Image MIME Reference
FACTI
BlockFact Image
image/vnd.blockfact.facti
VS
Wireless Bitmap
image/vnd.wap.wbmp
WBMP
A complete technical comparison of BlockFact Image and Wireless Bitmap — covering compression, feature support, browser compatibility, magic bytes, and when to choose each format.
Equal browser support
Feature Support
| Feature | FACTI | WBMP |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency (Alpha) | Yes | ✕ No |
| Animation Support | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| Progressive Loading | ✕ No | ✕ No |
| HDR Support | Yes | ✕ No |
| EXIF Metadata | Yes | ✕ No |
| ICC Color Profile | Yes | ✕ No |
BlockFact Image
image/vnd.blockfact.facti
Extension
.facti
Container
BlockFact Authenticated Container
Compression
Container (Inherits payload compression, e.g., JPEG/PNG)
Algorithm
None (Pass-through to embedded payload)
Color Depth
Inherited from payload
Developed by
BlockFact
Released
2025
Magic Bytes
Unknown (Proprietary Container)
Wireless Bitmap
image/vnd.wap.wbmp
Extension
.wbmp
Container
WBMP Type 0
Compression
Uncompressed
Algorithm
None
Color Depth
1-bit (Monochrome)
Developed by
WAP Forum (Now Open Mobile Alliance)
Released
1999
Magic Bytes
00 00
Browser Support Comparison
| Browser | FACTI | WBMP |
|---|---|---|
Chrome
|
✕ | ✕ |
Firefox
|
✕ | ✕ |
Safari
|
✕ | ✕ |
Edge
|
✕ | ✕ |
IE (Legacy)
|
✕ | ✕ |
FACTI
FACTI Strengths
- Provides undeniable, mathematically verifiable proof of a photo's origin (time, location, and device) via the StarkNet blockchain [1.3.1]
- Privacy-first design utilizes zero-knowledge proofs (Groth16), meaning the actual image is never uploaded to a central server or blockchain
- Invisible watermarking ensures that even if the image is screenshotted or cropped, tampering can be detected
Limitations
- Lacks native rendering support in web browsers and standard image viewers, requiring specialized software to view
- Requires blockchain registration at the moment of capture, making it incompatible with existing legacy photos
- The proprietary nature of the container limits integration to environments supporting the BlockFact SDK
WBMP
WBMP Strengths
- Extremely low processing overhead made it perfectly suited for the ultra-low-power CPUs of late 1990s mobile devices
- Tightly integrated into the WML (Wireless Markup Language) stack, enabling the first functional mobile internet experiences
Limitations
- Completely obsolete and lacks support in modern operating systems and browsers
- Limited entirely to 1-bit black and white (0 for black, 1 for white) with zero support for grayscale, color, or transparency
- The lack of a strong file header signature makes automated MIME type detection highly unreliable
When to choose which format
FACTI
Use FACTI when…
- Journalism and Media Authentication
- Legal and Insurance Evidence
- AI Deepfake Prevention
- Content Provenance and Authorship
WBMP
Use WBMP when…
- Legacy WML (Wireless Markup Language) Mobile Sites
- Early Mobile Phone Icons and Operator Logos
- Historical WAP Archival