.mobi Is .MOBI really dead?

[sky]

Hi,

I just reg'ed a couple of .COMs, and a friend suggested I get the .MOBI extension for the names to since it is also applicable for cell phones, etc...

But I'm thinking it's a waste of money and little use to me from the standpoint of making any profits in any form whatsoever, ever and even of little or no use to end users.

Is there any data to support or refute this bias I've developed based on hearsay over the past few months?

 

[mo_dork]

But you are judging on the current returns. This is a TLD for the future. You have to wait for the mobile web to become a reality. Do you agree that in 5 years substantially more people will be surfing the web via their mobile devices than via pc's?

I personally didn't invest in .tel, beyond my actual name, but if I did, It is obvious that it will take several years before that investment will pay off. Mobi is just 2 years old, it needs more time to mature.

 

[snoop]

But you are judging on the current returns. This is a TLD for the future. You have to wait for the mobile web to become a reality. Do you agree that in 5 years substantially more people will be surfing the web via their mobile devices than via pc's?

The mobile web is already a reality though I agree it will be far more popular in 5 years time. However in 5 years time I do not think .mobi domain owners will have seen a good return either. I think one needs to sperate one issue from the other, growth in the mobile internet and price growth for .mobi domains are very different issues.

Mobi is just 2 years old, it needs more time to mature.

That is the "never ending story" in domain land for alt tlds, "it just needs a few more years". In another 5 years time people will be saying wait a while longer, just like they said with .tv, .info, .us etc. The chorus grows weaker each year but never really ends..

For the people who really believe it will do well in X years I suggest you write down that date, somewhere where you will see it. If by that time it still hasn't worked out I suggest you carefully consider what went wrong, be realistic,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3khTntOxX-k

 

[ginggang]

Would guess 30-100 uniques per month.



The nutters are out today.

My ukporn.mobi gets 150 pure type ins a month which is just parked. Using that as a benchmark your estimation is way out based on "sex" being a huge keyword which would attract a lot more type ins.

 

[mo_dork]

growth in the mobile internet and price growth for .mobi domains are very different issues.

I believe they are linked.
In the same way growth of the internet was linked to growth in usage of .com domains and consequently .com prices.

The mobile web will mature from its embryonic state right now, awareness and use of the .mobi TLD will grow with it.

Needing more time than 2 years to gain world wide adoption is not unreasonable. Most people's phones can't even access the web right now, bandwidths are too slow, there is barely any mobile content out there anyway.
All these things need to grow together. If you look at the trends and direction of the various technologies, it is all on track. If you own a mobi domain right now you are still ahead of the game. Hence the cheap prices, hence the doubt. Unfortunately we can't always buy into sure things.

 

[Sabre]

.mobi really is just one big risk. It's a long term investment if you want to invest in it and it won't necessarily come to fruition. Because of that, in my opinion, it's only worth holding on to a select few premium names from your portfolio. That means you minimalise losses if it doesn't take off; if it does you have a very nice, select portfolio of domains which will bring you in some big bucks.

I wouldn't say .mobi is dead. It's never been alive in the first place and it may never be born.

 

[mo_dork]

.mobi really is just one big risk. It's a long term investment if you want to invest in it and it won't necessarily come to fruition. Because of that, in my opinion, it's only worth holding on to a select few premium names from your portfolio. That means you minimalise losses if it doesn't take off; if it does you have a very nice, select portfolio of domains which will bring you in some big bucks.

Agreed

 

[newton]

If mobi is dead then all the people signing up and paying for access to my sites must be using clairvoyants to do so

 

[Traveler]

If mobi is dead then all the people signing up and paying for access to my sites must be using clairvoyants to do so

Must be those new bots with credit cards

 

[Kate]

.MOBI might not be dead, but it is certainly on life support at least in the domainer world. I am sure there are some end users who still believe in it though.

Brad

I think the same could be said about .biz

Yeah, it is going to be .TEL that ends up being the .MOBI killer :hehe:

Wait ! .tel is the dotcom killer
http://www.telsters.com/2009/03/rip-dot-com-we-barely-knew-ye

That is the "never ending story" in domain land for alt tlds, "it just needs a few more years". In another 5 years time people will be saying wait a while longer, just like they said with .tv, .info, .us etc. The chorus grows weaker each year but never really ends..

