Mobile phone makers embrace wireless Net standard

The GSM Association, a representative body of mobile telephone network operators announced Wednesday a new wireless industry standard, the Mobile Services Initiative (M-Services), in an attempt to avoid past industry mistakes concerning the mobile Internet, most notably WAP (Wireless Application Protocol).

The aim of the M-Services is to set out clear and open guidelines for services based on GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), the GSM said in a statement.

Whereas WAP was quickly and widely adapted by the mobile phone industry, consumers mainly due to its lack of speed and its cumbersome implementation quickly rejected it. For example, in May, market research and consulting company Meta Group Inc. conducted 15 informal surveys of between 50 and 100 users of WAP-enabled phones, discovering that 80 percent to 90 percent of corporate users surveyed quit using the data capabilities, and use the phones for voice communications only.

The GSM is hoping that by setting the standards, the industry as a whole will be able to bring GPRS users consistently available services services, such as graphics, music, video and games that are readily available and easy to use, the association said.

Companies that have already come out in support of the M-Services initiative include France T

Would you recommend this article?

Share

Thanks for taking the time to let us know what you think of this article!
We'd love to hear your opinion about this or any other story you read in our publication.


Jim Love, Chief Content Officer, IT World Canada

Featured Download

Featured Articles

Cybersecurity in 2024: Priorities and challenges for Canadian organizations 

By Derek Manky As predictions for 2024 point to the continued expansion...

Survey shows generative AI is a top priority for Canadian corporate leaders.

Leaders are devoting significant budget to generative AI for 2024 Canadian corporate...

Related Tech News

Tech Jobs

Our experienced team of journalists and bloggers bring you engaging in-depth interviews, videos and content targeted to IT professionals and line-of-business executives.

Tech Companies Hiring Right Now