Cell phones are especially lacking because while they pack a lot of computing into a small footprint, most of that computing power is dedicated to making the device work. The Wireless Application Protocol can scale Web pages to the small device and adapt content to the slower wireless data rates, but the WAP device still has practical limitations given its miniature screen size. What's more, there are so many handheld variants that it's difficult to know how to optimize software for a particular device. Even WAP comes in different flavors, depending on the make and model of the device. Gartner Group predicts that by 2002 there will be no fewer than 50 different types of mobile devices and 10 wireless network interfaces.
Security is another hurdle.
The idea of corporate data moving through the air generates a lot of concern among managers. In truth, wireless access is no more or no less secure than wired access, with the exception of a competitor being able to heist the device itself. Encryption and authentication are needed, just as they are needed on wired links. Mobile middleware offers some network security safeguards plus security features unique to devices. For example, Palm handhelds use public key infrastructure and support advanced digital certification.