For the people who really believe it will do well in X years I suggest you write down that date, somewhere where you will see it. If by that time it still hasn't worked out I suggest you carefully consider what went wrong, be realistic,

I enjoy reading your posts Snoop... always down to earth. You are spot on.
Technology is making strides and .mobi is further marginalized every day that goes by, because it's already obsolete.

 

[scandiman]

If mobi is dead then all the people signing up and paying for access to my sites must be using clairvoyants to do so

:bingo:

(.mobi users -> :ghost: :ghost: :ghost: :ghost: :ghost: :ghost: )

 

[mjnels]

developed sites are a completely different story.

when people say "mobi is dead" they are almost always referring to simple speculation. domaining. buying and selling with zero content. you can develop and monetize ANY TLD in the same way (well, except .TEL )... but it doesnt necessarily make the TLD 'alive' as a whole.

im not a pessimist, im not an optimist.. i just tell it like i see it.



<edit>
i just re-read the OP's post and i have to say they appear confused. Original Poster: you are going to have to more clearly define exactly what you are trying to ask here.

are you asking whether its POSSIBLE to monetize a .mobi domain with a developed site... or PPC? or your odds on flipping the domain to someone for any kind of significant profit.

Technology is making strides and .mobi is further marginalized every day that goes by, because it's already obsolete.

technology of mobile devices has absolutely nothing to do with people developing mobile websites from the ground-up considering most companies that advertise a domain for mobile use either subdomains, /mobile, or some type of completely different address. this is a tired, unresearched argument that doesnt exclusively apply to .mobi... the trend is to use a completely different address for mobile websites whether its mDOT, /mobile, .mobi, or something entirely different - this is the reality of what is happening right now.

 

[Pred]

Hi,

I just reg'ed a couple of .COMs, and a friend suggested I get the .MOBI extension for the names to since it is also applicable for cell phones, etc...

But I'm thinking it's a waste of money and little use to me from the standpoint of making any profits in any form whatsoever, ever and even of little or no use to end users.

Is there any data to support or refute this bias I've developed based on hearsay over the past few months?

well to answer the original post
i have to say firstly im always dubious of the sincerity of a post with a title like this as it always attracts the trolls

anyway. you have just regged some coms.
well im guessing if you handregged thenm they arent earthshattering and i doubt any enduser will buy. so no point regging the mobis either

if however you plan to develop them , or one, wait and see if its a mild success and then you could reg a .mobi, beauty is you could free get the content on the .com mobilized for free by the rgistrar and instant mobilizer.
a damn site easier paying $7 and branding up a mobile site for that price. course you dont have to you can go for a m. if you're more technically minded and sort your end

but theres a lot of ifs and buts. the .coms are unlikely to be much cop and theyre not even devloped, so dont reg any

as far as is it dead. far from it, you can believe the rhetoric from the resident trolls or do research.

companies are using more and more, not cos technically they have to, although does offer a guarantee, but its also about branding.

a few sites people came across past couple days

http://www.europapress.es/
http://europapress.mobi/

big news agency in spain

www.promogranprisma.mobi

another johnson and johnson site

http://wbul.mobi/home

florida student union radio

http://onetribe.mobi/sites/controller.php/OneTribe/

another vodafone site


etc

a lot of companies are bringing out loads of niche sites and satellite sites.
theres a lot a foot, a few people posting here would do well to take their head out their ass and stop cut and pasting stuff from 2 years ago. and yes my portfolio is 80% .com & .co.uk so i'm no noob just into mobi. and i dont jump into aisa or tel or .us etc

this mobi thing is gonna prove a lot of people wrong , im brave (or stupid enough) to speak out loud about it too.
as far as setting dates, only fools do that. all i know is i see progress every day

post your domains here btw out of interest (o/p)

 

[scandiman]

well to answer the original post
i have to say firstly im always dubious of the sincerity of a post with a title like this as it always attracts the trolls

anyway. you have just regged some coms.
well im guessing if you handregged thenm they arent earthshattering and i doubt any enduser will buy. so no point regging the mobis either

if however you plan to develop them , or one, wait and see if its a mild success and then you could reg a .mobi, beauty is you could free get the content on the .com mobilized for free by the rgistrar and instant mobilizer.
a damn site easier paying $7 and branding up a mobile site for that price. course you dont have to you can go for a m. if you're more technically minded and sort your end

but theres a lot of ifs and buts. the .coms are unlikely to be much cop and theyre not even devloped, so dont reg any

as far as is it dead. far from it, you can believe the rhetoric from the resident trolls or do research.

