.mobi Frank Schilling's take on .mobi

[ekal]

Respected domainer Frank Schilling gives his take on .mobi

http://frankschilling.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/03/mobi_cashgrab.html

I think this registry is just a sales organization. They are selling hope for a .com redux. If it's not there (and its not IMO), lots of speculators are going to give up and let renewals lapse and complain about domain names in general. That's bad for the industry. In my opinion these guys are pick and shovel salesmen, selling said picks and shovels in an area with no gold.

 

[thinking1]

I like this quote:

"The important thing to remember is that there is hardly any natural Type-in-Traffic in .mobi"

How can you possibly say something like that without adding "of course there isn't any traffic because the extension is just a few months old and the public hasn't even heard of it yet."

 

[-db-]

.Mobi = .Cashgrab

I think this registry is just a sales organization. They are selling hope for a .com redux. If it's not there (and its not IMO), lots of speculators are going to give up and let renewals lapse and complain about domain names in general. That's bad for the industry. In my opinion these guys are pick and shovel salesmen, selling said picks and shovels in an area with no gold.

A pretty strong statement about (against) .MOBI, and mTLD.

One thing for sure, this extension continues to create more buzz (both positive and negative) than anything we've seen in a while. Of course, the Real story won't be written until that buzz wears off...

 

[MinionDH]

Two quick points:

1) Frank Schilling owns 300,000+ domains (mostly .com). If people favor .com over .mobi then he will make $$$ when people begin using the mobile web.

2) Just last month at DOMAINfest he said, "Really good names in .info and .mobi will also have some value.”

 

[snoop]

2) Just last month at DOMAINfest he said, "Really good names in .info and .mobi will also have some value.”

This isn't different to what he is saying now,

"As they develop real sites in these secondary namespaces (more so than is occurring already) then I think the best .us, .info, .mobi will get credebility and have some real value.. But not at the prices which are presently being reported (some of which are not real sales but rather rebated pageantry to get the pump primed and set precedent IMO)."

 

[Jeff]

Ouch!

I have seen .mobi before, only back then it was called .cc and .info ...

I'll add, generally speaking, ".TV" IMHO ... and the wheels on the bus go 'round and round, 'round and round, 'round and round! :blink:

-Jeff

 

[jollyjo]

MinionDH

I agree with you on the first point. The more you hang around the more you understand the psyche of these guys.

Notwithstanding, objectively I agree with the observation regarding the Mobi management team. They have created a lot of hype but on the most important task of marketing the brand and taking it to end-users, they have to this point failed miserably.

Two quick points:

1) Frank Schilling owns 300,000+ domains (mostly .com). If people favor .com over .mobi then he will make $$$ when people begin using the mobile web.

2) Just last month at DOMAINfest he said, "Really good names in .info and .mobi will also have some value.”

 

[Mobineer]

It's called staking your territory and protecting your domain(s) (.com(s) in this case) - and why shouldn't he?

But the "picks and shovels" analogy?
just another cliche phrase from the dotcom bust...

 

[thinking1]

If I owned 10 amazing .com names, let alone 300k + I wouldn't give an Ef about any other extension, especially .mobi or .tel. If I'm making a ton of money already with domains why would I seek out another market based on pure speculation that the risk wouldn't even matter to me?

Some people have biased points. On the other hand I am biased because I don't have those 10 or 300k+ domains so I see Mobi as an opportunity that could actually be something one day and make me a little more successful.

 

[jollyjo]

Mobineer

I am not sure that because FS' analogy is cliched means it is irrelevant....

Maybe it is all too easy for us to blame the mobi people. Personally, I would have preferred a more pointed and objective analysis from FS as to why he thinks Mobi has little potential giving due consideration to the size of the mobile market and the mandatory standards and optional best practices proposed by Mobi which imo is a strong selling point.

It's called staking your territory and protecting your domain(s) (.com(s) in this case) - and why shouldn't he?

But the "picks and shovels" analogy?
just another cliche phrase from the dotcom bust...

 

[thebiffenator]

"Today the Internet is proven. I hypothesize that these 400,000 mobi's are held mainly by large aggregators. I don't have anything against .mobi per se, but want people to know that I think this registry is just a sales organization. They are selling hope for a .com redux. If it's not there (and its not IMO), lots of speculators are going to give up and let" - quoted from Franky Boy

This is funny, .mobi has nothing to do about this that is stated above. (and it is totaly different from another .com name, .cc, .info ect..) .mobi is trying to launch the mobile internet bascily and make sure user expereince is good) And I dont think that the 400,000 names were taken from large aggreators, I mean alot of us on namepros have great names, and then the 5200 domains have not even begun to be released, besides the flowers.mobi ect...

Franky Boy may feel intimidated (I have not seen this before from someone that high-up in technology (JOKING), hmmm can you think of any that would fear .mobi taking off?) I mean Opera thinks its unecessary, and some others

IMHO

By the way, to own 300,000 domains doesnt make you smarter then others, it only takes cash!

 

[labrocca]

It's called staking your territory and protecting your domain(s) (.com(s) in this case) - and why shouldn't he?

But the "picks and shovels" analogy?
just another cliche phrase from the dotcom bust...

