Kannel serves as an open-source WAP and SMS gateway, primarily developed around the late 1990s to facilitate mobile internet access and short message service. Key discussions regarding Kannel emphasize the need for a compressed protocol to enhance efficiency in mobile communication, as traditional HTTP is deemed too heavy for wireless applications. Historical comments reflect on the concerns of mobile operators wanting to monopolize mobile web content, implying that WAP was partly developed as a method to control this space. Users express skepticism regarding the continued relevance of WAP technology in the current landscape, with some perceiving it as outdated and others finding its modern applications limited and possibly malicious.