An Interview With Scott Goldman

by Scanlon Putegnat

Scott Goldman is the CEO of the WAP Forum. WirelessDevNet.com contributor Scanlon Putegnat sat down with Scott to determine where WAP is heading and where the opportunities lie.

WDN: What's the WAP Forum's current mission?

Goldman: The WAP Forum's main mission is to create a global wireless protocol specification that works across all wireless network technologies. In doing that the WAP Forum hopes to bring Internet content and advanced data services to wireless phones and other wireless terminals, while enabling the creation of content and applications that scale across a wide range of wireless bearer networks and device types. The WAP Forum also wants to embrace and extend existing standards and technology wherever possible and appropriate.

WDN: What would you like to see accomplished in 2001 with the WAP forum?

Goldman: We would like to see the membership continue to grow while seeing the current members develop more user friendly devices, faster networks and more compelling content.

WDN: What do you see as the biggest challenges you face in accomplishing these goals?

Goldman: Adoption of wireless technology in the United States. Many people are still skeptical on using wireless devices for getting Internet information, so we need to get them to see it as a tool, not a novelty. Overcoming technology hurdles, like more user friendly interfaces for devices, faster networks, more content and more user-friendly web pages via wireless devices.

WDN: There's been a lot of talk about the survivability of WAP in light of new technologies like GPRS and ultimately 3G. How do you respond to the critics about this?

Goldman: WAP will work with GPRS and 3G technologies. WAP is just a standard by which people get information through mobile devices. GPRS and 3G will help to better enable WAP in that the networks will be faster, allowing people to get information quicker. With 3G networks, WAP will always be around no matter how the network evolves because of the mass amount of spectrum being incorporated. WAP manages spectrum better than any technology. In the coming world of 3G networks, WAP will have tremendous value in managing that spectrum, a finite source that is proving to be expensive for carriers. Thus, WAP will continue to evolve as the network evolves. We are confident WAP will be successful.

WDN: Let's use some of the higher bandwidth internet and cable solutions as an example - Similar to DSL, cable modems, etc. - These are nothing more than enablers - Just like GPRS is viewed as an enabler to WAP. You still need a standard to manage that increased bandwidth among other things - that's what WAP does.

Follow on question: Some of the critics say that as bandwidth is no longer a concern, that the need for WAP just isn't there - I mean you're starting to see native internet technologies implemented directly on the handset to handle true native internet content - e.g., Java applets on the handset - J2ME, etc.

Goldman: Let's take the bandwidth issue - Is it really going to happen - Japan is the closest with the implementation of 3G networks (expected to be operation in the Spring of 2001), but that really stands apart from the rest of the world. Right now the costs of 3G systems (which won't be around for the next several years - except maybe in Japan) are prohibitive, plus the equipment is not available yet. Further, there is an increase in sites required to deploy these networks. And, even though you have 384 Kb, it's got to be split between all the users within that cell so you're really not seeing a huge increase in bandwidth

Even in an environment with increased bandwidth and "always on" connectivity such as GPRS - WAP works great with it (meaning IP type connections). In fact, the next generation specification works with TCP/IP. Further, the WAP specification is moving away from some of the earlier "WAP-specific" things like WML and migrating to a more "internet-standard approach" with XHTML (coming out in WAP 2.0 specification in June).

If you view WAP as being a book of rules, browsers is just one chapter of the book. We would be completely happy if WAP became "an integral part" of the internet world. "We want to make wireless devices first class citizens of the internet."

WDN: I was reading a recent interview with a top executive of one of the US-based wireless product companies stating that the opportunity just isn't there anymore. What's your take on the opportunities in the US for Wireless Data product and service companies?

Goldman: Opportunity exists. Wireless technology and services is still in its infancy. It will be another few years before the technology catches up with current expectations. Once the technology reaches that point, people will be more ready to accept wireless technology as a regular part of life, much the same way people adopted the Internet.

WDN: In Layman's terms, can you help me understand how WAP relates with technologies like SMS, Bluetooth and 802.11b?

Goldman: We think that these technologies are very complimentary. SMS is an indicator of how successful a technology can be if it's available in every handset manufactured. It's got very limited functionality - latency, overhead, etc. - but it's got its usefulness. Plus, you can work WAP over an SMS bearer. Bluetooth and WAP are absolutely complimentary - Bluetooth connects the devices - WAP connects the devices to the internet. As far as 802.11is concerned, it's really not in the mix. You might see WAP over bluetooth connecting to an 802.11 network.

