On to the monster's brain. The WAP Forum now includes more than 200 computer, component, semiconductor and software makers. Dr. Frankenstein's laboratory is the software. A handful of companies are trying to build special applications, repurpose Web content or simply interface with existing data for wireless devices. The most prominent is San Jose, Calif.-based Puma, which went public in December 1996.
Puma provides the connection between corporate databases and far-flung devices.
But the handheld software field is still wide open. Finally, the lightning that brings it all together is the network. The stock market has ignited stocks among makers of wireless networking equipment, and none more so than Qualcomm. What emerges is a frighteningly large beast that appears unstoppable. It might be even bigger.