How to open .SI files on iOS

To open .SI files on iOS, in the Files app, use Share/Open In to send the .SI file to a text editor app to view it as plain text; iOS typically won’t have dedicated WAP Push SI handlers.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. In the Files app, use Share/Open In to send the .SI file to a text editor app to view it as plain text; iOS typically won’t have dedicated WAP Push SI handlers.
  2. If the file is not readable text, move it to a desktop system for inspection/decoding as it may be compiled SI (SIC).

Common issues

The .SI file opens as unreadable symbols or binary data

Service Indication can also be carried in a compiled/binary form (commonly associated with the SIC media type) rather than the plain text/XML form expected for SI.

  1. Open the file in a hex viewer or text editor to confirm whether it is plain XML text or binary data.
  2. If it is binary, treat it as compiled SI content (application/vnd.wap.sic) and decode it with WAP/WBXML tooling rather than editing it as text.
  3. Ask the sender/system whether the payload is intended to be SI (text) or SIC (compiled) and request the appropriate form.

Browser or server delivers the wrong content type

WAP-related workflows rely on correct MIME types; an incorrect Content-Type can prevent gateways/clients from recognizing the payload.

  1. Configure the web server to serve SI documents with Content-Type: text/vnd.wap.si.
  2. If you are actually serving compiled SI, use application/vnd.wap.sic for that payload.
  3. Re-test the endpoint and verify headers with a network inspector or command-line HTTP client.

The file is rejected by a legacy WAP/Push gateway

Gateways may require SI documents to conform closely to the SI specification (structure and required fields).

  1. Validate the SI XML structure against the Service Indication specification.
  2. Confirm timestamps/attributes and required elements are present as expected by the target gateway/device profile.
  3. If a compiled form is required by the gateway, generate/obtain the correct compiled SI (SIC) payload instead of sending text SI.

Security note

.SI (WAP Push SI) documents commonly contain URLs meant to prompt user action; treat unexpected SI files as potentially phishing-related and verify links before opening them.

Back to .SI extension page