Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia and Unwired Planet Launch Wireless Application Protocol Forum Ltd.

A new company, Wireless Application Protocol Forum Ltd., has been established by Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia and Unwired Planet. This non-profit company will administer the worldwide WAP specification process and facilitate new companies contributing to WAP specification work.

The Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is targeted to bring Internet content and advanced services to digital cellular phones and other wireless terminals. WAP Forum aims to create a global wireless protocol specification that works across differing wireless network technology types, for adoption by appropriate industry standards bodies. Applications using WAP will be scaleable across a variety of transport options and device types. A common standard offers potential economies of scale, encouraging cellular phone and other device manufacturers to invest in developing compatible products. Cellular and other wireless network carriers and content providers will be able to develop new differentiated service offerings as a way to attract new subscribers. Consumers will benefit through more and varied choices in mobile communications applications, advanced services and Internet access.

In addition to the four founding partners, new members are now welcome to join WAP Forum. Members may contribute to the current specification work, participate in driving the continuing evolution of WAP and nominate and elect additional directors to the board of WAP Forum. In order to become members of WAP Forum, interested companies need to apply to join.

Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia and Unwired Planet introduced the architecture of the Wireless Application Protocol for public review and comments on September 15, 1997. Building on this, the various WAP technical working groups have been working intensively over the last few months and will make the first complete draft of the detailed specifications available for review by new members before the end of January 1998.