Two (?) months later. Was the Iphone good or bad for .mobi?

[Javier Marti]

I have published an article,

(("Iphone and Digg: the first victim of user-generated reviews" An exercise in predictive writing.))
http://trendinews.com/?p=73

that I wrote a few days before the launch of the Iphone...and got to some conclusions regarding the Iphone's influence on the mobile web in general.

Do you agree or disagree with my conclusions? What do you think has been the impact of the Iphone for .mobi? What could be the impact of Iphone 2.0 and how do you think it is going to be?

[Scandiman]

I think it was good for .mobi from the start and continues to be good for .mobi. Same ongoing premise: More mobile internet users = growth in the primary user base of .mobi sites.

[Gerry]

I think it was good for .mobi from the start and continues to be good for .mobi. Same ongoing premise: More mobile internet users = growth in the primary user base of .mobi sites.

Gotta agree with that assessment. Put the internet in someones hands and they will use it. I know I did.

As for all the naysayers out there, I am still baffled by the reluctance to accept on basic simple premise...the mobile internet is here. It is not coming, it is not a few years away, it is not some virtual concept.

It is here.

Why is that so difficult to grasp? Why is there such disdain for the .mobi domain extension?

I think it is part a matter of taste (I don't like it), part usage (I can do it with WAP), part unacceptance (I don't need it), and the more I am on these forums the more I do believe there is a potential to take traffic away from someone's hallowed .com domain.

But here's the thing...if they have a generic .com or any decent traffic .com parked and making revenue vs. an actual .mobi site that is the same name but that site is dynamic and actually used, then eventually the traffic and revenue will erode from the .com parked site.

Granted, this erosion may take a while but how long? Or better yet, how little time?

I for one am absolutely amazed at how rapidly this domain extension has taken off. There are such smart marketing people and agencies and corporations out there that are so in-tuned to how to reach their current customer base and reach out to new customers. These are the driving forces of this extension. They have basically shown me and a few others that there is a new media and medium out there that can reach their customer no matter where their customer is.

These are the groups, firms, and companies that are going to be so far out front in this new frontier. In the meantime, the consumer is not stopping or slowing down and is indeed mobile.

So the old school method of reaching the customer is starting to become history.

Why would someone want to put advertising dollars towards radio spots when there is iPOD, XM, or even a CD player...even in the car?

Why would someone spend alot of money advertising on television when there is cable, Satellite, PPView, TiVo? Initially, I can see companies like BofA putting some advertising dollars towards these mediums.

But eventually, it will come down to...who needs them?

I recently read a report that 40% of the people under 25 years of age who live outside the parents home do not even have a land line telephone. This tells me two things...they don't need it because they have their cell and they are not home.

Again, look for .mobi to be advertised in un-charateristic and non-traditional places. Where ever there are people on the go, that is probably where you will see it.

With or without the issues of the iPhone, give Apple credit for the hype pre-launch. The said it would surf the internet. They said it could do this and do that. So what if it is an expensive iPod that you can talk on. The point is the MADE people want it.

So anything that makes people use a portable device for the internet usage is a bonus. Put it into their hands. They will use it. And then give them options. Let them see the real difference of a .mobi enabled site vs. the .com site.

Hey, good to be here!

[Pred]

Gotta agree with that assessment. Put the internet in someones hands and they will use it. I know I did.

As for all the naysayers out there, I am still baffled by the reluctance to accept on basic simple premise...the mobile internet is here. It is not coming, it is not a few years away, it is not some virtual concept.

It is here.

Why is that so difficult to grasp? Why is there such disdain for the .mobi domain extension?

I do believe there is a potential to take traffic away from someone's hallowed .com domain.

I recently read a report that 40% of the people under 25 years of age who live outside the parents home do not even have a land line telephone. This tells me two things...they don't need it because they have their cell and they are not home.

Yep agree with everything. Been a good week. I think we're gonna start seeing a great story daily. Things are picking up.
I'm re-energised about mobi again, always believed, but been going through a lax time.

Incidentally when are the next big mobis getting auctioned?
Feel we need some big sales to cheer everyone & pissing off the naysayers... well that thrills every waking hour

Pred >>>>

[newdomainer]

To quote a well known 'Great British' visionary


"OOoohhh Yeesssssh!!!!"


(quote: Churchill ;-)

[coast]

Here's my opinion: http://www.namepros.com/361790-buyer...ml#post2137533

iPhone = very very good for .mobi

And yes, those of you who never darken that door again, they are still debating the future of .mobi. Sheesh.

[Gerry]

Sorry, I can not even stand to view that forum any more so I don't even go there.

