.mobi The anti-mobi argument

[000]

The main argument against .mobi is that it's "not necessary". After all, it is true that developers can simply use a script to redirect mobile viewers to a mobile version of the site (ie, mobile.website.com). So doesn't that make .mobi useless?

The answer that keeps coming to my head is a definite no, because I do not foresee the majority of websites actually having a separate mobile version. Sure, it's true that most large sites will do this eventually, with the increasing number of mobile internet users, but there will still be millions of websites that will not even bother with a mobile version. That said, when browsing the internet on a cell phone, I think that the question of whether or not a site will display properly will be a very important issue. No one wants to waste time looking for sites that will work on their phone, and that's where .mobi comes in - it guarantees the mobile viewer that they will have a positive viewing experience.

Also, don't forget that when it comes to advertising mobile sites, "website.mobi" is easier to remember than "mobile.website.com". Particularly in countries such as China, mobile internet is a big thing, and is especially common for commuters to browse the internet while riding the train to work, etc. That is a huge number of people to advertise to, and .mobi is perfect for those marketing ventures.

Another part of the argument against .mobi is that today's technology will soon bring about new phones (in particular, Apple's iPhone) which can display full-sized sites just fine, using a zoom feature to browse the sites. Doesn't this solve the whole problem? Again, my answer is no. I don't think that this technique will really solve the issue, because it's just too complicated to browse this way. Mobile users want to browse effortlessly, and non-stop zooming isn't what mobile users want. Sure, it may be advanced, but it doesn't look very effortless to me. Just take a look at Apple's demonstration of internet browsing on their upcoming iPhone, and you should see what I'm talking about. It might be a nice thought to view all sites one one device, but I still hold to my view that mobile-specific sites must be developed. Even if the whole iPhone concept does take off, it will still be a long time before these devices will be commonplace in public.

I'd appreciate your comments, whether you agree or not! I'm just trying to think all the facts through realistically, so please let me know your views! :talk:

 

[ofclean]

Most .mobi sites -- no, make that every .mobi site I've seen -- is generic and plain. Once phones can display web-content better, the .mobi restrictions will be useless and people will come to associate .mobi (or any mobile-specific site) with generic and plain content. I recently sold my two (great) .mobis because I'm not going to fight technology.

edit: Plus, you can have your .com site redirect mobile users to a mobile site, so you don't even have to advertise a different website, just advertise the existing site as mobile-friendly.

 

[000]

Most .mobi sites -- no, make that every mobile site I've seen -- is generic and plain. Once phones can display web-content better, the .mobi restrictions will be useless and people will come to associate .mobi (or any mobile-specific site) with generic and plain content.

I'm sure that as time goes on, developers will find ways to "spice up" their mobile sites. But in the end, there's only so much you can do on a tiny mobile screen. It's to be expected that mobile sites are plainer than full-sized sites. Take a look at the NBA's mobile site - I don't think that looks bad at all. In fact, I think it looks great for a mobile site...something that I would definitely return to.

Plus, you can have your .com site redirect mobile users to a mobile site, so you don't even have to advertise a different website, just advertise the existing site as mobile-friendly.

Sure, that could be done: advertise sites as "mobile-friendly". But .mobi is an alternative advertising technique that would work just as well. If the public becomes accustomed to .mobi, though, they would naturally look for .mobi I think.

 

[Fundraiser]

No one wants to waste time looking for sites that will work on their phone, and that's where .mobi comes in - it guarantees the mobile viewer that they will have a positive viewing experience.

There is no guarantee. The ability of dot mobi to police web sites is highly in doubt as the cost to properly process and enforce "violations" would be prohibitive. It would require an enormous number of staff to assure "violations" were enough to take a site offline considering the possible legal liability. Also, the minimum requirement is that the site simply identify what type of browser would allow it to be viewed properly.

If, a very big if, mobi begins to catch on from the "guaranteed to work with a mobile device" marketing angle, don't you think any company with a serious online presence would provide a seamless automated response through browser recognition (as you had mentioned in your post).

Sure, that could be done: advertise sites as "mobile-friendly". But .mobi is an alternative advertising technique that would work just as well. If the public becomes accustomed to .mobi, though, they would naturally look for .mobi I think.

Why would a company that might already spend big money on marketing a particular web address and/or has developed it as a brand decide to spend money marketing a mobile version of its web site when instead it can simply stick to the domain it currently uses? It can only become "an alternative advertising technique" if dot mobi spends the money to brand itself as "guaranteed to work on a mobile device" which goes back to my first point that it can't make that guarantee.

