TRAFFIC NYC Silver lining

[Scandiman]

I think many people are disappointed by the poor sales figures at the recent live auction, but I'm curious if I'm the only one who sees this as a huge buying opportunity. Nothing has changed for me in regards to seeing the role and purpose of .mobi so I'm glad to have this ongoing buying period to shop for good aftermarket names. I don't have 6-7 figures to drop on it at once so for me the longer the aftermarket stays low the better. Am I alone here?

[Dave]

I think many people are disappointed by the poor sales figures at the recent live auction, but I'm curious if I'm the only one who sees this as a huge buying opportunity. Nothing has changed for me in regards to seeing the role and purpose of .mobi so I'm glad to have this ongoing buying period to shop for good aftermarket names. I don't have 6-7 figures to drop on it at once so for me the longer the aftermarket stays low the better. Am I alone here?
I agree that it's a nice side effect, but for me I've never done much in the aftermarket anyway, so it doesn't really help me personally. And I'm also very interested in selling off some of my portfolio this year to help fund renewals next year, so the sooner it climbs in value, the better!

[BuckShotDots]

I'm always buying :) What I think will be interesting is when the first wave of .mobi's start dropping. But that is a loong ways away...

gary-

[aggieuk]

It seems strange to me that everyone thinks the Traffic auction is the be all and end all? Yes it's a big day for domainers but IMHO the rest of the world couldn't give a toss what happens, how many end users turn up at each event?? My guess none or very very little, if the industry is to move forward it's not just domainers that need to be invited, end users need to be contacted by Moniker/MTLD. A sustained effort needs to be made to get the right publicity and interest by these people to create that mobile web structure that the public would be able to use effectively.

If for example a few van gogh paintings were put up for auction at Christys in London and they didn't sell would the value go down in any way??? Nope!

I think everyones got to calm down and look at the bigger picture, there's enduser .mobi sites springing up all the time this is the real indication of whats going to happen, and if it carries on at this rate then .mobi could be an outstanding success!

[Dave]

It seems strange to me that everyone thinks the Traffic auction is the be all and end all? Yes it's a big day for domainers but IMHO the rest of the world couldn't give a toss what happens, how many end users turn up at each event?? My guess none or very very little, if the industry is to move forward it's not just domainers that need to be invited, end users need to be contacted by Moniker/MTLD. A sustained effort needs to be made to get the right publicity and interest by these people to create that mobile web structure that the public would be able to use effectively.

If for example a few van gogh paintings were put up for auction at Christys in London and they didn't sell would the value go down in any way??? Nope!

I think everyones got to calm down and look at the bigger picture, there's enduser .mobi sites springing up all the time this is the real indication of whats going to happen, and if it carries on at this rate then .mobi could be an outstanding success!

I agree, actually...I think all it does is help fuel the negative fire for the anti-.mobi crowd and disappoint the pro-.mobi crowd, but it has zero effect on the progress of the extension. A .mobi may end up being a harder sell for a little while amongst domainers, but it'll get where it goes no matter.

(I suddenly had deja vu...I think I wrote something exactly like that after the last TRAFFIC auction...)

[Andres Kello]

I think many people are disappointed by the poor sales figures at the recent live auctionWait a second, I thought .mobi's didn't sell because reserve prices weren't reached. In fact, weren't there several $xx,xxx offers made for .mobi's, and even an $xxx,xxx offer for Scores.mobi? That's no cause for disappointment in my book, people were actually still willing to pay that much money for .mobi's.

Also, let us not forget, this extension is less than a year old. It's still crawling on all 4 legs...but it's already learned to talk. :)

[Scandiman]

Wait a second, I thought .mobi's didn't sell because reserve prices weren't reached. In fact, weren't there several $xx,xxx offers made for .mobi's, and even an $xxx,xxx offer for Scores.mobi? That's no cause for disappointment in my book, people were actually still willing to pay that much money for .mobi's.

Also, let us not forget, this extension is less than a year old. It's still crawling on all 4 legs...but it's already learned to talk. :)
To be clear, I'm not one of those who is disappointed. As far as the bids there are claims being made by some in attendance that many starting bids were in essence faked by the auctioneer to get the prices up quickly to the reserve, not just for the mobi's. If this is true I'm surprised there is no outrage over the practice. I can't imagine the reaction if SEDO did the same thing, creating fake bidders to drive up prices. Aggie, your exactly right, it's a big day for domainers and that's about it.

[Dave]

Wait a second, I thought .mobi's didn't sell because reserve prices weren't reached. In fact, weren't there several $xx,xxx offers made for .mobi's, and even an $xxx,xxx offer for Scores.mobi? That's no cause for disappointment in my book, people were actually still willing to pay that much money for .mobi's.

Also, let us not forget, this extension is less than a year old. It's still crawling on all 4 legs...but it's already learned to talk. :)
Oh, but I'm certain those were just some invested .mobi parties who knew they were bidding below the reserve and just wanted to make it look like there was interest in .mobi. At least, that's what Jeff told me.

[Andres Kello]

To be clear, I'm not one of those who is disappointed. As far as the bids there are claims being made by some in attendance that many starting bids were in essence faked by the auctioneer to get the prices up quickly to the reserve, not just for the mobi's. If this is true I'm surprised there is no outrage over the practice. I can't imagine the reaction if SEDO did the same thing, creating fake bidders to drive up prices. Aggie, your exactly right, it's a big day for domainers and that's about it.It's hard to believe those claims because, like you said, shill bidding is a big no-no even at $2 auctions on eBay, so I can't imagine it being any different with $xx,xxx - $xxx,xxx auctions at TRAFFIC. You're right that the "bad" publicity after the TRAFFIC auction has created a unique opportunity to buy .mobi's, just don't tell anyone. ;)

[mjnels]

It's hard to believe those claims because, like you said, shill bidding is a big no-no even at $2 auctions on eBay, so I can't imagine it being any different with $xx,xxx - $xxx,xxx auctions at TRAFFIC.


ive heard a few other people claim this that were at the event... its completely possible..