In my opinion, coast, your domain fits the anti-mobi sentiment over at NP...

Plastered.

[Gerry]

Sorry, this is about the iPhone, so please post number 3 of this thread.

[Gerry]

Sorry, this is about the iPhone, so please post number 3 of this thread.

iPhone Friendly

[coast]

Ah, Gerry, I was thinking of you when I posted this and hoping it wouldn't upset you too much. Here is (most) of the text:

Quoting myself here:

"...you're right, cheap doesn't necessarily equate to good value.

Even so, I would encourage you and others reading this thread to do a bit more research into the nature of .mobi to keep it's future in context before concluding that there is no future.

Here's my take on the .mobi buyers market:

When you look at namebio.com and see a few spiked .mobi sales from T.R.A.F.F.I.C. and a lot of x or xx sales on Afternic bazaar, you see a chasm between the people who are projecting .mobi's value into the future as it gains momentum in Europe and within a dedicated .mobi domainer base vs. the speculators who believed months and months of .mobi bashing and dumped their names.

Many speculators bailed when they saw they wouldn't have a quick flip on their investment. Those of us who continue to see a vision of what is being built see this as the beginning of a long-range process and are focused on development rather than a quick return on investment.

As for companies being uninterested, it would help to keep in mind that premium .mobi domain names are just now beginning to be released very slowly, such as weather.mobi. The one company that advertises their .mobi with any regularity is the Bank of America, bofa.mobi, which is attempting to reach a new generation of internet users via youtube, which makes sense because the old business models don't necessarily work for younger people.

Yikes, did I just "younger people" just now? Yeah, I guess I did. And that's the rub: the same people who are using mosquito ringtones that their teachers can't hear are the same ones texting like crazy and expecting their mobile phones to bring them the world. (Same goes for "more established" -- no, I won't say older... well maybe -- iPhone and Blackberry users, too.) It's only a matter of time before overworked moms start ordering dinner from Pizzaz.mobi (which is what that site does, by the way), and others follow suit.

On some of the developer forums, it's interesting to see how many of the .com developers with mad flash and javascript skills diss mobile content. If you follow the threads over time, you can see the surprise as they learn how much of their traffic is coming from mobile devices, especially phones. Then the panic sets in - "what am I going to do? How are we going to make our sites fit on a cell phone screen?"

WAP on a .com doesn't always work. That's why .mobi's are popular with the people who know which sites to surf.

This leads back to your original point, I would have to agree that newcomers to domaining and newcomers to .mobi especially should do their homework and decide if they are in this for the short term or the long haul. Also, there is no parking company to speak of that redirects links to mobile content. So the deal is this: buy and hold, or better yet buy and develop. If it's the short term, it might be best to sit out. Then again, the "good" names might be gone, or they might still be available. My magic 8 ball broke when I was a kid so I'm not going to guess either way.

In the meantime, I know I can get the full information I need from a developed .mobi site on my phone.

Well it's been awhile since I went on a rant so there you go. "

There, now you have no reason to go anywhere else to hear me on my soapbox.

[Gerry]

Thanks coast. Naw, I don't get upset with it...I just don't view it.

If someone wants to ban someone for something posted on anyother forum, then so be it. I guess if I felt like I was king of the world and hiding behind a computer screen without a real purpose then I guess all that pseudo power would go to my head also.

So thanks for posting it here. Very thought out response and key valid points. Damn, even if us not "younger people" get it, then I am really baffled by the resistance to the concept.

And point blank...it in fact works faster, works better, and is more usable in the .mobi format and standards.

[Scandiman]

Great points Coast, couldn't rep you anymore over there so I'll get you here!

I need to dig up some of my old posts over there that got me beat up for being a mobi loving fool with blinders on. The downside of posting a lot is that it is harder to find old posts.

[coast]

Gerry, you're welcome. Scandi, thanks for the rep! And Javier, if you like this post and want it for your book (not that I'd presume that you want it) you may do so.

[Javier Marti]

And Javier, if you like this post and want it for your book (not that I'd presume that you want it) you may do so.

Certainly...I am gathering info right now from all sources and composing the text of the book. That's the way to go Coast! It helps me to know beforehand the people who authorize me to use their posts Thank you! I may not use it verbatim because my own opinion will be in there too, but certainly guys I am looking forward to quote some of you if you explicitly give me permission beforehand By the way guys, I have certain little things that I need to double check (partial knowledge in some areas) that I need comments on...some questions are about .mobi and some about domaining in general. (example: what's the exact logic of buying combinations of numbers and letters, and other general questions) Please pm me if I can ask you or...Scandi, could you point me to the right place in the forum where I can ask general questions (if anybody reads them there)...so I don't mess up posting in the wrong place? thanks

[Scandiman]

Scandi, could you point me to the right place in the forum where I can ask general questions (if anybody reads them there)...so I don't mess up posting in the wrong place? thanks

News & Discussion or the Private Discussion sections would be fine I think.