Now that's funny....you think the pick and shovel analogy is from the dotcom bust era? lol...honestly if you don't know your history you are doomed to repeat it. Picks and Shovels refers to the general merchants in small towns in California that made a mini-fortune selling to prospectors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Gold_Rush

And another reputable intelligent experienced domainer saying straight out that mobi is flawed and the many domainers speculating in the extension are going to lose money. And the mobi cult still defending it's precious mTLD. lol

And you think Shilling is protecting his 300k domains...ok..let's say he is. And exactly what are you doing Mr. Mobineer. Now let's consider the amount of .com's that exist...and .net's and .org's and .us and .eu...and all other extensions that domainers are "protecting". And you think mobi still has a chance? You do realize the Frank Shilling has just about as many domains as there .mobi's registered entirely! That's something to consider. And yes..if it only takes money to get 300k domains then why didn't he get 25k mobi domains or 50k or 100k? Hmmm...I am SURE he has a set of nice landrush names to hedge his bet and sit on. But as he said....NO TRAFFIC...no traffic means no money....no money means no resale...no resale means DROPPED. And that's what will be happening in the next 2 years. mTLD is moving at a snails pace in comparison to most technology driven companies...and mTLD IS technology driven..yet it's NOT a technology. It relies on mobile technology and it has to align itself with the bread and butter of mobile technology and so far...it hasn't done so.

I think it's time for dinner.
Peace

 

[-db-]

What if it really is a cash-grab?

What if .Mobi really is a bust, and we (domainers) are the only ones who got busted?

After all, domain speculators have created, and are driving the .Mobi market. All the way up to the (self proclaimed) domain king himself, with the $200,000 flowers.mobi purchase. The end-user development is minimal so far. The public doesn't have a clue this extension exists. The only people making money from it are mTLD, and they are sitting back watching it pour in.

And the fact remains, the mobile Internet doesn't need the .mobi extension. The mobile Internet is here already, and will continue to come, regardless of what's on the right-side of the DOT.

I'm not anti-mobi, but sometimes I like to stir things up when I'm bored.

 

[snoop]

If I owned 10 amazing .com names, let alone 300k + I wouldn't give an Ef about any other extension, especially .mobi or .tel. If I'm making a ton of money already with domains why would I seek out another market based on pure speculation that the risk wouldn't even matter to me?

To make more money? This person clearly has a different mindset - if you'd stop and 10 good domains and yet you point out this person hasn't stopped at 300k doesn't that suggest to you they'd go for any profitable opportunity that is on the table? Do you wonder why other already rich domainers are buying .mobi's, why are they bothering?

 

[pcaero]

This is nothing new...
I have seen this over and over...time and time again..
Will mobi be a success, well that's the question

Anytime something or someone can potentially harm or hinder someone’s fortune
Human nature dictates.
Fear, Emotion, Territorialism, etc…..

The mere fact that Frank Schilling would write anything about mobi shows he's uncofortable with it. If it's a threat it will be treated as such. This will not be the first or last.

Mobi will not be decided by Frank, Bill Gates, or Pres. Bush
But rather by the end users and consumers that will or will not find mobi an enjoyable and meaningful experience.

You Know were my money is.

PC


I would take more credence from an high school student that owns nothing more than a ford mustang trying to get laid.

 

[labrocca]

To make more money? This person clearly has a different mindset - if you'd stop and 10 good domains and yet you point out this person hasn't stopped at 300k doesn't that suggest to you they'd go for any profitable opportunity that is on the table?

Exactly. Here is a domainer with LOADS of cash and pull...he could probably have gotten dozens of expensive keywords (if he didn't already). And here he is saying it bluntly. mTLD sucks and so does mobi. IMHO if the restrictions of .mobi didn't exist it would better off long-term. Instead it's a total turn off imho the the average web developer working at Acme Corporation.

Cash-grab is polite terminology imho. The reason that mTLD is a greedy ass SOB organization is clear...it's withholding amazing names for top dollar sale. They have done very very little for transparency of their organization or how it works. We have no information on it's contracts or deals with mobile device manufacturers that are the supposed "backers". It's a damn shell game.

 

[thinking1]

To make more money? This person clearly has a different mindset - if you'd stop and 10 good domains and yet you point out this person hasn't stopped at 300k doesn't that suggest to you they'd go for any profitable opportunity that is on the table? Do you wonder why other already rich domainers are buying .mobi's, why are they bothering?

It's good to diversify your money but if you make money doing one thing in one market what do you do? you put more and more money into that one market. Clearly the .com market has worked for Frank (and a few other extensions), and has brought him much success, so he doesn't see a need for another extension when the big ones have already been so good to him.

I really can't wait to see what happens with Mobi. It could take off and do amazing, do mediocre, or it could just burn into an evil fireball of doom (as I stated before).

 

[-db-]

The mere fact that Frank Schilling would write anything about mobi shows he's uncofortable with it.

I understand your point, and I'm not saying you are right or wrong, but consider the other possibility for just a moment...

What if he really-and-truly believes this thing is a waste of time and money, and he's simply trying to help other folks avoid wasting their resources, by sharing his advice.

Looks totally different from the other side, huh?

 

[namewaiter]

maybe it is all hype, maybe it is a sales organization first and foremost, maybe it isn't technically required, but with all the hype, with the drawn out releases and announcements and with the vertical branding as a industry standard....

it may, just may, becomes mainstream and a household term (after all .com did the same thing to win out over .net, .org and .edu)

 

[pcaero]

I understand your point, and I'm not saying you are right or wrong, but consider the other possibility for just a moment...

What if he really-and-truly believes this thing is a waste of time and money, and he's simply trying to help other folks avoid wasting their resources, by sharing his advice.

Looks totally different from the other side, huh?

My issue is not with whether mobi will succeed or not.
My issue it the source.

No one here can tell me if mobi will succeed or not, and that's what it's all about.

On the flip side of your comment what if he keeps potential users, buyers, and such away from mobi?

That wouldn't be right now would it. The tone in his article is not one of cauton, but one of "someones gonna take a bite out of my ass" tone.

pc