.mobi Misleading statements from mTLD director of PR and Communications

[labrocca]

Found this today.

http://www.smstextnews.com/2006/10/mobi_sucks_eggs.html

Vance Hedderel, Director, PR and Communications, dotMobi Says:
October 3rd, 2006 at 9:34 pm

I’m always surprised by the vehemence people express in regards to the perceived effort in typing “.mobi”; I suspect you will start to see mobiles with “.mobi” programmed in the interface, so the typing issue — if it is an issue — becomes moot.

However, in the comments above, I’m more surprised by Shawn McCollum’s comment that he’s “worried that mobi will become a large walled garden.”

We’ve talked about this on in our blog’s “Misconceptions” series (see http://dotmobi.typepad.com/dotmobi/misconceptions/index.html). The short answer: (1) the freeform address entry required to enter a .mobi URL is the antithesis of a walled garden, (2) the business model of a walled garden of content and services has not worked (think AOL) and (3) of the 13 investors in mTLD, only three are mobile operators — the rest are device manufacturers, service operators and software companies, none of whom stand to gain from a walled garden.

imho that statement is highly misleading. He obviously makes point of the backers and says it's a moot issue with the long extension because .mobi might be programmed into the interface. IMHO that's irresponsible for him to make that statement unless it was a real possiblity it would happen. So far it's not and they have skirted the issue since then.

These are words coming from the director of PR and Communications! mobi domainers should be outraged. And you wonder why there was all this speculation about a mobi default button? Now you know where it started...from the horses mouth.

 

[namewaiter]

well i can see a scenerio like control+enter, but on mobiles to default to .mobi, it use to be that ie did default to .com if you left off the extension.

for those that don't know what i'm talking about... type in only the keyword into your browser, say 'football' and then hit ctrl+enter at the sametime ... ie adds the http://www. and the .com - not sure about ff

 

[-REECE-]

well i can see a scenerio like control+enter, but on mobiles to default to .mobi, it use to be that ie did default to .com if you left off the extension.

for those that don't know what i'm talking about... type in only the keyword into your browser, say 'football' and then hit ctrl+enter at the sametime ... ie adds the http://www. and the .com - not sure about ff

Very interesting! I never knew that myself -- that presents a perfect example of how it could be implemented

 

[nombre]

from the point of view of domain name values there is a huge political issue related to browser defaults

i have wondered why we have'nt seen a lawsuit over browser defaults so far (i.e. why should dot com have the advantage over dot net or dot info ??)

if mobi wins the day and we get solid browser default support, we probably will see one from all of the dot com's that have lost out

the dot com extension has a lot to lose if mobi succeeds

business like nokia, ericcson and vodafone are the players in the mobile space and they have everything to gain by making mobi the default

 

[-REECE-]

from the point of view of domain name values there is a huge political issue related to browser defaults

i have wondered why we have'nt seen a lawsuit over browser defaults so far (i.e. why should dot com have the advantage over dot net or dot info ??)

if mobi wins the day and we get solid browser default support, we probably will see one from all of the dot com's that have lost out

the dot com extension has a lot to lose if mobi succeeds

business like nokia, ericcson and vodafone are the players in the mobile space and they have everything to gain by making mobi the default

Since Microsoft and the phone companies/carriers are all supporters, do you reckon one could consider it a conflict of interest making a .mobi default?

 

[scandiman]

The fact that PC browsers have gotten away with defaults all these years I think would totally insulate mobile providers from any successful legal action regarding defaulting to .mobi. That being said, I still don't think the .mobii default will happen, especially with all the parking pages. Nor did it have any bearing on my investment into .mobi domains. Sure, it would be fantastic and I would be very happy to be proven wrong.

 

[newton]

All it would take is for someone to take the open source mobile browsers, write an add on or in fact edit the code to make the sites default to .mobi as standard, then saturate the market with them via p2p etc.

 

[kwan]

When you type in a keyword it's the search engine that leads you to the .com, not your browser. Type in "marktplaats" and you'll get marktplaats.nl, the Dutch version of ebay. What is default even with the Dutch versions of ie and ff is .com is added with ctrl+enter.

About the default mobi button being implemented within 8 months of the new tld; I've worked with mobile companies and 18 months would be more realistic. Coincidently that's about when the Google phone will come out. What a surprise :blink:

well i can see a scenerio like control+enter, but on mobiles to default to .mobi, it use to be that ie did default to .com if you left off the extension.

for those that don't know what i'm talking about... type in only the keyword into your browser, say 'football' and then hit ctrl+enter at the sametime ... ie adds the http://www. and the .com - not sure about ff

 

[hawkeye]

All it would take is for someone to take the open source mobile browsers, write an add on or in fact edit the code to make the sites default to .mobi as standard, then saturate the market with them via p2p etc.

'dunt dunt ...'(mission impossible theme) "Your job newton, should you choose to accept it, ...."

