It Isn't About ".Com Versus .Mobi" -- If you believe that, read on...

In my view, it's not about .com versus the world of TLDs or, for that matter .mobi versus .com/.net/.org etc. 

Take this post from Frank Shilling.

The downside with new TLDs which sell themselves based on a platform is that they are typically exclusive of others.  Don't have a .mobi?  “Well!! ~ You’re just not getting access to our suite of software or services then :-p.”  .Mobi could give away their domains and still wouldn’t get traction because the drawing card is just not big enough. Don’t get wowed by a bunch of Telco’s which have trouble even agreeing on foundational phone platforms. These folks are touting .mobi as much out of “fear of missing something”.  I have not seen what I would call a world changing plan..  .Mobi could give away tools that can turn straw into gold and yes, some folks will switch, but in my opinion .TV, .Mobi etc have “no chance” without such a world-beater of a plan. This plan would have to have such a "wow effect" that it would land on the cover of every paper in the world in order to rival .com.  Better to open your platform to .com holders.

Let me address this, by way of clarification:

1) "Well!! ~ You’re just not getting access to our suite of software or services then :-p.” Not true. Go to our developer forum, download the handbook (free), build a site (free), join the forum (free), or get training (free).  Our certification program, which you do pay for, offers value whether or not you use .mobi.

So you may ask, "why do we do this?" Which  brings me to...

2) "Don’t get wowed by a bunch of Telco’s which have trouble even agreeing on foundational phone platforms" Well... Our investors aren't just a "bunch of Telcos." They invested in dotMobi, not to take advantage of the money to be had in the domain registration business, but to help jump-start the expansion of Internet on mobile devices.  (Something that was lacking for a long time.)  And they did agree on a set of standards -- W3C's mobile web initiative -- If  that is what is meant by "foundational phone platforms."

3) ".Mobi could give away tools that can turn straw into gold and yes, some folks will switch.." We do give away tools and know-how, but it is not about switching from .com, co.uk or any of the others for that matter.  Have your .com, but if your customers are increasingly mobile -- and most of us are -- then you want to design and author a site that is specific to their needs during those times when they're not in front of a 17" screen with an all-you-can eat DSL plan and some time to spare.

4. "Better to open your platform to .com holders"  Goes back to my first point, really. We actually announced back in February that dotMobi is building the directory of all mobile optimized content, which uses .mobi as well as other TLDs, including .com.  To quote specifically:

"The dotMobi database is a catalog of all mobile content available on the Internet today and is quality-rated by location, category, relevance and suitability to download content easily on a mobile phone. The database will contain all mobile content in existence, including .mobi sites, country specific sites, .com sites, WAP sites and other mobile-optimised content."

Comments

[Dennis Smith]

great rebuttal to Schilling's post.

Time will show that's it's not a "we" versus "they," thing...it's just the inevitable evolution of they way we desire to give/receive our information - communication - entertainment.

I think one day we'll laugh at Schilling's quote just like we now laugh at Ken Olson's (former chairman and founder of DEC), who said, "There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."

[RobertF]

Things to ponder (smoke and mirrors):

1)The other side of the equation "end-users well established behavior".
I don't see any discussion nor a strategy presented on how to convince/persuade/market to the masses that there is an alternative to .com,the "english language" world has already mature into well established patterns and behaviors (Search and Browsing).
At best it will take some $eriou$ marketing for some of the .mobi sites to take off and by that measure any extension is a good extension, I can see some .mobi sites used as company business cards (the dot com was taken or to exensive)
.info deja vu!

2) Another killer : comunicating the extension (which is not as worldy as some want you to beleive)
" is it .mobi? or .movi? or .mobile? or
.mobil? or .movile? or .mobicom worst yet is it .mobi.com ? ..."
*Here comes .cel to add to the confusion.

