Montreal, Quebec — (press release excerpt) — 5NINE today announced the launch of WAPLinux.org, an open source development project for modifying the Linux kernel to fully support the Wireless Application (WAP) protocol and bearers such as the Short Message Service (SMS), Mobitex, and third generation (3G) technologies such as the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). These technologies will allow wireless device manufacturers to embed Linux in PDAs, watches, appliances, and cell phones, and will set a Linux standard for wireless client application technology.

Even with the promise of public wireless networks with wider bandwidth, these networks will always suffer from the inherent unreliability caused by structural and radio interference evident in the wireless voice communications of today. WAP is a bearer-independant protocol optimized for public wireless networks, which allows a more satisfactory experience for end-users with wireless handhelds.

WAPLinux.org has the goal of creating a fully functional WAP stack integrated into the Linux kernel with support for the connectionless and connection oriented protocols, plus bearer support for SMS, Mobitex, CDPD, UMTS and other transitioning technologies for IPv6. These integrations will be available in the form of patches and full kernel source code from WAPLinux.org.

Other features will include . . .

• WAP compliant (all mandatory and optional features);
  
• WSP Connectionless and Connection-Oriented support;
  
• Class 0,1,2,3 WTLS Support;
  
• Class 0,1,2 WTP Support;
  
• WDP Support with IPv4, IPv6, UMTS, GSM, SMS, Mobitex, and others;
  
• A user level header encoding library;
  
• Integration with BSD Sockets with dynamic bearer loading;
  
• Ability to run under tight resource constraints.

“Most wireless devices that can use Linux will not even include IP support in their kernels,” explained Boris Kuschel, Chief Technology Officer of 5NINE, “but will instead use network technologies such as WAP over GSM, CDMA and UMTS. It is essential for these technologies to be available in the Linux kernel, in order for it to be a contender in the wireless handheld market.”

“In our commitment of making Linux the choice for wireless handhelds and appliances, we created WAPLinux.org“, added Martin Dumas, CEO of 5NINE. “3G communication technologies, combined with WAP, will create the wireless application platform of the future.”

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Here are some excerpts from the WAPLinux.org home page . . .

Benefits of WAP support within the Linux kernel:

• Gives Linux head start in the wireless boom by being the first OS with native WAP support.
  
• Makes Linux a platform of choice for WAP developers.
  
• Brings standard APIs to WAP developers.
  
• Allows people to use and learn the Wireless Application Protocol freely.
  
• Offers greater performances than any user level WAP Stack.
  
• Encourages the use of Linux and open source code in the promising telecom industry.

What to expect in the next 21 days:

• Public CVS with the code.
• Documentation on the architecture and general directions of the implementation.
  
• Preview release of Binaries (modules providing certain WAP functionalities for the kernel)
  
• Mailing list for developers and other interested parties.

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