.mobi Death knell for mobile web?

[Rubber Duck]

http://www.siliconrepublic.com/news/news.nv?storyid=single10756

15.04.2008 - The mobile web is “limited at best and dying at worst” said former Yahoo! Mobile evangelist and programmer Russell Beattie as he shut down his mobile browser start-up Mowser barely a year after its launch.
“I don’t actually believe in the mobile web anymore,” said Beattie in a post on his official blog, explaining how he has come to believe that a web experience developed solely for the mobile handset is just not a concept that is taking off.

“Two years ago I was convinced the mobile web would continue to evolve in the west to mimic what was happening in countries like Japan and Korea, but it hasn’t happened, and now I’m sure it isn’t going to.”

Although there are around three billion mobile phones in use worldwide, Beattie claims the argument that this is tilting the online market in favour of the handset over the PC is simply not true because the current browser experience on a handset is not full enough, unless you are using a device like the iPhone or Nokia N95.

“Let’s face it, you really aren’t going to spend any real time or effort browsing the web on your mobile phone unless you’re using Opera Mini or have a smart phone with a decent browser – as any other option is a waste of time, effort and money,” he said.

Mowser was developed by Beattie as a service that takes regular websites developed for a standard PC or Mac browser and optimises or converts them for a mobile experience.

Theoretically, this gave Mowser an unlimited market but Beattie said analysis of the traffic passing though his site showed around 80pc was related to porn with an absence of a general market.

“Let me say that again clearly, the mobile traffic just isn’t there. It’s not there now, and it won’t be,” he said with an air of finality on his blog.

The solution, said Beattie, is the smart phone. Statistics may support this conclusion: a recent survey by US tech trends firm iSuppli showed that US consumers spend on average 12.1pc of their time using the iPhone for the mobile web, while users of other mobile handsets only use the net on their handsets 2.4pc of the time.

 

[newdomainer.mobi]

That's a strawman argument and 100% worthless.

Mobi fanatics continue to hold onto hope but one at a time they are jumping off the train.

The level of success that was expected of the "mobile web" will never occur. It will not even become close. Is there a market there...yes probably. But it's so small and obscure that only a small (very small) percentage of sites will do well.



Not one of those are a mobi pureplay though. They ALL could just have easily marketed m.domain.com or some other mobile domain variation. A novelty is not a long-term overall market success.

You mobineers hold on though...hold tight. It's just so damn amusing.

Labiarocca

Having seen you on the forum from quite a way back I guess you take this kind of stance on dotmobi in order to support your own lack of foresight by not investing a small % of your domainer funds into the extension - you should know it's not wise to have all your eggs in one basket

Your comments simply serve to underline the moral of the story about the Patent Office... I find it somewhat amusing that you don't get it

So maybe for the benefit of all us silly dotmobi supporters you will stick around & continue to amuse us with your wisdom & wit & something else that rhymes with the latter

 

[VV]

He makes LOTS of valid points, imho.

The mobile web has a tough road ahead. Lots of curves, lots of bumps.

The .mobi extension... faces an even tougher road. In fact there might not even be a road. It's more like a small dirt path in the thick jungles of Africa with a single guy trying to plow his way thru with nothing but a pocket-knife.

To add to my previous post.

That being said -- Mr. Beattie also sounds like a frustrated man, one who just had to close down his business and give up on his dreams. And 2 years does seem a bit premature to pull the plug on something like this.

 

[hedgefund]

I've just sold a 3 letter name for $10,000. It is still in escrow.com. Once it is completed I will let your guys know.

 

[gou]

“Let’s face it, you really aren’t going to spend any real time or effort browsing the web on your mobile phone unless you’re using Opera Mini or have a smart phone with a decent browser – as any other option is a waste of time, effort and money,” he said.

Like mobile technology isn't going to advance?

 

[hawkeye]

I Guess my question would be - did you sell them to another reseller or are they going to be developed?...

Just curious how/why that may be a question, as no one seems concerned what happens to those 'hot investment' LLLL.com's and LLLL.net's, but yet everyone likes to tout how they're selling!!

