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Following pressure by mobile phone players, including Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT - news), a new Internet domain was approved for Web sites designed for wireless phones. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ( ICANN) has greenlighted the ".mobi" suffix.
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Scheduled to appear in 2006, Web sites using the new domain will be written for the limited resources of cell phones, including small screens, memory and bandwidth.
The sponsor of the new domain, Mobi JV, is a group that includes both cell phone operators and phone makers. Along with Microsoft, Ericsson (Nasdaq: ERICY - news), Nokia (NYSE: NOK - news), Samsung, T-Mobile, Vodafone (NYSE: VOD - news), Telefonica Movilies, Hutchison 3 and the GSM Association are involved.
Although previous attempts to tailor Web pages to cell phones have garnered only lackluster results, the new group expects a different outcome. "As .mobi will encourage the usage of advanced functionalities in mobile devices, the market potential for those devices will increase," said the companies in a statement.
Limited Interest
"Consumer interest is very limited," said Julie Ask, senior wireless analyst at Jupiter Research. The reason people buy cell phones is cost, not advanced features, according to Ask.
While the first Web pages designed for the new domain will not appear until 2006, it could be several years beyond that point before an increase in user interest is evident, according to the analyst.
As mobile operators emphasize high-speed, third-generation networks while phone manufacturers add more features, the hope is that the new domain will cause consumers to upgrade their existing phones and prompt telecom companies to invest in new equipment.
Onset of New Domains
In June, ICANN approved the ".xxx" domain for adult-oriented Web sites. Other domains approved for sponsors include .jobs and .travel.
Dublin, Ireland-based mTLD Top Level Domain Ltd. will handle applications for the domain.
A 90-day sunrise period will permit companies with trademark names to register first. Other applications of generic names will follow on a first-come-first-served basis.
Optimized for Mobile Devices
".mobi will indicate to consumer and enterprise users that the site they are visiting is optimized for the delivery of content and services to mobile devices," according to Ameet Shah, Chairman of the registration company.
"Mobi" is a popular nickname for mobile phones in the Netherlands.
Negotiations for the new domain began in December of last year. Today's approval follows ICANN's earlier rejection of the domain proposal in 2000
Can this post be moved to industry news, please?
Thanks!
ADVERTISEMENT
Scheduled to appear in 2006, Web sites using the new domain will be written for the limited resources of cell phones, including small screens, memory and bandwidth.
The sponsor of the new domain, Mobi JV, is a group that includes both cell phone operators and phone makers. Along with Microsoft, Ericsson (Nasdaq: ERICY - news), Nokia (NYSE: NOK - news), Samsung, T-Mobile, Vodafone (NYSE: VOD - news), Telefonica Movilies, Hutchison 3 and the GSM Association are involved.
Although previous attempts to tailor Web pages to cell phones have garnered only lackluster results, the new group expects a different outcome. "As .mobi will encourage the usage of advanced functionalities in mobile devices, the market potential for those devices will increase," said the companies in a statement.
Limited Interest
"Consumer interest is very limited," said Julie Ask, senior wireless analyst at Jupiter Research. The reason people buy cell phones is cost, not advanced features, according to Ask.
While the first Web pages designed for the new domain will not appear until 2006, it could be several years beyond that point before an increase in user interest is evident, according to the analyst.
As mobile operators emphasize high-speed, third-generation networks while phone manufacturers add more features, the hope is that the new domain will cause consumers to upgrade their existing phones and prompt telecom companies to invest in new equipment.
Onset of New Domains
In June, ICANN approved the ".xxx" domain for adult-oriented Web sites. Other domains approved for sponsors include .jobs and .travel.
Dublin, Ireland-based mTLD Top Level Domain Ltd. will handle applications for the domain.
A 90-day sunrise period will permit companies with trademark names to register first. Other applications of generic names will follow on a first-come-first-served basis.
Optimized for Mobile Devices
".mobi will indicate to consumer and enterprise users that the site they are visiting is optimized for the delivery of content and services to mobile devices," according to Ameet Shah, Chairman of the registration company.
"Mobi" is a popular nickname for mobile phones in the Netherlands.
Negotiations for the new domain began in December of last year. Today's approval follows ICANN's earlier rejection of the domain proposal in 2000
Can this post be moved to industry news, please?
Thanks!