companies are using more and more, not cos technically they have to, although does offer a guarantee, but its also about branding.

a few sites people came across past couple days

http://www.europapress.es/
http://europapress.mobi/

big news agency in spain

www.promogranprisma.mobi

another johnson and johnson site

http://wbul.mobi/home

florida student union radio

http://onetribe.mobi/sites/controller.php/OneTribe/

another vodafone site


etc

a lot of companies are bringing out loads of niche sites and satellite sites.
theres a lot a foot, a few people posting here would do well to take their head out their ass and stop cut and pasting stuff from 2 years ago. and yes my portfolio is 80% .com & .co.uk so i'm no noob just into mobi. and i dont jump into aisa or tel or .us etc

this mobi thing is gonna prove a lot of people wrong , im brave (or stupid enough) to speak out loud about it too.
as far as setting dates, only fools do that. all i know is i see progress every day

post your domains here btw out of interest (o/p)

One of the better posts in a while, unfortunately the system won't let me rep you, I'll nail you elsewhere. :lol:

 

[Traveler]

One of the better posts in a while, unfortunately the system won't let me rep you, I'll nail you elsewhere. :lol:

I agree, great post, but I can't rep him either. Damn it Pred, spread out those rep worthy posts. :bingo:

 

[cobo]

Hey Pred,
I repped you for Scandiman, Bodhi and cobo.
You owe us all.....biiiiiaaaaaattttcccchhhhhnik! :D

 

[namenut]

Hi,

I just reg'ed a couple of .COMs, and a friend suggested I get the .MOBI extension for the names to since it is also applicable
for cell phones, etc...

But I'm thinking it's a waste of money and little use to me from the standpoint of making any profits in any form whatsoever,
ever and even of little or no use to end users.

Is there any data to support or refute this bias I've developed based on hearsay over the past few months?

Hello Sky,

You buy it/them to protect the com's brand. If the name you bought is
strong enough for development then the option to use the mobi extension
will be an added selling point and a smart defensive strategy.

If the com is a simple flip then the mobi would have to be a true "premium"
name. Even then a "package" is a good selling tool.

Simple enough Mate :D
nn

 

[Pred]

Hello Sky,

You buy it/them to protect the com's brand. If the name you bought is
strong enough for development then the option to use the mobi extension
will be an added selling point and a smart defensive strategy.

If the com is a simple flip then the mobi would have to be a true "premium"
name. Even then a "package" is a good selling tool.

Simple enough Mate :D
nn

even i would say dont bother. its not developed and its a handregged com, very recent. why bother? IF you find a buyer they prob wouldnt be bothered or could handreg a shorter .mobi anyway if they wanted

plus there are unregged .mobis for top 20k alexa sites and better, i dont see anyone racing to nail his, if we knew what the domain was, so dont fret

I'll nail you elsewhere. :lol:

round the back of the bike sheds at 4pm?
:D

. Damn it Pred, spread out those rep worthy posts. :bingo:

oops :D :cy: :bingo:

 

[snoop]

developed sites are a completely different story.

when people say "mobi is dead" they are almost always referring to simple speculation. domaining. buying and selling with zero content. you can develop and monetize ANY TLD in the same way (well, except .TEL )... but it doesnt necessarily make the TLD 'alive' as a whole.

Sums it up well I think.

 

[Pred]

From Sedo itself, pornuk.mobi

"Visitors to this domain’s website: 13 (previous 31 days)"

http://www.sedo.com/search/details.php4?domain=pornuk.mobi&partnerid=14460&language=e

pornuk.com alexa over 10 million

on a sidenote with sedo parking , well, i have said many times they will be investigated some time imho as everyone i know has parked there then moved elsewhere and miraculously get more hits and higher payouts
i know both mobis in question are at sedo though

i have some adult mobis getting 600 uniques up each at parked a month

sex will be in a league of its own dont forget

the porn.mobi domain would be a better one to check but as we know alexa still doesnt check mobile traffic and they havent developed it yet

in short, get them developed as parking is only going to pay pencil shavings for most domains in most extensions, that includes .com

 

[scandiman]

From Sedo itself, pornuk.mobi

"Visitors to this domain’s website: 13 (previous 31 days)"

http://www.sedo.com/search/details.php4?domain=pornuk.mobi&partnerid=14460&language=e



Sums it up well I think.

he said UKporn, not pornUK

http://www.sedo.com/search/details.php4?domain=ukporn.mobi


Visitors to this domain’s website:

156 (previous 31 days)