather reports to booking movie tickets. Phones like the Nokia
7110 (at left - note large screen) have this function built in.
You can even access your POP3 mail accounts via WAP.
WAP has used the WWW model of client-server
interaction between a WAP Browser (just like Netscape or Explorer) and server based
applications.
WAP services can reside on any Web server, either on a corporate LAN or on the
Internet. WAP applications can be written and controlled by the network
operator or supplied by any third party content provider.
By allowing content providers to write their own applications, network operators
will be able to offer subscribers a much wider range of services:
• Unified Messaging applications, access
to voice mail, e-mail and fax mail
• Information services like stock quotes, restaurants, cinemas etc • Reservation
services
• News services
• E-commerce and bank applications (e.g. Commonwealth Bank/Telstra in Australia) |
I'm going to show you how to
enjoy all of this
functionality without having to purchase a new
(expensive) WAP-enabled cell-phone by taking you
through how to do all of this stuff on your
Palm device.
Return
to 'WAP On Your Palm' (top of screen)
 
B. Why would you want WAP on your Palm?
WAP browsers are designed to use the WAP protocol (obviously) which we talked about above.
This enables you to take better advantage of limited wireless bandwidth
(and the fact that you may be connecting your Palm and Cell Phone by infra red).
Basically, WAP sites you access are smaller in size and have little (if any)
graphics or special animated whizbangs...so its all faster
(supposedly).
Return
to 'WAP On Your Palm' (top of screen)
C. What Do You Need?
You will need whatever modem /
IR Cell phone hardware you have set up
to connect your ISP, which I take you through in the
pages beginning here.
(check you have the necessary hardware and you have followed
Doctor Salami's 10-step process to setting up a Palm wireless Internet connection)
You also need a WAP browser
for a Palm device.
Get an excellent FREE
one from here and then come back to this page.
|
The link
takes you to the AU-System Demo WAP Browser for Palm OS. Please note that you will be rerouted through an
AU-System information site the first time you access WAP content. Also note that the Test
Browser is supplied 'as is' without any warranty, support or guarantees and AU-System
cannot assume any responsibility whatsoever in connection with its use.
System Requirements
• Palm Pilot IIIx, Palm Pilot V or Palm
Pilot Vx.
• Palm OS 3.3
• Mobile phone with IR port that fully supports IrDA or a Palm modem
Note the browser does not work on a Palm Pilot III.
BUT WAIT! Rob van Vliet tells me:
"You might me interested to know that the wapbrowser (v1.5) runs perfectly on my Palm
III with 8 Mb TRG memory and OS 3.5 The reason for this is probably that OS 3.5 allocates
heap memory relative to memory size." Thanks, Rob - DS
|
Other WAP Browser Options
Get WAPMan
from this site http://www.wap.com.sg/
- you can also admire what I think are the pretty colours.
Check under the 'downloads' section. Ahhh, screw it: here's the direct link - http://www.wap.com.sg/downloads/
Also admire the choice marketing puffery, for, you see,
WAPMan is "Functioning as a mobile commerce and lifestyle
portal."
Return
to 'WAP On Your Palm' (top of screen)
D. NOW GET WAPPY!
Go here http://www.wapmore.com/ and get
your own Home Page (WAP protocol) for your Palm.
Visit wu wu wu Doctor
Salami dot WAP!
at http://www.wapmore.com/DoctorSalami.wap
on your WAP-enabled Palm or cell phone!
Just like this one...
Run a search for other WAP
sites...you'll find plenty.
Here's another: http://www.wapwardlymobile.com/
Try the DVD News WAP site at http://wap.dvdnews.co.uk
www.gelon.net for more links.
And try www.awesome-gti.co.uk/wap/index.wml
www.wapfreak.cjb.net
...has a list of selected British-oriented sites, including those to WAP
games, entertainment, sports sites, etc
Return
to 'WAP On Your Palm' (top of screen)
E. Learn more about WAP
If you really, really want to
get into this, go to Amazon.com and run a search on 'WAP'
...there are several books on WAP coding and stuff like that.
Good ones are:
 |
Understanding WAP : Wireless Applications, Devices, and Services 5 Star customer
rating at Amazon.com
Learn all the basics of how the Wireless
Application Protocol is able to deliver Internet-based services to all types of mobile
devices with this comprehensive new resource. It examines every aspect of WAP, helping you
with hands-on development of WAP applications, an area critical to the success of WAP in
the consumer marketplace. You learn the technical details behind this new protocol and the
critical business issues related to its implementation. |
 |
Professional WAP Average 5 Star customer
rating at Amazon.com
Professional WAP gives a broad overview
of WAP and associated technologies - what it is, why it's useful and how to take the best
advantage of it. It covers the WAP architecture and protocols, what WAP tools and servers
are available for developers today and how to WAP-enable your web server. Practical
examples will show you how to make content and services available over WAP using WML Decks
and WMLScript. More advanced topics include administration, transactions, security, and
integration of telephony with internet services (WTA). |
|
Beginning Wap : Wml and Wmlscript
|
Search for WAP topics at the
About.com Wireless Industry Site
Return
to 'WAP On Your Palm' (top of screen)
 
|
There
are over 150 customer reviews on the Palm V and Palm Vx at Amazon.com.
If you're 'umming' and 'ahhing' over purchasing a Palm unit, consider reading
them...
The Good Doctor Salami found these of great worth when framing his Palm device
purchase decision.
You'll also find similar guidance on the Palm IIIxe. And the NEW Palm IIIc (color Palm)
Also check out the Links page of
wu wu wu Doctor
Salami dot com for more Palm-oriented links. |
Highly Recommended Palm
Reading (ha!) as selected by Doctor Salami
The book title links take you
to Amazon.com: read other customer reviews.
Doctor Salami commends these books to you if you are looking for good
texts on the Palm range of Personal Digital Assistants (PDA's)
Tell others about
Doctor Salami's Palm Pages
![[Tracked by Hitmatic]](http://www.hitmatic.com/h4/h4.cgi?user=10407&page=WAP)
| |
Going to Australia for the
2000 Olympic Games?
Get
Lonely Planet CitySync (Sydney)
the home town of Doctor Salami!
|