 

[Keith]

Did the traditional internet boom over night?? I think not. It was something new to people and took time to mature into what we know it as today.

The same is true for the mobile web. It will take time for people to
catch on to surfing the web via mobiles. Once internet access drops
in price and more companies promote their mobile sites, it's all over
with.

It all boils down to convenience. Why wait until you get home to search
for something you are thinking of when you're away from your pc? If access
is available to search on the go, and it is made quick and easy, you will
utilize it.

Everyone needs to chill out and give the mobile web time to develop. Because
it has not boomed over night does not mean it is doomed by any means!

 

[newdomainer.mobi]

I've just sold a 3 letter name for $10,000. It is still in escrow.com. Once it is completed I will let your guys know.

Look forward to finding out what you've managed to achieve again... nice work!

You know your way around the 'other' forums too.... I dare say you have seen my portfolio lurking If you think there are some good potential sales in either my LLL or LLLL sections I'd be happy to talk about % with you...

Regards

Gary

(congrats on a great sale by the way)




Hey Keith

You don't need to tell me, I'm behind you all the way on this one.......

Did the traditional internet boom over night?? I think not. It was something new to people and took time to mature into what we know it as today.

The same is true for the mobile web. It will take time for people to
catch on to surfing the web via mobiles. Once internet access drops
in price and more companies promote their mobile sites, it's all over
with.

It all boils down to convenience. Why wait until you get home to search
for something you are thinking of when you're away from your pc? If access
is available to search on the go, and it is made quick and easy, you will
utilize it.

Everyone needs to chill out and give the mobile web time to develop. Because
it has not boomed over night does not mean it is doomed by any means!

 

[mjnels]

I Guess my question would be - did you sell them to another reseller or are they going to be developed?

i dont know and i dont care... the cashier at the grocery store doesnt ask me either.

they were all sold on sedo starting at $60... all closed over $1,000.. good enough for me, for something most "domainers" swore was a complete waste of money at $60 for a mandatory 2 year registration back then.

 

[Spade]

Just curious how/why that may be a question, as no one seems concerned what happens to those 'hot investment' LLLL.com's and LLLL.net's, but yet everyone likes to tout how they're selling!!

But the difference between .com and .mobi is estabilishment and development. .com is widely accepted as the most popular TLD - and thus is recognized by consumers - where . mobi is not. I was curious if the names were sold to be developed, or sold for resale.

How will consumers ever hear of .mobi if sites are never built?

 

[Keith]

How will consumers ever hear of .mobi if sites are never built?

Sites are being built slowly but surely. Also, it only takes one
big player like say, Fox news to heavily promote their .mobi.
The consumer will catch on once a few big companies raise
awareness!

 

[mjnels]

How will consumers ever hear of .mobi if sites are never built?

i've moved recently and went to sign up for a new bank account a few days ago at bank of america.... when the girl was all done setting up my account she handed me a colorful packet with all the information about their services... i open it up and what do i see under the Mobile Banking section: visit bofa.mobi.

 

[Spade]

i dont know and i dont care... the cashier at the grocery store doesnt ask me either.

they were all sold on sedo starting at $60... all closed over $1,000.. good enough for me, for something most "domainers" swore was a complete waste of money at $60 for a mandatory 2 year registration back then.

Im not suggesting that their isnt money in the TLD. Clearly there is based on sales, however the problem is the money is still speculation, and not "end user" sales....

follow?

 

[mjnels]

Im not suggesting that their isnt money in the TLD. Clearly there is based on sales, however the problem is the money is still speculation, and not "end user" sales....

follow?

i follow...

do you find it ironic that my initial deposit at bank of america of $3,000 was all mobi money and they handed me a packet with a site advertising a .mobi site for their mobile banking service?

this end-user stuff happens slow dude... think in years, not months.

 

[Keith]

Im not suggesting that their isnt money in the TLD. Clearly there is based on sales, however the problem is the money is still speculation, and not "end user" sales....

follow?

