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."
