The Harm of the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
The Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is a disaster waiting to
happen. First, the WAP protocols are booby-trapped
with patents. Patent
infringement claims have already been made by the holders of the
following two patents, and more claims can almost certainly be
expected in the future:
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U.S. Patent # 5,327,529 - Geoworks, Berkeley,
Calif.. Process of designing user's interfaces for
application programs.
Local Copies:
(PDF)
(PS)
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U.S. Patent # 5,809,415 - Unwired Planet, Inc., Redwood
Shores, Calif.. Method and architecture for an interactive
two-way data communication network.
Local Copies:
(PDF-Part
1)
(PDF-Part
2)
(PS-Part 1)
(PS-Part 2)
In addition, the WAP protocols are ill-conceived, closed, and
poorly-designed. The following documents provide a detailed
discussion and analysis of WAP:
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The WAP Trap, Mohsen Banan,
Neda Communications, Inc., January 29, 2000
(ONE-HTML)
(SPLIT-HTML)
(PDF)
(PS)
(Text Only)
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WAP - The Patent Problem, Mohsen Banan,
Neda Communications, Inc., May 3, 2000
(HTML)
(PDF)
(PS)
(Text Only)
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LEAP: One Alternative to WAP, Mohsen Banan,
Neda Communications, Inc., February 7, 2000
(HTML)
(PDF)
(PS)
(Text Only)
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W* Effect Considered Harmful, Rohit Khare, 4K
Associates, April 9, 1999.
Original:
(Full
Version)
(Short
Version)
Local Copies: (Full
Version)
(Short
Version)
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Attacks Against The WAP WTLS Protocol, Markku-Juhani
Saarinen, University of Jyväskylä, 1999.
Original:
(PDF)
(PS)
Local Copies: (PDF)
(PS)
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Underwhelmed by WAP - Impressions from the coalface, Mike Banahan, May 27, 2000.
Original:
(HTML)
Local Copies: (HTML)
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WAP Lash, Meg McGinity, Inter@ctive Week, July 28, 2000.
Original:
(HTML)
Local Copies: (HTML)
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WAP 2.0: Mature Enough for Flight?, Keri Schreiner, IEEE
Internet Computing, November-December, 2000.
Original:
(HTML)
Local Copies: (PDF)
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Revision: 1.2 -- Last Updated: 2000/03/23 19:40:52