The Planet IT WAP Roundup
By Kim M. Bayne
February 20, 2001
The wireless Web has come a long way in a short time. Recently, a quick search of the Web produced a dozen or so links for WAP site directories and search engines, including such notables as Cool WAP Site of the Day and Mfinder. In perusing these indexing portals, it's easy to discover hundreds of useful wireless sites ranging from business news to the less-common wireless ASP. Designed to simplify the task of being out-of-pocket for a few days, such road warrior applications include currency conversion, travel reservations, and weather.
There are so many WAP sites that we decided to weed out the chaff and present you with the best of the best
Before you go, take a moment to register these sites on the desktop -- not on your phone. Keying in a few screens of information to personalize a content feed is better done on a PC with a full-sized keyboard. Here are our top picks for essential WAP sites:
Hotelguide.com
CabWAP
EasyReservations.com
Convert-It
NewsAide
eFax
AvantGo
Stockpoint.com
Workarea.com
WAPCardz
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WAP URL: http://wap.hotelguide.com
Enter a city or hotel name and retrieve information on 60,000 hotels around the world. The site will tell you to "use the number feature of your phone" to call the hotel rather than initiate a connection for you. While you're waiting for true media convergence, scroll here for room rates, telephone numbers, and street addresses.
WAP URL: http://wap.cabwap.com
Have you ever tried to hail a taxi outside of Jacob Javits Convention Center during Fall Internet World? You might as well panhandle for spare change. Grab your handheld and look up local taxicab companies then make a quick call. Most major metropolitan areas are represented, but if your destination has a population under 500,000, you may be out of luck. Select "instruct" for simple user directions.
WAP URL: http://www.easyreservations.com
Can't stand taxis? Compare rates and reserve rental cars with ten major car rental companies at over 300 airports. The wired Web site contains more content, including flight schedules and hotels, flight tracking, maps and directions, and dining guides. Eventually, you should be able to access the other content on your handheld, too.
WAP URL: http://www.oanda.com/converter/classic?user=wap11
Shopping for a business gift overseas? Compare conversion rates. Find out how much $120.00 in U.S. dollars will buy at that Finland currency exchange counter. Select the two currencies, enter the amounts to be converted and press "submit." Select "new conversion" to start over.
WAP URL: http://www.newsaide.com/wap/index.wml
Nothing's worse than not anticipating how weather changes will affect your trip. If you hate getting stranded without options, enter the city and state to retrieve a current and extended weather forecast. Yes, data entry is faster with the zip code, if you know it. This site also offers a news search feature and stock quotes.
WAP URL: http://wireless.efax.com
If you want to send a fax, use your computer or a fax machine. But if you're away from those machines, you can use this site to receive and forward faxes, which may be all you need while you're away from the office. Thankfully, fax images aren't viewable on a tiny phone screen. But you can zoom in on a description to pinpoint an anticipated fax and forward it to another number for a hardcopy. Fax notification is free. Forwarding requires an account upgrade. Service is available only in the U.S. and the U.K.
WAP URL: http://wap.avantgo.com
AvantGo offers full-text news of business, finance, technology, travel, and entertainment. Unfortunately, the checklist for setting up this service includes downloading and installing software to your desktop and wireless device, creating a new account, and synchronizing devices. Still, the variety and depth of content is well worth it. After registering as a new user, add Internetwire.com to your selections to get the latest technology news.
WAP URL: http://wml.stockpoint.com/index.wml
If the bellboy mentions that a certain stock just took a dive and you're the unlucky soul who bought a thousand shares this morning, get the facts. Enter stock symbols for quotes, see charts, and read analyst summaries. Plus, read financial news headlines, IPO announcements, indexes, markets, and currencies.
WAP URL: http://www.workarea.com/wap
If your PDA doesn't have what you need, use this site to track billable hours. You can also run payroll, look up company contacts, and access address books. Once you've created and selected a work profile (clients, projects and tasks), track your time with the timeclock feature.
WAP URL: http://www.wapcardz.com
It was a successful dinner meeting. Grinning from ear to ear, you head to the airport and begin planning your next move. Add a nice touch to that great sales close before you depart. Send a greeting card to the other guy's mobile phone. Other free services include email and unlimited SMS (text messaging), which could come in handy if your plane is delayed.