It won’t be too long before you can e-shop or order an ice-cream that will reach your door-step before melting even in this sultry weather. The mouse is passe and a mobile phone is set to ring in technology next.

Accessing your favourite stock market website and BBC and CNN is also just a ring away. Thanks to the latest Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) technology which is now available in the city, techno-savvy Ahmedavadis are set to be swept off their feet. The latest technology is here in the market for all of you to access the Net from the mobile phones in your pocket.

For all you ardent cricket fans, scores are also just a dial away. The main purpose of WAP is to act as a gateway product, allowing easy transfer of information between mobile network and other information systems which have traditionally been seen separately.

The WAP introduces the new possibility of interactive on-demand information service provision wherever the subscriber has an access to the mobile phone. A host of information on a wide variety of media including newspapers, television, teletext and the omnipresent Internet can be tapped into.

The WAP gateway/proxy is a product which connects both the mobile network and Internet facilities allowing the end-user to retrieve information from the Internet and displays this information on their mobile handset.

A WAP application runs on an internet/intranet server and provides Internet facilities to a mobile subscriber using a WAP enabled mobile hand-set typical applications include weather reports, banking services, e-mail, timetables, phone directory, stock market information and even news access.

However, because of limitations in display size and CPU capacity of the mobile handset, the entire quantum of information cannot be accessed from the WAP.

This service is being brought to the mobile users of Gujarat by Birla AT&T. The subscribers will be required to possess a WAP enabled handset and have a subscription from the company.

Vikas Gupta, Incharge Customer Care, Birla AT&T says, "We have not opted for hard-sell techniques for the service. As of now we are aiming at creating awareness among potential users." However Gupta says, "The initial response has been lukewarm. There have been no queries from people." But the techno-savvy come straight and ask for WAP activation in the WAP enabled handset, he says.

Elaborating, Gupta says, "We have a server in Gandhinagar and after dialing a number one gets connected to the server which in turn connects to the site which the end user has selected."

Initially, the company is offering free activation of the service till July 31. But later it will cost Rs 900 which is a one-time activation fee and Rs 50 as the monthly feature fee. Gupta adds, "We have not yet finalised the airtime charges. That is what most of the people enquire about."

Republished from Express India