Please note that the products in this list are both WAP gateways and so called WAP servers. All WAP servers can in theory at least be used as pure WAP gateways. You are reminded that normal WAP users do not need to worry about WAP gateways and WAP servers as WAP gateways that give you internet connectitivy are usually provided by your mobile operator, and a WAP servers is a WAP gateway and content server (web servers) combined. WAP applications developers might want to consider testing their applications on different WAP gateways and WAP servers. WAP gateways are really for mobile operators and WAP servers are for companies that have special needs such as intranet based WAP services, or specialized internet based services - and many do.

Kannel: Open Source WAP and SMS gateway

The Kennel WAP and SMS gateway is probably the best known open source product in this category. As this is an Open Source product with a large number of clever people contributing to the development, the specs are likely to change often. Also note that this is a pure WAP gateway rather than a WAP gateway and a content server combined into a WAP server.

The Kannel WAP and SMS gateway is definitely worth taking a look at. Visit their site now.

724 Mobile Internet Gateway

The 724 Solutions Mobile Internet Gateway (MIG) is an open and secure, highly fault-tolerant wireless gateway, designed to extend value-added content services to a mobile operator�s wireless subscribers. For mobile operators challenged to position themselves to win in mobile data services despite the overall market�s continually unpredictable evolution, MIG provides a standards-based environment that equips them with a solution that can meet both today�s and tomorrow�s market needs. In addition, MIG enables innovative value-added services and flexible billing options, affording the mobile operator a viable and sustainable business model.

• Powerful and flexible foundation for deployment of wireless data services
• Performance and scalability required in 2.5 & 3G world
• Custom configuration options for flexibility and control as market requirements evolve
• Multiple billing interface options and API for value-added services for diversifying and maximizing revenue streams
• Low total cost of ownership for higher and more timely ROI

Materna Carrier WAP gateway

The Materna Carrier WAP gateway is a WAP server for both internet and intranet based services, and is the larger of Materna's two products. Because of it's content and application hosting capabilities, this product is classed as a WAP server. Note that due to the way the Materna site was set up, it was not possible to link directly to the section on the Materna Carrier Gateway. You'll have to navigate on your own.

Key features, (Full data sheet)

• WAP 1.1 compliant
• Complete WAP stack and content encoders for WML and WML Script
• User authentication and access control
• WAP user identification via MSISDN id
• Suscriber identification via RADIUS support
• Distributable and scalable architecture
• Graphical web-based user interface
• Configuration management for operating and maintaining the WAP gateway
• Statistic module for control of gateway activities
• Transaction logging of subscriber activities
• Generation of CDRs for billing purposes
• Support of multiple SMS Centers
• Over-The-Air (OTA) configuration
• WTLS and SSL/TLS security
• SNMP support
• Application and content hosting
• Available for Sun Solaris, HP Unix

Nokia WAP Server 1.1

The Nokia WAP Server 1.1 is one of the more widely used WAP servers, but it is by many WAP developers considered slow and ill optimized in its WML compilation. The cost of this product is also fairly high. One very positive thing is that a 30 day trial version is available for download.

Key features)

• WAP 1.1 compliant
• WML 1.1 and 1.2 encoders/decoders (compilers)
• User authentication and access control
• WAP user identification via MSISDN id
• Complete WAP stack and content encoders for WML and WML Script
• Open API for back-end system integration
• Over-The-Air (OTA) configuration
• WAP email connector (POP, IMAP, SMTP and MAPI)
• LDAP connectivity
• SMS Center (can use 6100 and 5100 series phones as bearer for SMS - Windows NT only)
• WTLS and SSL/TLS security
• Application and content hosting
• Requires Java Runtime Environment 1.2.2 and Java HotSpot Performance Engine 1.0.1
• Runs on Windows NT, Sun Solaris and HP-UX

Chapter 1 in "Professional WAP" from Wrox