Understanding Wap : Wireless Applications, Devices, and Services (Artech House Telecommunications Library) (Hardcover)

by Marcel van der Heijden (Editor), Marcus Taylor (Author) "Today, the wireless network is mainly used for voice communication, where voice mail might be the most popular value-added service, if any..." (more)
Key Phrases: push proxy gateway, call indication event, push initiator, United Kingdom, Lookup Figure, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This text examines all aspects of Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), particularly the hands-on development of WAP applications - an important area with regard to the success of WAP in the consumer marketplace. The book explains both the technical details behind WAP as well as the critical business issues related to its implementation.

About the Author
Dr. Marcel van der Heijden is manager benelux with Digital Mobility Ltd. Formerly, he was involved in WAP development at Dynamical Systems Research Ltd. He received his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Groningen. Marcus Taylor is director of products and services at Digital Mobility Ltd. He received his MBA from Boston University, and a B.Sc. in Ergonomics from Loughborough University (UK).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Artech House Publishers (June 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580530931
• ISBN-13: 978-1580530934
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,471,289 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A mediocre book covering a wide-open topic, August 17, 2000

By A Customer

The biggest problem with this book is that it's not clear who the book is written for. I was looking for an understanding of the WAP architecture; I only found a little discussion of that. The book does tend to assume an intimate knowledge of Internet application development: HTTP, HTML, etc. For those of use who don't have that it was a bit confusing. On the other hand, I suspect that experienced developers will find only a little bit of new information in this book; they're probably better off finding the WAP Forum website and downloading the specifications.

The writing is uneven (each chapter is from a different author), and it is very Euro-centric (lots of discussion of GSM and SIM cards).

Highlights/lowlights:

Ch 2 - Wireless Application Environment - Much of this chapter was almost incomprehensible to me (I'm an engineer, but not a software developer). Assumes knowledge of HTML.

Ch 3 - Designing Effective User Interfaces - superficial coverage of a topic that only a few will care about

Ch 4 - WTA - Wireless Telephony Application - Finally, a little description of the WAP architecture.

Ch 5 - WAP Gateways - Nice overview of the high-level WAP architecture.

Ch 7 - WAP Security - Very well written chapter that gives a nice overview of security issues. Promises the "WTLS protocol in detail" in 2 pages - that's hard to do, but this is not a bad attempt. This chapter could be expanded into an entire book pretty easily.

Ch 8 - WAP for Operators - Strategy discussion - nothing earth-shattering.

Ch 10 - Mobile Financial Services - Superficial coverage.

Summary: WAP technology is still immature, so it's unrealistic to expect a comprehensive treatment. However, this book would be better if it were more focused and/or more tutorial in nature. There are some good nuggets of information in the book, and it's an easy read, but I'm glad I bought it with my employer's money.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great technology book, August 10, 2000

By	"fernandog" (Ramos Mejia, Buenos Aires Argentina) - See all my reviews

This is a really good book, it's well written and covers WAP depth enough to satisfy your needs, but, who is this book for?, it's for everyone who need to know what is WAP, it's not for a developer wishing to learn WML, in fact it does not cover WML in depth, it only shows it as an element of the WAP technology (as it does with WTA and Push Services).
This books covers everything about WAP but for moments more from a commercial perpective than a technical one.
As a developer I found a lot of answers, but some chapters where not of my interest (the WTLS chapter is really good, but the chapter on user interface design was a little boring).

Overall it's an excellent book to get in touch with the technology.

8 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Information you need, July 12, 2000

By	Gabriel Persson (Helsingborg, Sweden) - See all my reviews

After reading this book a new world reviled itself to me. WAP is something that's new and someting that is here to stay. If you want to learn someting about WAP... than read this book!