WAP Forum blasts study as 'unfair'

The WAP Forum, the group set up to promote Wireless Application Protocol, has responded to a critical study, calling it "unfair" and unrepresentative.

The Forum said a study published in December by the Nielsen Norman Consulting Group represents "unfair and unwarranted criticisms, and false assumptions about WAP". The group also said Nielsen Norman's study wasn't representative since it only surveyed 20 users.

The study, carried out in London, tested the reactions of consumers introduced to WAP technology for the first time. Its main conclusion was that 70 percent said they were unlikely to consider using a WAP phone again in the coming year. WAP allows users to view and interact with Web-like pages on a mobile phone's tiny screen, but has been criticised for being costly, difficult to use and slow.

The WAP Forum claims BT Cellnet alone has more than 500,000 WAP subscribers generating about £54m a year in WAP revenues.

Another study from Forrester Research also found WAP sites are often difficult to use or have technical problems.

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