3) What happens when each Service-Provider/Operator does it's own thing with the default browser settings ?
I can see $ome value on that, why give it away to 3rd parties?
In this sense surley alliances will be form with the major SE's , so who needs .mobi?

4)Why Sedo's "Think Tanks" (Tim and Matt)have stayed on the sidleines and made not predictions on regards to .mobi ?
I found it very strange or is it rather obvious.

[Alexa Raad]

Hello Robert
Thanks for the response to my post. I will attempt to answer yours, though I do have to point out my post was to correct or shed a different light on Frank's assertions re dotMobi and not to address broad questions like marketing, communication and operator acceptance. To address yours in sequence:

1- "The other side of the equation "end-users well established behavior".
I don't see any discussion nor a strategy presented on how to convince/persuade/market to the masses that there is an alternative.." The point of my post was that .mobi isnt an alternative (i.e. replacement) to .com or any other extensions. It is means of distributing (formating and authoring) content for mobile. Our website (look at news coverage as well, whitepapers etc) is full of what we have done to communicate this. Another practical way would be to go to Google and pull up website with .mobi TLD. There is a lot there.
2- It is ".mobi". It I am not sure what your question here is.
3- Are you talking about an operator blocking .mobi sites? why would they do that? (for example TIM has implemented it as part of their core value proposition!) Especially when .mobi means they will get the data traffic without the user experience headaches. Which operators doesnt want additional data traffic?
4- Go to Sedo and search for .mobi. There are quite a few that have sold and are up for sale. If uncertain, call them up and ask. I doubt you would get as gloomy a report as you seem to imply.

Many thanks for sharing your thoughts

[Caroline Greer]

Hi Robert,

Just to add to Alexa's comment about Sedo's predictions for dotmobi domains - you might like to see Sedo's April newsletter which gives a bit of an overview on auction trends and .mobi domains in particular. As with any new TLD, it takes a while before the secondary market shakes out and settles down and a true monetary valuation - which is how Sedo will be looking at this - can be made. The fact remains, however, that .mobi is frequently out-performing other 'new' (non .com/net/org) TLDs in the secondary market.

Sedo Newsletter excerpt:

3) .MOBI Domains

As with most infant TLDs in the domain industry, the ultimate value of a .MOBI name is still uncertain, and Sedo Auctions have helped to show that the only patterns emerging are that there are no patterns at all. Compare the sale of casinoonline.mobi at $17,504 USD to that of freecasinos.mobi at $2,750 (and keep in mind that the final offers were placed within eight days of one another!). The list goes on: 300.mobi at $3,599 USD vs. 400.mobi at $1,300 USD; bbb.mobi at $5,601 USD vs. cfo.mobi at $680 USD; southkorea.mobi at $3,400 USD vs. nothkorea.mobi at $340 USD--needless to say, .MOBI value is still very much in the air.

[John McCormac]

I agree that the ultimate value of .mobi is still uncertain however the patterns emerging in .mobi are quite unusual compared with .eu or other TLDs/gTLDs. The boom and bust cycle (Sunrise/Landrush to first renewal) hits all extensions. For .info, that cycle was approximately 2.5 years and for .eu it is about 1.2 years. But with .eu ccTLD, the EURid registry incompetently handled the problem of cybersquatting and massive warehousing. This led to a collapse in business confidence in the extension and despite the EU propaganda, the number of .eu domains registered by individuals and small businesses is, by EURid's own statistics in its 2006 annual report, only in the region of 1.2M domains. The rest of it is speculated/warehoused/squatted. Having built up a database of .eu domains covering approximately 83% of all registered .eu domains, the problem is quite apparent when .eu is compared with other properly run ccTLDs and gTLDs on a domain/hoster density basis.

What mTLD did with reserving the high value generic domains is quite unique. It may also have had the effect of turning a fairly standard boom and bust cycle into a far longer period one. Thus if you look at .mobi with a conventional mindset, it doesn't make sense. The dripfeed of generic auctions reduces a lot of the speculative activity that accompanies the launch of a new extension. As a result those with businesses that depend on hyping new extensions for a sales commission or a quick flip really don't know what to think about .mobi TLD.

