It's coming, but nobody knows exactly when the wireless Web will arrive in North America.
Where should you place your bets? Consider making three key wagers: Get familiar with Japan's NTT DoCoMo and its wireless software platform right away, because it's headed for U.S. shores. Second, get to know mobile-device makersâ€"and we're not referring only to Palm. Foreign players like Ericsson and Nokia should be on your shortlist of potential partners. Finally, keep a close eye on emerging technology standardsâ€"most notably Bluetooth, I-Mode and WAP (Wireless Access Protocol).
To be sure, the wireless Web has plenty of weak points. But there's no shortage of vertical-market projects that await you. Two examples: Verizon and Sprint both have announced the availability of an online trading application from TD Waterhouse on their respective CDMA phones. And Ericsson and Sybase have designed a financial database that Swedish bank employees can access from smart phones.
