13 Dec 00 WAP, Internet Phones & Privacy

Can Researchers Cover Your Net tracks?
“A group of researchers and privacy proponents is working to develop new standards for network anonymity at the Internet protocol level, a prospect that could mask the location of Web users.” More here.

Advertisers for Internet Phones Work to Reduce Consumers’ Expectations
Despite all the hype, the wireless-advertising industry is still in its infancy. According to Forrester Research, $890 million will be spent world-wide on mobile advertising by 2005. Read the story here.

WAP Usability Report: Field Study in London Fall 2000
Interesting report on the study conducted in London by the Nielsen Norman Group. I would only caution that it’s easy to jump to conclusions about a platform that is being delivered through difficult to use devices and offers services that often are not useful. It is not difficult to validate WAP’s problems today but it is a bit trickier to see into the future. I would be hesitant to write WAP off completely at this point. The street has funny ways of adopting and making use of technologies that often defy the results of focus groups and lab tests.You can download the 90 page report from the Nielsen Norman Group Site for $18

Lots-O-PR on the Report:
New York Times: A Thumbs Down for Web Phones
InternetNews: Expert Confirms WAP Users’ Fears
Yahoo FinanceVision: WAP: Miserable Failure? (8 min. streaming video)
WebWord.com: WAP: Miserable Failure?
evolt.org: UK users turn their backs on WAP
and of course: Driving Over Jakob Nielsen by ev (requires Flash 5)

Tags: Internet, Privacy, Wireless