Introduction

Microsoft s Mobile Internet Toolkit provides an environment for the rapid delivery mobile Internet applications to multiple device types, through a single application model. In Mobile Internet Toolkit version 1.0, support for device markup languages include WML (Wireless Markup Language), HDML (Handheld Device Markup Language only through gateway transcoding), cHTML (Compact HTML for IMODE devices) and regular HTML Web browsers. In the future support for XHTML (Extensible HTML WAP 2.0) and other markup languages will also be possible both from Microsoft software enhancements and the extensibility features of the Mobile Internet Toolkit.

The Mobile Internet Toolkit and its components are built on top of .NET Framework and ASP.NET, and attempt to address the many challenges and considerations discussed in the preceding paragraph with developing and delivering Mobile Internet applications. These challenges and considerations include the various wireless network carriers, protocols types, and device capabilities. Delivering applications that work consistently with the various device types can be an overwhelming challenge, especially in North America with traditional techniques of generating the various mobile Internet markup languages.

The Mobile Internet Toolkit is specifically for delivering real-time browser based applications. This means that there must be a wireless Internet connection for application features to run. If you are out of wireless network coverage, the application cannot be used. This is a significant disadvantage, but with improving wireless network coverage and increasing availability of mobile Internet-enabled devices, the Mobile Internet Toolkit provides significant value. For more complex/offline mobile applications, you can use different technologies. Microsoft is developing the...