Telstra Launches WAP Service Using Phone.com Server

Australia-based Telstra has announced the commercial launch of Telstra.com, a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)-based service that delivers e-mail, news, and financial services to mobile phone operators. To provide these services, the wireless network operator has signed a contract with Phone.com, under which Telstra is using Phone.com's WAP-compatible UP.Link server suite.

Phone.com's UP.Link software platform enables web browser-equipped digital mobile phones to access Internet- and intranet-based services. Mobile phone manufacturers can embed UP.Browser in mobile phones and carriers can install the UP.Link server suite in their networks to allow subscribers to access e-mail and new and existing services being implemented on Internet and intranet web sites.

UP.Link server can deliver wireless markup language (WML) 1.1 content to any WAP 1.1-compliant handset, as well as existing UP.Browser-enabled handsets. In addition, the server can deliver HDML content to handsets equipped with a browser.

The UP.Link server includes support for a local application environment in handsets as well as support for a web message service. The web message service allows network operators to deliver simple Web content to short-message service (SMS) handsets.

Follow-on Agreement
Today's announcement comes just over a year after Telstra and Phone.com (then called Unwired Planet) announced a field trial of WAP-based services. During that field trial, Telstra tested Phone.com's wireless Internet technology on its GSM network. Specifically, Telstra used the UP.Link server suite to deliver WAP-based Internet services to its mobile customers.

After a year of trials, Telstra is now moving its WAP efforts forward. The company is now rolling out WAP functionality using the UP.Link server. Mobile users can access these services using a phone equipped with Phone.com's UP.Browser microbrowser.

Edited by Robert Keenan