 

[newton]

I may just do that

 

[nombre]

When you type in a keyword it's the search engine that leads you to the .com, not your browser.

i don't think that's always true, different browsers do different things

on safari for the mac, it always defaults to the dot com if you enter it in the address bar ...if you enter "bears" you get taken to bears.com, if you enter "bears" into the search bar you get a google result with the chicagobears.com as the first result

in any event, it doesn't make a lot of sense for all of the mtld partners who have an interest in mobile browsing (to sell more phones and more airtime) to not make it easier for users to just enter "bears" and be taken to bears.mobi ...if there is no bears.mobi then maybe bears.com should be a backup or a search result

browser defaults seem to be in everyone's best interest ...except ... dot com sites that missed out

 

[namewaiter]

When you type in a keyword it's the search engine that leads you to the .com, not your browser. Type in "marktplaats" and you'll get marktplaats.nl, the Dutch version of ebay. What is default even with the Dutch versions of ie and ff is .com is added with ctrl+enter.

it's not 'the search engine' try it again and watch the address bar, it actually does take you to the .com ... it just happens to forwarded to the .nl

About the default mobi button being implemented within 8 months of the new tld; I've worked with mobile companies and 18 months would be more realistic. Coincidently that's about when the Google phone will come out. What a surprise :blink:

and how cool would that be !!!

 

[kwan]

ah, you're right. I never noticed that.

it's not 'the search engine' try it again and watch the address bar, it actually does take you to the .com ... it just happens to forwarded to the .nl

 

[fautebol]

The fact that PC browsers have gotten away with defaults all these years I think would totally insulate mobile providers from any successful legal action regarding defaulting to .mobi.

I don't agree with this statement. First, if it happens before mTLD have released premium names, Mtld could very well be in a dominant position because of the default and all their actions regarding to whom and how they release the names could be challenged if they abuse of their dominant position in this regard. The defaullt would greaty help them to have a dominant position. Second, mTLD is kind of a joint-venture between competitors. Defaulting could be very well be seen as diminishing competition. It's not comparable to the independent decision of one company selling one browser. I don't mind to a somehow defaulting to .mobi. But they better have advice from antitrust lawyers in all their decisions and move in this regard...

 

[nombre]

I don't agree with this statement. First, if it happens before mTLD have released premium names, Mtld could very well be in a dominant position because of the default and all their actions regarding to whom and how they release the names could be challenged if they abuse of their dominant position in this regard. The defaullt would greaty help them to have a dominant position. Second, mTLD is kind of a joint-venture between competitors. Defaulting could be very well be seen as diminishing competition. It's not comparable to the independent decision of one company selling one browser. I don't mind to a somehow defaulting to .mobi. But they better have advice from antitrust lawyers in all their decisions and move in this regard...

good points, i think that what is more likely is that we will see _some_ browsers on some phone default to mobi and some that don't

from there out it will be a matter of whether mobi gains enough traction to force others to follow suit (because users liked the simplicity of defaulting to mobi) in which case i don't think it would be seen as collusion

we have'nt seen a lawsuit from dot net/org/info holders yet (i.e suing browser companies for favoring dot com) and the mobi situation would be very similar

ease of entry, ease of use will be much bigger on a cellphone so it will likely be a hotter topic

 

[fautebol]

i think that what is more likely is that we will see _some_ browsers on some phone default to mobi and some that don't

from there out it will be a matter of whether mobi gains enough traction to force others to follow suit (because users liked the simplicity of defaulting to mobi) in which case i don't think it would be seen as collusion

I don't know if it's likely to happen. But, if default to .mobi happens it's how it should happen. I indeed didn't find very smart to say in chats that they are discussing it between all parties involved...:blink:

 

[Jeff]

:hi:

I would very much appreciate some in-depth input and clarifications here on the Namepros .MOBI Forum™ ... in regard to this referenced statement from the Director of mTLD's PR & Communications, as well as a candid visit from the CEO regarding statements made in the recent Podcast, and last but not least - as requested by the membership - a lengthy visit and dialogue with Mr. Pinky! :gl: :talk:

01-27-2007, 05:49 PM

:hi:

* Can you please elaborate and go into specifics of the consumer awareness campaign intiatives beginning in 2007? :gl:

* In detail, how are you working with your investors (the browser folks and the operating system folks) towards the goal of defaulting to the .MOBI? Do you agree that this needs to occur, and if so ... when will it occur? :blink:

* Some of the .Mobi's investors include Ericsson, Google, Microsoft, Nokia, Samsung Electronics, and T-Mobile and Vodafone, etc. ... can you please disclose the nature of the investments (dollars or %'s, dates and amounts of past and future scheduled investments)?

Thank you very kindly.
-Jeff

Thanks again.
-Jeff

 

[mjnels]

Jeff, are you really a bot ? ...and be honest.

 

[Jeff]

Jeff, are you really a bot ? ...and be honest.

Here is the thread title, if you care to add anything to the discussion at hand IMHO ... :talk:
Misleading statements from mTLD director of PR and Communications :gl:

Thanks for understanding.
-Jeff

 

[seanboy]

Jeff, are you really a bot ? ...and be honest.

lol

 

[nombre]

. :hi: