'Land Rush' Begins for .MOBI Domains

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.betanews.com/article/Land_Rush_Begins_for_MOBI_Domains/1159285417' target='_blank'>http://www.betanews.com/article/Lan...ains/1159285417</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Today is the day that designated domain name registrars have been given the green light to open up the application process for new .mobi top-level domain Web addresses to anyone seeking to establish a name in the burgeoning mobile Web space. Beginning now, anybody who can provide proof of trademark and country of trademark origin can register for a domain, if it promises to use that name for small device-oriented Web sites only...The intention behind the new TLD was to encourage the creation of Web services for small devices, and practically all mobile carriers in the U.S. have supported the move. But the objection of many influential parties, including some of the Web's very founders, remain on the record, as some believe the replication of namespaces is degenerating the founding principles of the Internet for the sake of growing a commercial franchise."</i><br /><br />Jason Langridge put up some thoughts on the subject, and <a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/jasonlan/archive/2006/09/26/771828.aspx">you can see them here</a>. Darius <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=47765">discussed the ramifications of a .mobi domain</a>, as well. In addition to all of these thoughts, I have a very simple, practical one as we see these sites roll out: as a consumer of content, how am I to use this domain? Should I first put "microsoft.mobi", for instance, into my URL field, and then switch to "microsoft.com" afterwards if the .mobi one doesn't work? What if "pda.mobi" is a different company than "pda.com"? The fact that, as BetaNews reports, a "land rush" has started on the top-level domain (TLD) worries me immensely. I'm afraid that we'll end up with yet another TLD blurring the idea of a domain name. What's your thoughts?

[Jerry Raia]

I think this is silly. We don't need another TLD. Especially a 4 letter one. I agree with your objections.

[Jason Dunn]

It's sheer stupidity. There's absolutely no reason for .mobi - it's just a big scam.

[T-Will]

Yeah what's the point?!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you go to PPCThoughts or Microsoft on a mobile device it will automatically detect that you're using a mobile device and will switch to the correct page.

Who wants to remember to go to microsoft.mobi when they're using a mobile device?

I agree, total waste.

[signothefish]

This is another one of those "if they can do it, so can we" ideas from China. Just like they're trying to establish their own internet and nationally-sponsored operating system.

One word: HTTP_USER_AGENT. :roll:

[daS]

I don't believe it will be a land rush because I don't think it will be used by the consumers. They will continue to attempt to connect to ".com" domains from their mobile devices and the .mobi TLD will wither away very soon.

[Darius Wey]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you go to PPCThoughts or Microsoft on a mobile device it will automatically detect that you're using a mobile device and will switch to the correct page.

Exactly. It's so simple to implement. One CMS, two templates - all on an existing .com gTLD. A user shouldn't have to go the extra mile and type in a specific URL just to access a mobile-friendly page. This should be performed server-side. If you also sync your favourites between your PC and mobile device, it eradicates the need to have conflicting .com and .mobi duplicates.

All of our Thoughts sites (except Zune Thoughts, since it's in beta) do this. Weblogs, Inc. just implemented it too with Engadget, TUAW, Joystiq et al. It's the more favoured option.

Bottom line, .mobi is ridiculous.

[Janak Parekh]

Yeah what's the point?!
I think the idea is that if you see a .mobi URL, you know that it will work on your handheld, instead of typing in, say, amazon.com and waiting before PIE shows a huge gobbledygook mess on your Pocket PC's screen.

However, I still find this awkward for the reasons I mentioned in my original post... and who's going to advertise .mobi URLs?

David: I was only quoting the original article, which has some stats. There's always going to be an early rush to grab the nicest domain names, just in case. I do think your forecast is extremely possible.

--janak

[T-Will]

Yeah what's the point?!
I think the idea is that if you see a .mobi URL, you know that it will work on your handheld, instead of typing in, say, amazon.com and waiting before PIE shows a huge gobbledygook mess on your Pocket PC's screen.

Does that really matter if you get gobbledegook? Either it's going to work or not. Like Darius said, it can all be done server-side.

Interesting that they'd create a 4 digit domain.

[Paragon]

I see it as a bit counterproductive. If this domain grows like they plan, that would mean that more and more sites would simply use it and build more sites to work on present mobile devices. That sounds very good....BUT I think what we really need are devices and mobile browsers that do a much better job of formatting any site to work on a mobile device instead of limiting our choices to .mobi? I look at Opera for PPC and see how much better it renders pages than PIE does and see first hand how better browsers are the answer.

Dave

[MarcFou]

I rather like the idea. I would like it even more if the extension was 3 letters like MBL. Also, I would hope that it wouldnt be offered to people as a fall back when .com and .net are taken.

[signothefish]

Can you imagine the amount of fraudulent sites that could be created? Just think if Joe H4xx0r purchases amazon.mobi and creates a site that looks just like amazon.com.

[MarcFou]

People are doing that already more or less. Amazon.MYSITE.com etc. Not too mention we already have .net, .org, .biz so its not like .com is the only ext.

[signothefish]

True. It just means that companies have to spend money to purchase more TLDs. Which is all the more reason the .mobi domain is likely doomed to fail.

[Jason Dunn]

The interesting thing is the domain cost:

Industry Sunrise No longer available $149
Trade Mark Sunrise June 12th to September 22nd $149
Land Rush September 26th to October 10th $149
General Registration From October 11th $29

$149 for a domain name? Please. :roll:

[Jerry Raia]

$149 for a domain name? Please. :roll:

That is outrageous.

[Janak Parekh]

Can you imagine the amount of fraudulent sites that could be created? Just think if Joe H4xx0r purchases amazon.mobi and creates a site that looks just like amazon.com.
I think the article suggests that some kind of proof is needed before you can register such sites, although I don't know the precise mechanism.

--janak

[jlp]

...

Interesting that they'd create a 4 digit domain.

I don't think .mob 8O would be a smart choice, what do you think?

[Paragon]

...

Interesting that they'd create a 4 digit domain.

I don't think .mob 8O would be a smart choice, what do you think?

Oh, I don't know, I think it would be very appropriate. ;)

Dave