WAP is easy – but gadget geeks only need apply

These people know how to write a press release - make it short, make it punchy, and get your news point established in the first par. Even if it is trivial. In recognition of this fine piece of opportunism, we are publishing this in full, with a couple of minor changes, for style. PR companies take note...

WAP Geographical Search Engine Launched in the UK

Developers and marketing staff at Somewhere Near are bemused by the hype surrounding WAP. Lead developer and MD of GBdirect Mike Banahan said: "I don't know why WAP and WML have stirred up such a fuss in the technical community. There's simply nothing difficult or challenging about them."

For those who are interested, Banahan has written a briefing on how the site was WAP-enabled, using the server-side scripting language PHP. Dave Fisher, head of business development, said: "Our WAP service is entirely functional, but the basic deficiencies of the current technology (ie. tiny screens and miniscule bandwidth) make it extremely unlikely that anyone but the telcos will make money out of it. In the short term it's nothing but a fad for gadget-geeks. In the long run, it may provide useful lessons for those of us developing services for third generation (3G) mobile telephony." ®

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