How does WAP connection into Outlook work?

This document will describe you how the WAP version of Mobile Connection works.

Contents:

Introduction - what is WAP and how does it works?
Two ways to access WAP pages
MobilChange + WAP schema

Introduction - what is WAP and how does it works?

WAP is a brand new technology, which gives you ability to access information in the way similar to standard WWW browsing. Mobile phones are still very limited today - they have small display, not-so-much powerfull processor and a little of usable memory. So WAP technology adapted that limitations - and is very limited also.

How does WAP works?

WAP-enabled phone dial a special phone number - a number of dial-up server. Phone authenticate itself (using standard PPP protocol). Then the phone is connected to the internet.

WAP phone can't access WWW servers directly. It has only limited subset of TCP/IP interfaces (WAP stack is based on UDP packets), so it need WAP gateway.

WAP gateway receive UDP packets from phone, convert it to standard HTTP request and ask the WWW server for a particular WML page.

WML is a document format similar to HTML, but with limited commands allowed and with strongest formating rules.

WWW server send WML page to WAP gateway. WAP gateway convert it to WMLC (compressed WML format - more efficient than plain WML) and send as a one UDP packet to mobile phone (through dial-up server, of course).

Mobile phone then display a page. Simple, isn't it?

Two ways to access WAP pages

You can access WAP pages by two ways:

By using your own WAP gateway
By using WAP gateway of your GSM provider

Using your own gateway to access WAP

You have to install dial-up server into your network and connect an GSM modem or ISDN card to it. WAP phone then dial your phone number and authenticate using user's NT account and password.

Benefits:

The best security - no data are sent throught internet.
The best security - user is authenticated to dial-up server using standard (secured) authentication protocol and using Windows NT account and password. No password is sent throught local network nor internet.
You need no support from your GSM provider.
All of configuration is under your control.

Disadvantages:

You need the GSM modem or ISDN card - so you have to spend some money for it.

Using GSM provider's WAP gateway to access WAP

Some GSM providers are providing a public WAP gateway for it's customers. Your WAP phone is configured to dial special phone number. It connect to provider's dial-up server and WAP gateway and authenticate by a public-known account name and password (for example "wap"/"wap"). Provider's WAP gateway then send requests to the internet.

Benefits:

The best price - you need no additional hardware.
The best price - call to provider's WAP gateway is often cheaper than a call to your own WAP gateway.

Disadvantages:

Security troubles - all your data (requests and responses) are sent through internet. Many of GSM providers doesn't support SSL (HTTPS) connections, so your data are sent unencrypted.
Security troubles - requests have to go through your firewall into your private network.
Security troubles - there is no authentication on dial-up level, so user have to fill its name and password into form on WAP page. Then the password is sent (often unencrypted!) over the internet.
GSM provider have to support this type of connection - some GSM providers doesn't do it now.

You can find more information about WAP security in Security questions on WCfO and other WAP applications document.

MobilChange + WAP schema

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