WDN: You've probably seen the recent announcements for open source gateway products. How do you think this will effect the wireless market?

Goldman: Open source is a great thing for everyone. There are open source servers in the web community but people are still buying the servers. It's a great way for people to experience wireless data without having to spend the money to buy the gateway.

WDN: Follow on question: Have any of the open source gateways gone through the certification process?

Goldman: I'm not sure. Plus, that information is kept confidential anyway.

WDN: What's the WAP forum doing to address some of the problems being faced by developers with the current standard - e.g., many people have been implementing WML differently, further, the handset manufacturers don't manage control keys the same, etc.

Goldman: Doesn't really apply anymore. In March of 2000, we created a WAP certification process - if you write an application and deploy it on a device and comply with the WAP specification, it will render properly on that device. The gateways have to go through the same certification process - so they will interpret and render things properly if they've been properly certified.

The responsibility really lies with the development community to follow the specification when building the application.

WDN: I noticed the compliance testing program that the WAP forum is offering. Is this a revenue generating service offered by the WAP forum?

Goldman: No. We contract out this service to 2 companies NCC, and the Open Group. This was done mainly because we have to remain as an independent group and we must maintain the utmost levels of confidentiality for our members.

We will begin to use the WAP certified logo on products which have passed the certification process.

WDN: Follow on question: How's the program going?

Goldman: The program is going well. We've had over 40 handsets that have gone through the certification process. Check out the Opengroup.org website for gateway certifications.

WDN: You mentioned that we need to overcome technology hurdles, like more user friendly interfaces for devices, faster networks, more content and more user-friendly web pages via wireless devices - What do you view as the WAP forum's role in dealing with these issues.

Goldman: Our role is to build a specification and encourage its use and compliance. This applies both to the network operators as well as the application developers.

WDN: It looks like wireless advertising is gaining a lot of momentum, both overseas and domestically. What is the WAP forum doing to help promote a "standardized" way of presenting this information to users?

Goldman: The specification does allow for the presentation of a variety of content. As far as the privacy issue goes, the WAP forum does have a new group being formed to help address these issues. Again, it will be the responsibility of the carrier and application developer to follow the standards presented within this working group.

WDN: 1.2, the latest version of the WAP specification has been approved? What changes are being proposed in the next update?

Goldman: We should see version 2.0 of the specification in June - One of the key features which will be in there (2.0) will be the support for XHTML - It should be noted that even though we're migrating to XHTML, there will be full backwards compatibility with 1.2.1 Specification (supporting WML).

WDN: Care to go out on a limb and provide me with any forward looking statements or projections?

Goldman: Goldman: The WAP Forum does not speculate on projections. If you would like, I could get you in touch with analysts who could provide input from this perspective.

WDN: Any other key messages that you want to get across?

Goldman: WAP is the only open, non-proprietary wireless standard. The user base of developers, content, phones, and carriers is huge, global, and growing. Members of the WAP Forum built the standard by consensus, so interoperability among devices and between bearers is assured.

There are several benefits for businesses that use WAP. For one, WAP enables businesses to save money by helping them to reengineer and streamline internal processes, thus cutting costs and increasing revenues. WAP also allows businesses to forge deeper relationships with customers by providing anywhere, anytime access to their customer's vital information.

WAP is at its infancy. If you think of it as a 24 hour day, we are in the first hour in terms of WAP evolving.

WAP is not supposed to be "the Wireless Internet" but merely a path to get information anywhere, anytime and a standard that can work across multiple platforms and multiple devices allowing for global development of applications. To this point, the way WAP is used to access information on the Internet is different in terms of how it is searched on a PC. WAP is not made to allow end-users to browse the Internet. Moreover, it is best when used for accessing specific information (i.e. enterprise accessibility[check inventory], playing games, checking horoscope's, stock prices, hotel information, rental cars, pricing of merchandise and road conditions). Currently, there are over eight million such WAP users and over 50 million WAP-enabled devices.

WDN: How about some final comments for the Wireless Developer Community?

Goldman: The WAP forum considers the developer community the life-blood of its success.