This is a bit of a problem for WAP, because it means it's no longer an open standard in the usual sense of the expression. The WAP Forum has been criticized for finishing up with an open standard that includes private patents. Oddly, the patents only apply in the US and Japan, leaving Europe free to embrace WAP without this complication. WAP has its doubters too. Some people saw the HDML standard for mobiles go through its early stages back in 1996 and subsequently almost disappear.
More serious competition comes from other software companies.
Oracle's Portal to Go system works on pretty much any mobile, whether analogue or digital. All that's required is for the Web site server to send suitable data to the Portal to Go gateway. It's a proprietary system with mechanisms similar to WAP and suitable for WAP phones. A number of telecoms companies are already using Portal to Go. Telia of Sweden and BT in the UK are involved.