What we might be seeing this early in the .mobi market is the small fry activity without the usual high value generics trades. If it works well, it could have a hot-house effect on the natural development of .mobi but it will take about three years for the effect to become apparent because of the device targeted nature of .mobi TLD. But if the phone manufacturers make .mobi the default extension in the way that .com was for the early browsers or a killer app like voice based web navigation is introduced, then things might get very interesting indeed.

[alexaraad]

Hi John
Thanks for the detailed post and comments.
I agree with your observations. It will take time for the market to develop; although I must say the developments we see now (tools as well as content compared to say even a year ago) are quicker than we anticipated. Having a fair and good plan to let premium names into the market place at intervals will keep pace and make sure proper content owners are motivated to own and build content behind the names.

As for your comment "But if the phone manufacturers make .mobi the default extension in the way that .com was for the early browsers or a killer app like voice based web navigation is introduced, then things might get very interesting indeed." I couldn't agree more. A default to a .mobi address (to ensure the sites brough up are ones that work and do not break the bank) make total sense. In addition, far more than a PC, a phone lends itself to voice activated (dialing) and browsing. Lets hope the device making community hears this loud and clear.

[elkadri]

mobi isnt an alternative.. The dot MOBI name is still uncertain. I think in 2008 you will hear, see and examine the usage of this extention.

I am still investing in this domain. It is going to beat the dot com especially with the 3-charachter dot mobi. Here is my list for sale if you are interested:

http://mediawebplus.com/main/premiumDomains.html

Domains for sale: Sample!!

EWF.mobi
LTE.mobi
GWB.mobi
WLD.mobi
VTL.mobi
RYL.mobi
OPL.mobi
XPY.mobi
VN1.mobi
OGH.mobi
QAC.mobi
QAS.mobi
HWO.mobi
YOR.mobi
GCW.mobi
PHM.mobi
WPL.mobi
WRR.mobi
UNV.mobi
PKD.mobi
OKM.mobi
PDH.mobi
PHK.mobi
DKF.mobi
SKP.mobi
OLH.mobi
WMK.mobi
BNU.mobi
KIB.mobi
KFK.mobi
KGH.mobi
LSK.mobi
SKW.mobi
MKO.mobi
MKW.mobi
MKA.mobi
SKM.mobi
CFK.mobi
UJU.mobi
GKL.mobi
YGH.mobi
UYT.mobi
GKA.mobi
HGK.mobi
RKK.mobi
DHK.mobi
LMU.mobi
NMK.mobi
PNU.mobi
NVE.mobi
OHU.mobi
UNV.mobi
YRP.mobi
VJA.mobi
AYP.mobi
YOA.mobi
KJH.mobi
XEP.mobi
AYT.mobi
EOC.mobi
OOD.mobi
AUB.mobi
JPV.mobi
KTY.mobi
EUW.mobi
OUX.mobi
SQK.mobi
PDZ.mobi
HDZ.mobi
TWZ.mobi
w-TV.mobi

