WAP technology now enables the world "on-the-run" access to such services as mobile-real-time product purchases, stock quotes, news, calendars, banking, voice mail, and email via mobile wireless communication devices.

WAP (Wirelesss Application Protocol) is the new global standard for communication between a mobile communication devices and the Internet, as designed and defined by the WAP forum (http://www.wapforum.org), where by the way you will find an enormous amount of WAP/WML specs in PDF format. Although joining the WAP Forum is fairly expensive for individuals, small or home based businesses such as ours, they do offer much information free to the open public. By the way, an "Associate Membership" is a mere $7,500 a year. (Give, Gulp or Giggle Here).

It is expected that by the end of the year 2000, wireless users will exceed 100 Million worldwide. The introduction of WAP and wireless devices opens a brand new market of "WAP Field Users" which will result in significant new revenues for content providers and developers alike. By getting in on the wireless opportunities today you have the chance to become a market leader in this emerging commerce.

Wireless access can offer you a new source for your products and services and also enable you to create new services and/or products designed specifically for your mobile customers. Can your company benefit from WAP by offering your users new mobile services? WAP, like any other Internet Protocol, will grow to support technology as quickly as possible. The consumer market, of course, will heavily influence future development.

Compared to the traditional clientele, the wireless user and market is different. The question you should be asking yourself right now is who uses WAP and how are you going to serve them and profit from it? Currently some of the biggest group of users are field representatives accessing intranet data (as well as placing orders) for their customers, people needing to access email and voice mail on the run and individuals following stock market trends. But as the Internet shouted aloud in 1995, "This Is Only The Beginning"!

As an end-user, WAP now allows you easy and secure access to relevant content and other services through your mobile phones or other wireless device. But, by increasing your existing Internet skills and knowledge you have the opportunity to create new products, increase your customer base, build new alliances and venture partnerships branded just for the wireless industry.

Even the domain names are going fast. I myself have purchased such names as WMLDesigner.com and WMLMasters.com, as I'm sure some of you have already obtained a few yourselves. A friend and reader, Trevor Mayes of has purchased names like WapCard.uk.com and Wap-Card.uk.com. Although many have been purchased in a relatively short time (Wap.com only purchased on 20-Jan-2000 by a company from Oslo), I'm sure that many are still available.