Hello all,
Since I have had several respones on this topic, I would like to elaborate
on this a bit more. I hope it is not too much Off Topic, but we could make
an effort to explain why we see the contradictions as pointed out in earlier
threads.
We have dealt with the technology issue before, see the archives for the
thread "Handset technology" this month. Also the colour display issue proves
an interesting case-in-point of why one should not mistake handset
technology for network technology.
Here we have the two cases summarized:
* Panasonic is marketing colour display phones in Japan, but not in Europe
* Openwave supplied EZweb manufacturers with a browser that supports colour
images, but it is not used in Europe.
These contradictions indicate, if not prove, that technology supported by a
*single* node in the network does not lead to standardisation. To reach the
point of standardisation, *all* nodes in the network must support the specs.
The WAP Forum (a group of manufacturers, operators and content providers) is
the industry body that sets the standard for WAP. No colour support here. No
colour display phones either, though these nodes could support it, be it
through OS or through browser MIME types.
NTT DoCoMo, J-Phone and au (acting as leaders of a group of manufacturers,
operators and content providers) are the industry bodies that set the
standard for their own mobile internet service. Colour display phones, yes,
and also 16 tone ringing melodies that can be downloaded to your phone
*regardless of manufacturer*.
If I may quote Hubert on this one:
"There is a reason why NTT DoCoMo just went ahead for the cHTML and i-mode.
WAP forum just all talks and little action.
It takes too long to settle the 'standard' (which satisfies all the major
carriers and hanset makers. )"
If I may add: It is a lot more difficult for the WAP Forum to settle "the
standard" with all these stakes involved. DoCoMo just goes up to NEC and
asks: "How many phones do you want to sell?" And that is all they need to
know...
Cheers,
Victor
[ Did you check the archives? http://www.appelsiini.net/keitai-l/ ]
Received on Thu Mar 22 16:37:55 2001