16 Your wireless Internet browser
Your phone has a built-in browser you can
use to connect to selected services on the
Internet. You can view weather reports,
check news or flight times, view financial
information, and much more.
• NOTES ON WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS
This section gives a brief overview of wireless Internet technology.
Technology background
WAP
A technology called Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is to mobile
devices what the World Wide Web (WWW) is to personal computers.
The mobile community began developing WAP several years ago to
provide access to the Internet for mobile users.
Today, most WAP sites are made up of text and hyperlinks. Some pages
even contain low-resolution graphics, or require data input. Your service
provider and others are free to design WAP sites as they choose, so the
sites are as variable as Web pages on the Internet.
Internet content on your personal computer is called a “web page.”
Internet content on your mobile phone is called a “page,” or “WAP card.”
GPRS
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is a technology used to send and
receive data via short bursts or packets over the wireless network. GPRS
allows you to stay connected to the Internet. This feature allows for faster
downloads of information and no time spent completing a dial-up connection.
Applications using GPRS include the WAP browser, text messaging and
dial-up connections for making digital data calls.
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Your wireless Internet browser
16
•
For information about how to track time spent online, see “Check
data calls” on page 50.
•
For information about sending messages via GPRS, see “Choose other
message settings” on page 95.
•
For information about dial-up connections, refer to “GPRS dial-up
connections” on page 131.
•
For availability, pricing, and subscription to GPRS services, contact
your service provider.
The Service provider’s role
Because wireless Internet content is designed to be viewed from your
phone, your wireless service provider now becomes your “wireless Internet
service provider” as well.
It’s likely that your service provider has created a home page and set up your
browser to go to this page when you log on to the Internet. Once at your
service provider’s home page, you’ll find links to a number of other sites.