What is WBMP?
WBMP (Wireless Bitmap) is a monochrome image format designed for early mobile phones and WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) browsers in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It displays only black and white—no grayscale or colors.
WBMP was created when mobile devices had extremely limited processing power, memory, and bandwidth. The format's simplicity allowed images to load on phones with tiny screens and slow connections.
Today, WBMP is essentially obsolete. Modern smartphones support full-color formats like JPG, PNG, and WebP. You'll only encounter WBMP in legacy systems, archived content, or historical mobile development work.
Why Convert WBMP Files?
WBMP has severe limitations for modern use:
- Black and white only – No colors, no grayscale—just 1-bit monochrome
- Obsolete format – No modern platform uses WBMP
- Limited software support – Most image viewers don't recognize WBMP
- Can't view easily – Finding software to open WBMP is challenging
- Historical files only – The only reason to have WBMP is legacy archives
Converting WBMP to PNG or JPG makes these historical files viewable on any modern device.
Convert WBMP to Other Formats
WBMP to PNG
Best choice for preserving the exact black/white pixels. PNG handles the monochrome data perfectly with small file sizes. Transparent backgrounds can be added if needed.
WBMP to JPG
Creates a universally viewable image. The black and white content becomes a grayscale JPG. Good for quick sharing.
WBMP to GIF
Suitable for the monochrome content since GIF handles limited colors well. Can add animation frames if needed.
WBMP to BMP
Creates a standard Windows bitmap. Both are simple uncompressed formats, though BMP offers more flexibility.
Convert Images to WBMP
Converting modern images to WBMP is rarely useful today, but may be needed for:
PNG to WBMP
Creates a monochrome version for legacy WAP systems or historical demonstrations. All colors are converted to black or white based on brightness threshold.
JPG to WBMP
Reduces photos to pure black and white. Useful for stylized graphics or retro aesthetics, though PNG output is typically more practical.
Note on Quality
Converting color images to WBMP destroys all color and grayscale information. The result is a high-contrast black and white image—more like a stencil than a photograph.
WBMP Technical Specifications
- Full name: Wireless Bitmap
- Developer: WAP Forum (Open Mobile Alliance)
- Era: Late 1990s – early 2000s
- File extension: .wbmp
- MIME type: image/vnd.wap.wbmp
- Color depth: 1-bit (black and white only)
- Compression: None
- Current status: Obsolete
WBMP History and Context
WBMP was part of the WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) ecosystem:
- 1997-2000: WAP and WBMP introduced for early mobile internet
- Target devices: Nokia, Ericsson, Motorola feature phones
- Screen size: Typically 84x48 to 128x128 pixels
- Connection speed: 9.6 kbps circuit-switched data
- Replaced by: XHTML Mobile Profile, then modern mobile web
By 2005, smartphones with color screens and faster connections made WBMP unnecessary.
How to Convert WBMP Files
- Upload your WBMP file – Our converter recognizes the legacy format and processes it correctly.
- Choose your output format – PNG recommended for best quality. JPG for smallest files.
- Download your converted image – View your historical mobile content on any modern device.
Converting to WBMP? Upload any image and we'll create a monochrome WBMP version.