The WAP Forum has announced the availability of WAP 2.0 for public review. "This next generation of the WAP specification helps content developers deliver a richer and more secure experience to mobile Internet service subscribers. WAP 2.0 is a significant evolutionary step in the worldwide standard and will allow application developers to create compelling mobile content using the same tools and techniques they are already familiar with using for other Internet applications. As WAP continues convergence with Internet specifications, WAP 2.0 builds upon the latest Internet standards: XHTML, TCP/IP, HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP/1.1), and Transport Layer Security (TLS). Utilizing standards developed by the W3C, WAP adopts XHTML and CSS Mobile Profile as part of WML 2.0 (while maintaining backwards compatibility with WML 1.x), to reduce the time necessary to create and test applications and manipulate content for various devices. At the protocol level WAP 2.0 adopts IETF specifications Supporting XHTML, WAP 2.0 reduces development costs, allowing developers to write applications for both PC and WAP clients, using a common subset of language elements and development tools. XHTML's modular architecture also enables developers to quickly and easily build applications that can adapt to changes in the hardware environment. WAP 2.0 also gives developers the ability to create applications utilizing enhanced style features. Through the use of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), developers can separate style attributes for one or more XML documents from the actual code, reducing the size of the markup code in browser memory."

WAP 2.0 DTDs. From the Specification Listing: DTDs associated with WAP 2.0. A Document Type Definition (DTD) is a formal description in XML declaration syntax of a particular type of document. It sets out what names are to be used for the different types of element, where they may occur, and how they all fit together. The following DTDs are associated with WAP 2.0: WML 2.0 DTD available as a flat version (with all modules included), or as a zip file with the modules included separately. Modules: (1) PAP (Push Access Protocol) DTD; (2) Push Service Indication DTD; (3) Push Service Loading DTD; (4) Provisioning DTD.

From the announcement:

WAP 2.0 is designed to increase the usability of WAP applications, meeting market demands and taking advantage of the latest industry developments such as higher bandwidths, faster data speeds, greater processing power, and varied screen sizes. With advanced networks and additional services, users of WAP 2.0-enabled devices will experience mobile access to new Internet-based content, applications and services that will serve as a valuable extension to the PC.

Device manufacturers have the opportunity to develop handsets that support applications that optimize the usability of WAP applications by capitalizing on new WAP 2.0 features, such as the ability to include color, multimedia messaging, large-file downloading, improved navigational functions, and user-friendly menus.

New technologies of WAP 2.0 that will improve the user experience are Data Synchronization, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), Persistent Storage Interface, Provisioning, and Pictograms. Additionally, Wireless Telephony Application (WTA), Push, and User Agent Profile (UAPROF) utilize more advanced features in WAP 2.0 than in previous versions. For Data Synchronization WAP 2.0 adopts the SyncML protocol in order to ensure a common solution framework with a multitude of devices. The SyncML messages are supported over both the Wireless Session Protocol (WSP) and HTTP/1.1 protocols. MMS provides the framework to develop applications that support feature-rich messaging solutions, permitting delivery of varied types of content in order to tailor the user experience. The Persistent Storage Interface provides a set of storage services that allow the user to organize, access, store and retrieve data on wireless devices. The new Provisioning feature permits the network operator to manage the devices on its network with a common set of tools. The Pictogram feature permits the use of a set of tiny images, allowing users to quickly convey concepts in a small amount of space while transcending traditional language boundaries.