MicroElectronics.mobi
DigitalNetworks.mobi
Fibers.mobi
Laroche.mobi
ITnetworks.mobi
VirtualWeb.mobi
VirtualBAY.mobi
VirtualCollege.mobi
VirtualBusiness.mobi
VirtualUniversity.mobi
VirtualLearning.mobi
KOREAonline.mobi
WorldWideCasino.mobi
RealTimes.mobi
MediaPlus.mobi
DigitalNews.mobi
PalmSpring.mobi
Micro-soft.mobi
MusicPro.mobi
EVDplayer.mobi
DigitalPlanet.mobi
MusicMakers.mobi
PlayMakers.mobi
OnlineGambler.mobi
PropertyLinks.mobi
ProPro.mobi
PropertyPro.mobi
mTransfer.mobi
iTransfer.mobi
iKnowledge.mobi
iVisa.mobi
e-Downloads.mobi
e-Gov.mobi
e-Brokers.mobi
e-China.mobi
ePool.mobi
eGraphics.mobi
eSystems.mobi
eLinks.mobi
eVirtual.mobi
eCore.mobi
eRecruiter.mobi
eInvestors.mobi
ePartner.mobi
eCommercial.mobi
eBuys.mobi
ePokers.mobi
eFirm.mobi
eDemo.mobi
eSound.mobi
eGambler.mobi
Pokerer.mobi
PokerLink.mobi
PokerFan.mobi
TheBlackJack.mobi
Pop-ups.mobi
Pop-up.mobi
ChinaPro.mobi
Archiving.mobi
Airing.mobi
Organizers.mobi
WebDevelopers.mobi
TrafficAds.mobi
TrafficPro.mobi
TrafficOnline.mobi
Adsenses.mobi
Maximizer.mobi
Graphix.mobi
Faxing.mobi
Seekers.mobi
Sexuals.mobi
dotxxx.mobi
xxxDate.mobi
Partnering.mobi
Commissioners.mobi
Achievements.mobi
Internationals.mobi
SellBuy.mobi
BizWeb.mobi
BusinessWeb.mobi
OnlineCam.mobi
OnlineDeal.mobi
VIPcards.mobi
OnlineSuperStore.mobi
TheDiamond.mobi
Lezbian.mobi
Syrie.mobi
Wael.mobi
MTPC.mobi
PCTM.mobi
ChristiansOnline.mobi

200200.mobi
300300.mobi
400400.mobi
500500.mobi
700700.mobi

1650.mobi
6050.mobi
7050.mobi
8050.mobi
9050.mobi
4020.mobi

BOYF.com
EUOT.com
NCPF.com
ADLM.com
OCGT.com
IDRR.com
BMWO.com
BHSO.com
BTDH.com
SYCS.com
SDMH.com
EGHR.com
OCGT.com
JSMH.com
CFUO.com

mLoads.com
EVDdownloads.com
FifaWorldCup2018.com
NewLookProduction.com
IslamicInvestment.com
CatholicCentre.com
Tenants.de
FatKiller.co.uk
PremiumSex.co.uk
SnapCash.co.uk
SexUpload.co.uk
iTravels.co.uk
iTraveler.co.uk
xxxToy.us
e-Faxing.com
e-Faxing.net
eLessons.net
e-Kurdistan.com
OmanPress.com
QatarPress.com
SudanPress.com
Kataeb.info
Aljaras.tv
Elaph.tv
Yemen.ca
GTY.ca
MyFax.info
MyFax.biz
ARLP.net
PMP.cc
Seekers.ws
ATkearney.ca
TrialStat.ca
Almanaber.com
Alitijah.com
ElaphTv.com
SyriaPresident.com
LebanonProductions.com
LibanLinks.com
KSAjobs.com
KuwaitJournal.com
KuwaitElections.com
GolanOnline.com
itijah.com
IsraelCrimes.com
ewb2009.com

[Domilandia]

I'm complety agree with "The evolution of the web on to the mobile medium is completely inevitable."

Good luck!.

[WorldRadio.mobi]

Please see my articles in thread about my DotMobi/DotCom mathematical trend concept proof (like the quadratic equation) -

http://www.namepros.com/dot-mobi/325135-how-do-you-see-role-com.html

It points out why the whole .COM movement of "no need for .mobi, why don't you just do a device detect and site redirect on the .COM" has NOT flourished!

Solution: Do the device detect and site redirect on the .MOBI from "ground up"

Kind Regards,

Yelo

[Alexa Raad]

Thanks for your comments!
Device redirect, as I think you point out, is not enough. Its important to build the site from the ground up- paying attention to what users want to see and access when they are on the move.