[Work In Progress]

I'm wondering just how many people in that room were pro-mobi at all. It seems we keep hearing the majority of the "old timers" that keep the big bids going are not really mobi fans at this stage. The big $$$ buyers at Traffic are mostly die hard .commies with little interest in this new extension. Since there seems to be a lack of end user attendance at this event, this leads me to believe that the majority of active bidders in that room had no interest in mobi to begin with. This in itself would tend to keep the numbers down. Adding the high reserves on most and lack of reserved names offered by mTLD to the equation and you get the results shown.

I can just see these guys sitting around a table 3 years from now saying "Remember when we could have had _____.mobi for only $____ ???



It sure does look suspicious that bids were ending just under reserve. :rolleyes:

And yes...it most definitely opens up a good market for buyers at this time. Keep your eyes peeled for some bargains!

[mejcdj]

I think its just too early yet for the deep pockets to invest too much in .mobi. We don't have enough sites up, there are still the reserved names being held back and there has not been enough marketing yet for .mobi.

I still feel that it will be about 5 years before we have the sites and the phone services to really make .mobi a household word.. but I definaltey DO belive it will happen.

All the hype about iphone and toch screens and yadda yadda.. does not matter because the truth is that most people can not afford the new phones or the badwidth and more people still need to even get any type of mobile phone.

Once we have a basic phone that is affordble to all, and there is unlimited web access on these phones, they will run to .mobi. No screen will support a full .com site in any way without annoying scrolling and zooming. Even with unlimited bandwidht, the sites will take forever to load. There are scripts on .com sites that are not usable on a mobile yet, and my never be adopted to a mobile. We avoid that with our standards and our streamlined content. Everything on our sites is relavent and easy to see as soon as the site is opened. Add to that that we can make full blown content sites as well with a detecting script or a simple link to send to the PC site, we really do have the whole package.

Even if a million .com sites create a mobile friendly site, there are still how many other millions who won't or don't want to do the same? With mobi.. they KNOW they will get what they are looking for.

In saying this, if we are patient, we will see .mobi succeed beyond our wildest dreams. Moniker auctions, sedo auctions and any other type of sale at this point is just too ealy for most. The fact that we have seen some fantasic .mobi sales this early in the game is only good news. Imagine what it will be like in a few more years. Our rewards will come later IMO.

I am not registering anything else any more. Only mobi. I have some names in other extentions that I will renew, but I am banking on mobi to be the big winner.

[ezinaz]

So if Traffic isn't the place to sell your mobi domains, than what is?

[Work In Progress]

So if Traffic isn't the place to sell your mobi domains, than what is?

The point is, now is not the best time to be selling. In time, Traffic will probably be THE spot to sell. But not until more big players recognize it's value.

Patience is the key...

[Scandiman]

Patience is the key...And development. And EZ is doing a fine job so far with that, love the new LongIsland.mobi!!

[dentalpro]

spot on...those auctions are full of dyed-in-the-wool .comers...it's amazing any .mobis sell at all considering whos there...the main thing .mobi needs (and I feel mtld is doing) is for millions of individual companies to use a .MOBI for their businesses.



It seems strange to me that everyone thinks the Traffic auction is the be all and end all? Yes it's a big day for domainers but IMHO the rest of the world couldn't give a toss what happens, how many end users turn up at each event?? My guess none or very very little, if the industry is to move forward it's not just domainers that need to be invited, end users need to be contacted by Moniker/MTLD. A sustained effort needs to be made to get the right publicity and interest by these people to create that mobile web structure that the public would be able to use effectively.

If for example a few van gogh paintings were put up for auction at Christys in London and they didn't sell would the value go down in any way??? Nope!

I think everyones got to calm down and look at the bigger picture, there's enduser .mobi sites springing up all the time this is the real indication of whats going to happen, and if it carries on at this rate then .mobi could be an outstanding success!

[acc]

It seems strange to me that everyone thinks the Traffic auction is the be all and end all? Yes it's a big day for domainers but IMHO the rest of the world couldn't give a toss what happens, how many end users turn up at each event?? My guess none or very very little, if the industry is to move forward it's not just domainers that need to be invited, end users need to be contacted by Moniker/MTLD. A sustained effort needs to be made to get the right publicity and interest by these people to create that mobile web structure that the public would be able to use effectively.

If for example a few van gogh paintings were put up for auction at Christys in London and they didn't sell would the value go down in any way??? Nope!

I think everyones got to calm down and look at the bigger picture, there's enduser .mobi sites springing up all the time this is the real indication of whats going to happen, and if it carries on at this rate then .mobi could be an outstanding success!
"Spot on, squire" ....

This is such a new industry and TRAFFIC is one of the few trade shows focused on domain names. And it seems focused more so on just domain names for domainers instead of the bigger picture of domain names purposed as end-user advertising tools.

Dot mobi is the radical newcomer to an industry whose mantra is dot com PPC. The "big" boys - who should be offered kudos for achieving success with their investments and their risk taking - may not currently appear to be willing to openly accept dot mobi, but they will not forgo the opportunity to make a buck when they feel the time is right to get involved with mobi domains.

TRAFFIC auctions have their pros and cons and at the very least they are another venue for selling names for those who choose to do so. I was originally disappointed to not get any of my generic, financial-term .mobi or .us names accepted for the NY auction as I understood the show would be promoted to "Madison Avenue" and "Wall Street". I'm not sure that their outside promotion goal was met and wonder if anyone in attendance has any feedback as to end-user attendance. Thanks.

-acc