WAP is the name for the most popular type of mobile internet services.

It can be useful because if you are out and about you can still keep up-to-date with your e-mail, the latest news, sport, event guides and more.

So, let's say you want to check the football scores or see who has won Fame Academy you can go online wherever you are.

A WAP screen

Normally we use a home computer to browse the web using a phone line but you can actually use your mobile phone to get lots of information off the web.

At the moment, these services are text-based - like news, sport, entertainment listings and weather so the pages don't look too pretty.

Getting WAP

When you connect to the internet from home you need a phone line and also an ISP (Internet Service Provider), the company you phone when you want to connect to the internet.

With WAP services you use your normal mobile network, for example Orange or Vodafone, and then register with a special ISP that offers mobile internet.

Each mobile network has its own service provider, for example Vodafone's is Vizzavi. If you are not sure who your network's service provider is you should contact your network.

If you use the WAP service to go online the cost is normally just added to your monthly bill.

WAP services are normally charged by the minute but check with your service provider as they can vary from between 10p a minute to 40p a minute.

Check whether you can use WAP as part of any inclusive minutes you may have as this could be a cheaper way to access.