On a WAP phone near you Solomon S. Emanuel 5.26.2000 Computerworld Pundits of the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) see the technology as being the next big booster for Internet-based electronic-commerce. However, the road to widespread WAP adoption is laden with a number of hurdles along the way. WAP is an open, global specification designed to empower users of mobile phones and other wireless devices to easily access and interact with Internet-based information and services instantly by bringing the Web and wireless technology together. Comprising over 200 members, the WAP Forum which includes Nokia, Ericsson and Motorola among its founding members, is responsible for defining and promoting the WAP standard. The most obvious Imitations of WAP phones relate to the small size of handphones. Even though displays on WAP phones are larger than those on ordinary mobile phones, their screen size is still limited to about 100 by 100 pixels. This means that for WAP developers who want to provide a lot of everything in. Furthermore, the functionality of mobile phones is limited by cramped keypads, slower processors and less memory than the more powerful laptop or desktop PCs. On the hardware side, there is a shortage of WAP-enabled phones, according to International Data Corporation (IDC). Also, the “chicken and egg” issue in WAP technology is that demand is slow as users wait for more WAP applications to come onboard before adopting the technology, but vendors and service providers need more users to be encouraged to provide new applications. However, the small number of entrants among WAP developers does provide a big advantage to the early WAP service and content providers. As Tan Meng Wee, president, Orange Gum, says about operators of the many Internet sites that do not provide mobile device access: “Everybody [among them] needs to shout for attention.” Orange Gum’s Kungfu Boy at www.kungfuboy.com is a Web-based online multi-user game in a virtual arena that deploys a virtual tournament engine. Users can play the game on various computer platforms as well as WAP-compatible handphones through WAP services of MobileOne Asia and StarHub. There is also an online store where players can use WAP to purchase Kungfu Boy merchandise. The Internet has pampered users into expecting nearly everything online for free. On the other hand, when it comes to mobile phone use, people expect little or nothing for free, which is another good reason for people to want to start WAP-based services. But this comes with a caveat. Operators have to give users good service. For the future, WAP observers expect to see location-specific applications that take advantage of the Global Positioning System (GPS). One scenario is that as you walk down Orchard Road with you WAP phone, and if there is a special in the vicinity on a type of product of product that you're accustomed to buying, you would get a message telling you about it. While such a convergence of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and mobile Internet would benefit retailers, give new meaning to "impulse buying", and I might enjoy some good discounts, I'd rather spend more as the premium for my privacy.