How I describe .mobi to "regular" people

[coast]

The more I talk about .mobi the more acceptance it gets. This weekend I am at a wedding in Miami, and whenever people ask me what I do, I tell them I make websites that you can see on your cell phone (that's still what people call them here).

When they ask me how I do that, I tell them, "You know how when you go to a website on your computer you type in .com? Well, when you go to a website on your phone, instead of .com, type .mobi." I spell .mobi for them since they usually haven't heard of it before.

Unless the person I am talking to is completely tech-phobic, the response is very positive. Most of the people I have talked to do not have dataplans/internet on their phone yet, which is probably the biggest barrier to entry. However, if the person has a blackberry or iphone, they are usually amazed at the sites.

Generic .mobi's that help peoples businesses also make a great wedding gift.

[Scandiman]

I've been using the "com is for computer, mobi is for mobile" ever since mej brought it to light. It is very effective. My nieces have no clue about the history of the internet, and when they heard that it was like a light bulb went on in their head. Being the historian I am I did stop to tell them com originally stood for commerce, net for networks, org for organizations, edu for education, etc but mej's line hammers home the essence of what .mobi is about in a simple way better than anything I've heard thus far.

[John]

I guess my famous line for explaining this new extension is I reference it as .mobile for websites you can access on any mobile web device.

Then I explain they took off the "le" from mobile so it's easier to type in when accessing a mobile website. This instantly brands .mobi(le) as "THE" extension to use when your on your mobi(le) devise.

It beats the heck out of trying to explain what mobi stands for, at least for me.(reverse psychology)

I have yet to have someone ask me how I'm doing with aah, what was that new ext. your working on? Almost every single person has remembered .mobile (minus the le)

[HipHop.mobi]

coast send us some of that miami heat to Europe!
its pretty cold over here

[tophatter]

Everyone that I explain .mobi to has a welcome feeling about it.I have never got a negative facial look,infact I think people are definately ready for .mobi. at least I hope so.

Regards

[coast]

Follow up: While waiting at the gate for my plane to take off, I borrowed Mr. Coast's* phone (his is better) to access mobility.mobi. I checked my pm's and was very happy to see that someone I spoke to about our forum joined. He asked me if it was a text message and I said no, it is from the .mobi forum. Then he wanted to read this very post (I guess he wanted to know what .mobi was for "regular" people).

He was so surprised to see that we have an internet plan on our phone. Then I showed him ESPN.mobi and told him about BusinessWeek.mobi. You could see the lightbulb go on, and let me tell you that was great.


I guess my famous line for explaining this new extension is I reference it as .mobile for websites you can access on any mobile web device.

Then I explain they took off the "le" from mobile so it's easier to type in when accessing a mobile website. This instantly brands .mobi(le) as "THE" extension to use when your on your mobi(le) devise.

I like that a lot, I think I will try that too.


*For anyone who doesn't know, I am female lol.

[Mobineer]

Dear Coast,

I tried to describe MOBI to "regular" people --- they looked at me and nodded in that "knowing" manner - pretty much as if I'd just announced I'd been abducted by aliens --
I suggest - show rather than tell, as on your mobile phone ---

[Scandiman]

I suggest - show rather than tell, as on your mobile phone ---Weather.mobi vs weather.com on a mobile device is the best pair I know to show the difference, and what a difference of ease of use, navigation and load times.

[capt. ahab]

I like to tell them in my best Mr T voice .... " Listen up Fool, stop wasting your time and money going to .com sites on your cellphone. Go to .mobi sites. They load faster and are easier to use fool. " then a bunch of dot commers appear...... a raging gun battle erupts ....... thousands of bullets fly around and nobody gets hurt....:)


I also find that once you show them they are really appreciative.

You can lead them to the water and actually watch them drink.

Always positive feedback.

[coast]

I like to tell them in my best Mr T voice .... " Listen up Fool, stop wasting your time and money going to .com sites on your cellphone. Go to .mobi sites. They load faster and are easier to use fool. " then a bunch of dot commers appear...... a raging gun battle erupts ....... thousands of bullets fly around and nobody gets hurt....:)

Capn, are these your hands?
http://mike.essl.com/images/uploads/ring.jpg

Now this is what I'm talkin' about:
http://www.straightupsearch.com/archives/mr_t_blue.jpg

[capt. ahab]

Capn, are these your hands?
http://mike.essl.com/images/uploads/ring.jpg

Now this is what I'm talkin' about:
http://www.straightupsearch.com/archives/mr_t_blue.jpg



No, mine are more like these.

http://http://www.neatorama.com/images/2006-12/love-hate-baby.jpg


:biggrin:

[nrec4mil]

Weather.mobi vs weather.com on a mobile device is the best pair I know to show the difference, and what a difference of ease of use, navigation and load times.

This is a great example -- thanks for the info! I always ask "regular" people if they've heard of it. More and more I'm getting a "yes" answer to this! :smile: