Inside WAP: Programming Applications with WML and WMLScript - Softcover

Niskanen, Pekka

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0201725916 ISBN 13: 9780201725919

Publisher: Addison-Wesley, 2000

Synopsis

(Pearson Education) A beginner's guide to Wireless Application Protocol. Explains the basics of WAP programming, how to write programs, explains all WAPScript commands and libraries, the basics of CGI programming and Java Servlets, and the Nokia WAP server. The CD-ROM features all of the code for the examples in the text, plus a Nokia WAP toolkit, and other tools. Softcover.

About this title

About the Author

Pekka Niskanen achieved his MSc in Computer Science in record time and has since operated as a researcher and lecturer in the Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics at the University of Kuopio in Finland. He currently works as WAP specialist for software solutions company Acta Systems Ltd.

Jukka Heiska of Nokia acted as technical adviser on the book.

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From the Back Cover

A complete self-study package for WAP programming

The Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is an open, global specification that gives mobile users with wireless devices the power to access and interact with information and services instantly. The rapid acceptance of this technology has opened up unprecedented opportunities for developers to use their existing internet-based skills to create and deploy a new generation of wireless applications.

Inside WAP is a clear and simple guide and reference to programming with WAP, using a wealth of illustrated examples to help readers visualize the development process and lay a solid foundation for their own applications.

Inside WAP explains:

The basics of WAP programming
The essential information about the architecture and protocols - no more than you need to know to start programming.

WML
How to write programs with the WML formatting language - this forms the basis for simple WAP services, as well as for more sophisticated applications. Learning WML is straightforward if you already have some knowledge of HTML.

WMLScript
A walk through all WMLScript commands and libraries, enabling you to create short WAP applications. WMLScript adds dynamic and interactive elements to your WAP documents.

CGI Programming
The basics of server side CGI programming, including some WAP-CGI solutions for a company intranet. CGI can be used to create versatile and impressive applications for mobile devices.

Java Servlets
Servlet programming, Java basics , and how to install servlets on WWW and WAP servers.

The Nokia WAP Server
A complete server for WAP content and applications, or a WAP-compliant gateway, allowing WAP devices to communicate with content servers. This section also describes how to transfer WAP documents to a server and how to publish them.

CD image
Every example in this book has been tested on a Nokia 7110 phone, an Ericsson MC218 palmtop, the Phone.com UP.SDK 3.2 emulator and the Nokia WAP Toolkit program. Version 2.0 of the Nokia WAP toolkit is included on the accompanying CD-ROM.
The CD also features: source code for all the examples in the book, the Nokia WAP Server, plus tools for creating and testing CGI programs for web servers.

0201725916B04062001

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

PREFACE You hold in your hand one of the first books ever written about WAP programming. As I am writing this foreword, the first WAP devices, Ericsson MC 218 and Nokia 7110, have already appeared on the market. Very shortly we will also be able to buy the Nokia 6210, Nokia 6250, Ericsson R320, Ericsson R380 and Motorola Timeport P1088 phones, each one of which includes a WAP browser. The media is flooded with articles about the WAP. Telecom carriers, service providers and portals publish their WAP solutions. Banks, traffic organizations, insurance companies and retailers are frantically preparing their own WAP services. WAP devices can already be used for browsing news, stock markets and phone directories and for sending group mailings, emails and electronic greeting cards. Soon WAP devices ­ the new mobile phones ­ will be used for many more things. This book is intended for everyone who wants to learn the basics about WAP programming and wants to create his or her own applications for mobile phones or palmtop computers. The book is also suitable as a basic tool and a handbook for experienced developers. All examples in the book can be freely used and further developed. Writing a book is never easy, especially when writing on a subject that has not previously been covered. For that reason I welcome all feedback, both positive and negative, as well as ideas for further improvement. Please send feedback by email to pekka.niskanen@acta.fi. My thanks go to the following people, who have ­ either deliberately or accidentally ­ with their support, their attitude and their empathy contributed to the writing of this book: Risto Kiuru, Heikki Pekkarinen, Sami Raatikainen and Antero Ylänen. I would also like to thank the following people, who have offered valuable help by proof-reading, creating WAP scripts and by demonstrating innovative thinking for the book: Mikko Kontio, Tuomas Pulliainen and Kimmo Vierimaa. Special thanks go to Tomi Malinen, who developed an image capture program for the Ericsson MC 218, which I used to capture some of the pictures in this book. Tomi is also responsible for all the artwork in this book. Special thanks also go to Kimmo Tamminen, who refreshed and configured some of the servers to fit the WAP scripts. Tomi Malinen and Kimmo Tamminen also gave constructive advice about useful applications for WAP programs and about the WAP intranet architecture. I should also like to express my thanks for the collaboration with the group that created the most innovative product of the year 1999­2000 (PC Professional Magazine, 2000), the Nokia WAP Server team. I also wish to express my gratitude to the publisher, IT Press, which has contributed to the writing of this book in a supportive way. I would also like to express my sincere thanks to my employer, Acta Systems. The biggest thanks go to my family: Sanna, Annina, Saukki and Pluto. Next I will write a book about creating close personal relationships. The book is called ³Homma hanskassa² (Got It Under Control ­ translator¹s comment). Pekka Niskanen Kuopio

Edition details

• Publisher: Addison-Wesley
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0201725916
• ISBN 13: 9780201725919
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 240