A western diplomat in Shanghai warns that the government may be uncomfortable with a skyrocketing number of mobile Internet access points, and may seek to restrict content, perhaps in conjunction with the carriers. In addition to vendors, traditional ICPs, and telecom service carriers, nimble mobile service application providers look to play a central role in China's mobile web development. They argue that mobile web is qualitatively different from fixed web and requires specialist wireless technology enablers. A good ICP will not necessarily make a good WAP content provider. Service application providers maintain that they are key players.
Carriers specialize in setting up networks and maintaining connections.
ICPs, they argue, lack the in-house technology to effectively channel information into handsets. The agreement, already implemented, specifies that GMCC will offer WAP phones with applications developed by GWcom for online trading and banking. We choose to work with vendors on technology partnerships. Intrinsic has a main server in Shanghai that channels content out to mirror servers, which then feed into regional carriers. Intrinsic's two-point business plan includes promoting the linktone mobile site, while also licensing out their enabling technology to mobile web content providers.