Re: Mandating respect of some heuristics?

>>> 1. Whilst WML content-types are 99.999% mobile, I 
>>> do know that Sky in the UK used WML to deliver 
>>> third-party content for their interactive TV service. I 
>>> don't know if others have done the same: taking 
>>> WML and using it in other contexts beyond mobile. I'd 
>>> (personally) be happy to assume WML = mobile.
>> "interactive TV" still fits my definition of "mobile", but I
>> suppose one may argue.
>If it's considered a subset, then perhaps we're covered.

It seems that "mobile" is a surrogate for "non-desktop". But this is ok: from my own experience, the development of Web applications for TV is subject to hard constraints (regarding presentation, user interaction, markup, colour schemes, etc) that are sometimes reminiscent of those for mobile devices.

> My real worry is that this may not be the only place 
> where WML has been pressed into service. Anyone
> know of any others?

Not to my knowledge, but I would also be interested to know.

>>> 2. Do all mobile devices support WML? 

Clearly no: many PDA, most i-Mode devices.

>>> If not thenis there a potential role for transcoders to
>>> play here, bringing WML content to mobile devices
>>> not capable of rendering it?
>> I am a bit skeptical that there exists such a need. I
>> think most of the mobile developers who authored 
>> WML content now also author XHTML-like content, or
>> are at least aware of mobile devices that do not  
>> support WML.
> That's my experience of the industry round here (UK). 
> Is it the case globally? I'm not sure (either positively or 
> negatively).

Yes and no. The need for such a migration path was actually felt in the years witnessing the introduction of XHTML mp. The result is that OMA defined WML 2.0 to enable the access of WML 1.x content from non-WML 1.x capable devices. WML 2.0 is essentially XHTML mobile profile with a few WML 1.x extensions. The WAP standard specifies how to convert WML 1.x to WML 2.0, and this is one of the officially allowed transformations of WML 1.x content.

This being said, at this point in time there are few WML 1.x-only sites in the mobile markets of developed countries.

E.Casais

Received on Monday, 1 December 2008 12:38:30 UTC