Samsung Corp, heading up an eight company consortium, has unveiled a Korean rival to the wireless application protocol (WAP) format for connecting mobile phones to the internet. Dubbed AnyWeb, the project is being backed by handset makers, wireless carriers and venture capitalists. The companies claim that the service will potentially reach Korea’s 18 million wireless subscribers.
Samsung Electronics will provide the micro-browser for wireless handsets, security software for handsets and servers, and S-HTML internet language for wireless contents. The operators will offer service formats for providing automatic notification of special contents. AI Net has developed the mobile sites and the proxy server operating software. Samsung Securities, Koram Bank and Asiana Airlines are participating as content providers. They will work with AI Net to develop sites. Services provided will include stock transactions, online banking, online shopping, flight reservations and news feeds.
Samsung claims that the mobile internet infrastructure will mean that Korean companies will not have to rely on bought-in technology, cutting development costs. The service will start next week.
