WAP support with new CP

[alpert]

I have looked at the new CP, it is almost perfect. I wouldn't be able configure my web server to this degree even it was by my side at home
With the new CP, I noticed that you can define new Mime Types and Apache handlers.
As far as I know, this makes it possible for us to deliver WAP content?? by defining the .wml types and associating handlers with it?
Is it so, or am I missing something?
Merry Christmas to all,
Alper

[alpert]

Anyone's still got no idea about this?
Let's ask support people?
I am sure they read these posts. :)

Happy new year to all..

[Brendan]

I'm pretty sure you need backend server apps to deliver WAP content, not just MIME types are needed I *believe*.

You should probably send us a ticket and Brendan or John can answer that one.


- Steve

[Brian Asselin]

Originally posted by alpert
Anyone's still got no idea about this?
Let's ask support people?
I am sure they read these posts. :)

Happy new year to all..

I'm not all to sure about this, But I imagine that if companies are offering WAP servers, you need one to use WAP:
http://www.mot.com/MIMS/ISG/wap/products.html

[gnorthey]

My understanding...

WAP: Wireless Application Protocol (I think)

Protocal as in, not HyperText Transfer Protocol.

WAP does not use IP addresses, as that would be a waste if IP addresses and the world is fast running out of them as we move closer to the need for IP version 6.0. Instead WAP uses telephone numbers to track people.

Because of this. normail HTTP doesn't know how to communicate with WAP devices, which is why you need a seperate protocol. You would have to check if VDI offers WAP servers, but I haven't seen the feature. I'm sure HostRocket, if seeing enough demand, will have them install WAP software.

[alpert]

Here is a good link:

http://allnetdevices.com/faq/?faqredir=yes

It also tells about how apache should be configured to serve .wml content.

http://allnetdevices.com/faq/?pair=04.002

The above link tells about the mime types which I was talking about. I think, HR people can advertise WAP support immediately :) No big deal. If it works I deserve a gift, right? ;-)

I would like to give a try myself on my page, but I am too busy until Jan 5.
There is also a script which understands the browser type (http or wap?) and redirects the index page accordingly.

It is possible by the WAP GATEWAY technology, which a friend of mine implemented himself. If you have a WAP phone and a data line, you dial his computer's modem and connect to the WAP getaway he had setup on his computer. And go any WAP site through this server.
Most cellular providers will have this functionality on their WAP home page which you access through the WAP device. The gateway link is commonly called "Go to URL".
( This is how it becomes IP based :) )
When selected, the WAP device will access the URL you specify through normal IP via the gateway. In this case, it is the gateway that reads the WML contents for you and passes it on to your WAP device.

[steffield]

Does anyone actually bother with WAP sites? If ya can't afford to own a PC or get a job that uses one - then use yopur library - WAP is cack.

The cost of palm tops is always coming down - so why not just base a site at those, as opposed to mobile phones?


Ian

[alpert]

Hi there,

It worked and just like as I have thought.
I have spent 1/2 hour today to make my site support WAP.
Try out wap.papatya.com using a wap-phone or a wap emulator (wapalizer) from gelon.net.
It's now time to advertise WAP support I guess :)

[valerie]

Alpert --
that's very cool! could you explain what you needed to do in order to make your site wap accessible?

[alpert]

Hi valerie,

I have noticed that Apache servers for the new HR servers are already configured for mime-types which WAP/WML requires.
Those mime tpyes and associated extensions are like:

application/vnd.wap.wbxml wbxml
application/vnd.wap.wmlc wmlc
application/vnd.wap.wmlscriptc wmlsc
image/vnd.wap.wbmp wbmp
text/vnd.wap.wml wml
text/vnd.wap.wmlscript wmls


All I have to do, was creating a sample .wml file (index.wml for my case) and on the wap device(or emulator) entering the url for it.

You can create a directory for WAP content, and have a subdomain like 'wap.yourdomain.com' point to it, like I have done.
And inside the directory, you can also create an .htaccess file in which you specify the DirectoryIndex file paramater to your index.wml file.

Good Luck.

[valerie]

Thanks! That's very helpful. Forgive me for what may be a very dumb question, but I have never used an htaccess file. Is the meaning of your last sentence that the htaccess file can be used to designate which is the file that opens automatically when people type in a url -- for example, anyone typing in wap.mydomain.com are automatically taken to http://www.mydomain.com/wap/index.wml? (I realize that the subdomain is what makes wwww.mydomain.com/wap equivalent to wap.mydomain.com.) That is, that the program will automatically look for index.wml in the way that it automatically looks for index.htm?

[JohnM]

just put an .htaccess in that directory:

DirectoryIndex index.wml

[dcsonic2k]

Originally posted by alpert
Try out wap.papatya.com using a wap-phone or a wap emulator (wapalizer) from gelon.net.

Would it be possible for you to either post your index.wml here or email it to me. I'd like to have WAP support, but I'd like an example.

Thanks.

[alpert]

Here is my sample index.wml file:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<wml>
<card id="mycard" title="Papatya WAP">
<p>Welcome to Papatya WAP pages!</p>
<p>by Alper Tarhan and coming soon...</p>
</card>
</wml>

[alpert]

Hi,
it seems that the MsgBoard program interprets the wml tags I have posted, instead of showing exactly what is written.
So I have sent the file to your e-mail account!
-Alper

[Brendan]

I made it so you can see eachothers code in this thread since it seems like it would be helpful : )

-Brendan

[david]

As people seem to be interested in making WAP pages I just thought I would let you know of my tutorial which covers everything you need to know:
http://www.freewebmasterhelp.com/tutorials/wml/

There is also a piece of software called WML Express which will allow you to create simple WAP pages. You can download it here:
http://www.gowansnet.com/wmlexpress/

Hope this is of some help to you all

David

[valerie]

David -- Thanks for the links! Now I have everything I need to get started. . .

[dcsonic2k]

Thanks for all the links and help everybody. I'm hoping to tie the WAP stuff in with the PHP/MySQL-driven site I'm designing.

Thanks.

[Derick]

I've been able to create static wap pages on my site and they work without a problem. However, when I try to add PHP,
by adding:
<?php Header("Content-type: text/vnd.wap.wml"); print "<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>\n"; ?>
<!DOCTYPE wml PUBLIC "-//WAPFORUM//DTD WML 1.1//EN" "http://www.wapforum.org/DTD/wml_1.1.xml">

to the very top of the page (no whitespace before it), I just get XML errors. Anyone else get this to work?

[Marky]

try using


<?
header("Content-type: text/vnd.wap.wml");
echo("<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>\n");
echo("<!DOCTYPE wml PUBLIC \"-//WAPFORUM//DTD WML 1.1//EN\" \"http://www.wapforum.org/DTD/wml_1.1.xml\">\n\n");


i think