Literature
Reviews
Mobile
learning applications can be classified into two types of technologies which
are: WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) and SMS (Short Message Service). WAP
is the technology which introduces the concept of the Internet as a wireless
service platform. By using WAP, user can see Internet content in special text
format on mobile phones.The WAP device (mobile phone or PDA) can communicate with the
remote server directly or via intermediary proxies and gateways which may
belong to mobile network operators or alternatively to service providers. In
order to use WAP, users have to activate GPRS service on a mobile phone which
supports WAP feature. Therefore, not every user can use WAP service.
In contrast, SMS is a mechanism that delivers short
messages over mobile network. Basically, SMS consists of two main components
which are SME (Short Message Entities) and SMSC (Short Message Service Center).
SME is a mobile phone software application which provides store-and-forward
methods.Step (1), a short message consisted of no longer than 160 English
characters or 70 Thai characters is delivered from the mobile phone by the
forward method of SME. These characters can be text (alphanumeric) or binary
non-text messages. Step (2), each message, sent from the mobile phone, is
stored in SMSC (Short Message Service Center) which then forwards it to SME of
the recipient mobile phone in step (3). After that, the delivery report will be
sent to SMSC, which then sends submission report to the originator SME. In the
case where the destination mobile is not available, the message is stored and
sent later.
SMS can be classified into two main categories which
are peer-to-peer messaging and value-added services. In peer-to-peer messaging,
SMS transmission originates from one mobile phone sending messages to another
mobile phone. The transition process is handled by SMSC. On the other hand in
value-added services, SMS transmission occurs between mobile phone and
application. The value-added services are handled by SMS gateway operators and
services providers. Bulk SMS is an example of a value-added service.
In order to
use SMS efficiently, bulk SMS is the system that helps us bring messages in
bulk to multiple users at in one sending, which equivalent to multiple sending
at one time. Similar to e-mail, bulk SMS is an entirely web-based application
of messaging platform; however, bulk SMS offers a better solution to distribute
information instantly to multiple cellular users without using complex computer
devices.
