The W3C and the WAPForum have announced a formal liaison that will help to ensure that the next generation of web specifications are mobile device aware.

The two groups share a common goal to make internet content available to wireless devices, and have identified some common work items to help make this a reality. The first of these is likely to be the addition of WML features to XHTML. These will take the form of additional XHTML modules.

The intention is that WAP enabled devices will be able to report their display capabilities to a server using an RDF profiling mechanism called Composite Capability/Preference Profiles (CC/PP). This will allow a server to deliver a version of a web page suitable for use by the device - in effect selecting the right XHTML and stylesheet modules suitable for the devices display capabilities.

The Mobile Access Interest group has had its charter extended until 30th June 2000.

More details are available from the WAPForum and the W3C mobile access home pages.