Equant Delivers Global WAP Roaming for Corporate Users - wireless application protocol - Brief Article

Wireless Internet, May, 2001

Equant announced it is the first service provider to enable global roaming for wireless application protocol access. Corporate users can now access their closed user group WAP applications from outside their WAP service's home network by making a local roamed mobile phone call over Equant's network.

Equant's WAP roaming service, called Global WAP Access, is initially available in 22 countries, including France, Japan, and the UK. Global WAP Access will be available in the US by the end of the year.

Until Equant launched this service, few users were able to access WAP service outside their home network and none were able to cost-effectively access it. The users who were able to access out-of-network AP services had to first make a costly international, or even intercontinental, mobile call to their home network. With Global WAP Access, users can gain direct access to their WAP services by making a local roamed call that results in significant cost savings, which can be 40 percent or more for intercontinental travelers.