[Javier Marti]

News & Discussion or the Private Discussion sections would be fine I think.

But you see, Scandi...I need permission to ask somewhere some questions that are related to a book about .mobi but not necessarily exactly about .mobi (the book contains some general explanations about mobile technology, domaining, the future, etc...) and I don't want to be told "Javier, this is a forum about .mobi, bla, bla, bla" But in the other hand, doing it through PM would make it impossible for some people to participate, when they can have interesting information to share!

[Scandiman]

But you see, Scandi...I need permission to ask somewhere some questions that are related to a book about .mobi but not necessarily exactly about .mobi (the book contains some general explanations about mobile technology, domaining, the future, etc...) and I don't want to be told "Javier, this is a forum about .mobi, bla, bla, bla" But in the other hand, doing it through PM would make it impossible for some people to participate, when they can have interesting information to share!

Since you have ongoing concerns, I would suggest PM'ing Andres to sort out what is the best approach for your needs.

[coast]

But you see, Scandi...I need permission to ask somewhere some questions that are related to a book about .mobi but not necessarily exactly about .mobi (the book contains some general explanations about mobile technology, domaining, the future, etc...) and I don't want to be told "Javier, this is a forum about .mobi, bla, bla, bla" But in the other hand, doing it through PM would make it impossible for some people to participate, when they can have interesting information to share!

Javier, it may be that you need to set up your own site and post here when you have specific questions that you want answered. Obviously we're not looking for a competing forum, but if what you're doing doesn't fit this format, maybe you need to think of a more creative solution, maybe do an opt-in list and send emails to the list or something.

[Javier Marti]

maybe you need to think of a more creative solution, maybe do an opt-in list and send emails to the list or something.

Hey, that's a great idea Coast. I may do that then

[Gerry]

Hey, that's a great idea Coast. I may do that then

Why am I still awake? I work nights.

Not sure where you are located , but we're dealing with a very diverse group spead out all over the globe. So it is difficult to keep things and information coming in steady streams.

Had I been asleep and woke up and clicked on NEW POSTS I may have missed this...again.

I assure you I appreciate all you are doing to help promote .mobi in any way. I also appreciate your professionalism and your business sense.

Gee, I guess if all 150 members lived in the same neighborhood we could have meetings at each others houses.

I also like Coast's idea. This is certainly not the only forum I belong to (man, I can't believe I said that...sorry Mods and Andres) but I am sure all can be sorted out. In time. Because the time differences look like a sticking point for all of us.

Hang in there, Javier!

[Javier Marti]

"Not sure where you are located "

"Cloudyland", aka England.

"Had I been asleep and woke up and clicked on NEW POSTS I may have missed this...again."



"I assure you I appreciate all you are doing to help promote .mobi in any way. I also appreciate your professionalism and your business sense."

Thank you very much Gerry. We are all learning a lot, I think.

"if all 150 members lived in the same neighborhood we could have meetings at each others houses. "

If the top members of this forum lived close to each other, we would have taken the world already

"I also like Coast's idea"
Yes. It would give me the freedom to ask anything I want, and you guys

"This is certainly not the only forum I belong to (man, I can't believe I said that...sorry Mods and Andres) "

An infidel!

"but I am sure all can be sorted out. "

Sure. Talibans sort infidels with trees. And ropes. They sort them out very quickly

"Because the time differences look like a sticking point for all of us."

I think that it is good to be connected and receive information from several sources. However, I mostly contribute here, because my time is too scarce to be explaining the basics to naysayers. I try to be objective about .mobi (although I hold some domains myself) but some people seem to have just too much time in their hands and enjoy undermining other people's opinions/projects, and do it with malice. On top of that, they talk before they know what they're talking about, and they pretend to know what they don't.
I read several sources a day, but I only post here, and in "private discussion" most of the time. Particularly if it is really good information, since I think that real visionaires should be rewarded and -in an age where information is power- I can't see why should we give tips to the naysayers for free!

Thanks for the support Gerry and everyone

[coast]

"if all 150 members lived in the same neighborhood we could have meetings at each others houses. "

If the top members of this forum lived close to each other, we would have taken the world already

So, when are you all moving to Sunny Southern California? Gerry's SDCA.mobi would make it a tax deduction I would think.