How about music.mobi for a end user sale? Or maybe
ringtones.mobi? Plenty more to go with that

 

[hawkeye]

Im not suggesting that their isnt money in the TLD. Clearly there is based on sales, however the problem is the money is still speculation, and not "end user" sales....

follow?

Ok, so... first, do you know whether every buyer you sell to is an end-user or not, whether they put up a site now or later?? And two, if a domainer buys a name, and then builds a site, is he not an end-user (who knew where to get a good deal with his domaining knowledge), or is he just a 'domainer' no matter what??

 

[Spade]

Ok, so... first, do you know whether every buyer you sell to is an end-user or not, whether they put up a site now or later?? And two, if a domainer buys a name, and then builds a site, is he not an end-user (who knew where to get a good deal with his domaining knowledge), or is he just a 'domainer' no matter what??

Well, clearly if they develop the site or intend to develop the site - they are the end user. However, I feel my questions are being lost. If you look past technical issues, my question is what are domain holders doing to help the mobi market? Granted, there are some developed sites - as you've clearly pointed out.

But, how many? and how many is enough? What is the registry doing, what are domain holders doing to promote and build? My fear is that they aren't doing enough besides a few examples here and there.

Anyhow - I feel my questions and points are getting lost in this crowd. I will retreat to safer ground.

Thanks,
Justin

 

[labrocca]

Some of you apparently need to lookup what a strawman argument really means.

I guess you take this kind of stance on dotmobi in order to support your own lack of foresight by not investing a small % of your domainer funds into the extension

And what words of wisdom do you have for Beattie that DID invest into the mobile web. And the idea of a mobile web is the forefront of dot mobi. It's the ONLY extension that is 100% geared toward a mobile audience. Bad news for mobile web = bad news for mobi.

I can see that nothing has changed here for a small few...keep up the good fight friends. One day you might convince someone that mobi is worth it.


btw...

http://ask.yahoo.com/20050407.html

Looks like that guy who wanted to close the patent office didn't really say that. So much even for your strawman arguments. I guess mobifans will hold onto ANYTHING to ignore bad news or reality.

Great job guys.

 

[gou]

Regardless of what happens to .mobi...

Those of you who believe that the mobile web will fail: please do realize that your claim is just as speculative as the one made by those who believe in the mobile web.
That said, the last time I checked, the mobile internet was growing.

 

[binaryman]

State of the mobile web by Russell Beattie April 23rd 2005
Here is what Russell's view then was. I think he was expecting things to move too quickly.
http://www.russellbeattie.com/notebook/1008429.html

Now read:
Mobile web 'commonplace' within a year
http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,23553152-5013040,00.html

http://www.mobilenettrends.com/newslist/


http://www.mobilenettrends.com/2007/08/state-of-the-mobile-internet-e.html

 

[labrocca]

Those of you who believe that the mobile web will fail: please do realize that your claim is just as speculative as the one made by those who believe in the mobile web.

Interesting since not one person in this thread said the mobile web will fail.

Here are some of Russ's words from 2005...

My prediction is that I can't be the only person to be noticing this vacuum, so watch out: I'd say within the next 18 months, the mobile web is going to become the next big thing.

Now he realizes that the mobile web is NOT the next big thing. This is his latest blog quote:

Users... have made it very clear they won't be using the "Mobile Web" as a substitute for better browsers, rather they'll just stay away completely.

This is from a guy that just spent 3 years dedicated to a company trying to convince everyone around him of the viability of the mobile web.

I have said..and will continue to say..the "LEVEL OF SUCCESS" (don't read that as failure) will not be anywhere near what many mobi speculators expect. The extension of mobi is shadowed by the mobile web in general. If the mobile web doesn't take off...then neither will mobi. It will be like .aero or .name.

That said, the last time I checked, the mobile internet was growing.

By what measurement is it growing?

It's annoying that so much reality is simply ignored. One only has to read the first 3 months of the mobi forum posts to see how much mobi has dissappointed.