XML
Vocabularies in the News;
VXML, WML, RELML
Voice
Extensible Markup Language (VXML)
AT&T,
Lucent Technologies and Motorola will announced
the formation of the VXML Forum. The goal of the
new organization is to cooperate on the development
of a new XML vocabulary that allows users to access
the Internet by voice. The companies are hoping
that the new language, VXML, will become a standard
for voice commands to the Internet. The Forum
aims to drive the market for voice- and phone-enabled
Internet access by promoting a standard specification
to create Web content and services that can be
accessed by phone.
See
also announcement from Bell
Labs
Wireless
Markup Language (WML)
The
new XML vocabulary from the Wireless Application
Protocol (WAP) provides "a markup language
based on XML and is intended for use in specifying
content and user interface for narrowband devices,
including cellular phones and pagers. WML is designed
with the constraints of small narrowband devices
in mind. These constraints include: (1) Small
display and limited user input facilities (2)
Narrowband network connection (3) Limited memory
and computational resources."
See
WAP WML.
Proposed Version 3-Feb-1999. Wireless Application
Protocol. Wireless Markup Language Specification
Version 1.1.
Already
the SABRE Group, IBM, and Nokia "are working
on a real-time, interactive service -- delivered
via mobile phone utilizing the Wireless Application
Protocol (WAP), a new open industry standard for
mobile Internet -- that will allow travelers to
initiate flight changes and even receive updates
from airlines anywhere, anytime. The service will
combine SABRE Business Travel Solutions, the company's
online corporate travel purchasing system, IBM
e-business technologies and the latest mobile
communications technology and terminals from Nokia."
In
addition, Oracle recently also announced "Project
Panama," also based on WAP WML technology.
Oracle will preview the first technology for seamlessly
delivering dynamic Web content to users of mobile
devices, including GSM smart-phones, Windows CE
devices and Palm Pilots. The technology, code-named
'Project Panama,' will allow Internet and mobile
service providers to deliver personalized services
directly to mobile devices without having to modify
content for them. . . Project Panama will remove
the limitations of retrieving Web-based material
by automatically translating the HTML- or XML-based
format of Internet content to the languages understood
by wireless devices. Utilizing protocols including
Wireless Access Protocol (WAP), Project Panama
will enable access to all existing Web content
through mobile devices.
Real
Estate Listing Markup Language (RELML)
The
number of real estate companies working to develop
an XML specification for the real estate industry
is growing as HomeSeekers.com joined the authoring
effort in early March. HomeSeekers.com joins the
XML Open Standards Process by participating with
OpenMLS and 4thWORLD Telecom to co-author the
RELML specification. The XML based RELML (Real
Estate Listing Markup Language) specification
has gained momentum this week as HomeSeekers.com
has joined OpenMLS.com and 4thWORLD Telecom to
participate in the co-authoring process of describing
real estate listings. 
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