VisionEdger said:
Can a phone # be used as a link to a website on a mobile unit? Meaning if I type in say 1-888xxx-xxxx.mobi for example the phone # would be
1 - 888-xxx-xxxx. So the user would dial the # and then be directed to your mobi website home page instead of another phone?? Is it doable?
To put it in a sort of quick & dirty manner:
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Yes, this is do-able. There are several elements that would need to be place in order to make this happen. Without disclosing intellectual property information....the following has to happen:
1. A series of databases would need to be place to correlate the ATAs of various domains to Telco phone number switches.
2. The Mobile Phone providers would also have to correlate their ESN/MIN catalogs along with the number dialed to the corresponding dotmobi numerical website. This would be needed to ensure security.
3. Now the "Hard Part"....a directory service would need to be established to keep track of activation & deactivation of phone numbers as well as corresponding dotmobi numerical domains. This would be essential so that customers would not get busy signals, failed connections or "number not available" messages when trying to dial a number that has multiple phone lines or is toll free.
4. Finally, there would have to be some form of regulatory but "Not Legal" authority that has "World Wide" jurisdiction that would enforce rules and guidelines for charges related to individuals making phone calls that correspond to dotmobi numerical websites.
Ex: Someone calls 1-800-222-3333 which would link to 8002223333.mobi.
The website has a banner ad that links to another service that requires payment when a connection is made to it.
The customer links to the service while on the call.
When the billing process takes place for the ad and the number dialed... who pays for it and how?
a. The advertiser would pay some portion of it
b. The customer would pay some portion of it
c. The Telco provider would ultimately have to facilitate the transaction process for the billings
d. The credit card provider and or bank would be involved if the customer pays their bills with a card.
e. Various government taxes and fees would have to be collected if the number's destination is in a jurisdiction that requires it.
Bottomline.....it can be done...it just requires a lot of coordination between a lot of phone carriers, several governments and the Internet community.