 

[ofclean]

I respectfully disagree; I think nba.mobi is very plain. It's clean, but it's plain.

I can see websites in the near future being able to better scale to different screen resolutions (instead of having fixed width areas), which would be the nail in the coffin to .mobi, if it happens.

 

[mjnels]

Most .mobi sites -- no, make that every .mobi site I've seen -- is generic and plain. Once phones can display web-content better, the .mobi restrictions will be useless and people will come to associate .mobi (or any mobile-specific site) with generic and plain content. I recently sold my two .mobis (I loved the names so much) because I'm not going to fight technology.

Im pretty sure by the time phones/mobiles devices can load anything at a staggering rate of speed, the mTLD will change their standards or just simply do away with them..

Remember, as Egnited stated, this is an advertising/marketing technique as well.

There are now 2 ways.... you can advertise your website as "mobile friendly" or you can advertise a .mobi

claiming one is better than the other is simply the ol' "apples taste better than oranges" arguement..

 

[ofclean]

Im pretty sure by the time phones/mobiles devices can load anything at a staggering rate of speed, the mTLD will change their standards or just simply do away with them..

At that point, what would be the reason for .mobi to even exist?

 

[mjnels]

At that point, what would be the reason for .mobi to even exist?

You dont get it do you... there would be no reason. its a brand.

thats like saying its pointless for captain crunch cerial to exist.

its just another kind of cerial... it doesnt need to be around, but it is.

Why does .info exist?

Why does .TV exist?



you have to understand, the public doesnt care about these questions...

 

[000]

There is no guarantee.

Sorry, I agree that "guarantee" is not the correct word here. But in most cases, .mobi sites will be mobile compatible.

Don't you think any company with a serious online presence would provide a seamless automated response through browser recognition?

Sure, they could choose to do that...but they would still be in the "I wonder if this site will work on my mobile?" catagory to most mobile users. The fact is, though, that more and more companies are choosing the .mobi option.

Why would a company that might already spend big money on marketing a particular web address and/or has developed it as a brand decide to spend money marketing a mobile version of its web site when instead it can simply stick to the domain it currently uses?

See my answer to the previous question. .Mobi is all about reassuring mobile users that the site is designed for mobile devices.

I respectfully disagree; I think nba.mobi is very plain. It's clean, but it's plain.

Ok, what exactly are you looking for in a mobile site? The incredibly small screen size of mobiles just doesn't allow for all the flashy graphics that can be found at a full-size website..

you have to understand, the public doesnt care about these questions...

Good point. If I were browsing the web from my cell phone, I wouldn't care about whether or not .mobi is necessary. All I would care about is whether or not certain sites will display properly -- and .mobi is one way to set those sites apart.

Glad to see that my post sparked some discussion! :talk:

 

[ofclean]

You dont get it do you... there would be no reason. its a brand.

thats like saying its pointless for captain crunch cerial to exist.

its just another kind of cerial... it doesnt need to be around, but it is.

Why does .info exist?

Why does .TV exist?



you have to understand, the public doesnt care about these questions...

Exactly that's the thing. At that point, what makes .mobi able to compete against .com, .net, .org, or .tv?

Even really random ccltds, like .cc, are both shorter and more wide-spread than .mobi.

Once .mobi is no longer for mobile devices, I can't see it being able to compete. I wish .mobi would succeed, I have my eye on a great name, but I don't want to flush $30 down the drain.

 

[texasgamer]

There are too many of us that truly believe in mobi - it can't help but succeed.

 

[000]

Exactly that's the thing. At that point, why would .mobi be able to compete against .com, .net, .org, or .tv? Even really random ccltds, like .cc, are both shorter and more wide-spread than .mobi. Once .mobi is no longer for mobile devices, I can't see it being able to compete.

Who says that .mobi is "competing" against the other extensions? Why can't they co-exist in peace? .Mobi is a unique extension that is for a very specific purpose, and isn't threatening or competing with any other tld's or cctld's.

P.S. - Feel free to PM me your "great domain" if you don't want to register it. :talk:

 

[mjnels]

Exactly that's the thing. At that point, why would .mobi be able to compete against .com, .net, .org, or .tv? Even really random ccltds, like .cc, are both shorter and more wide-spread than .mobi. Once .mobi is no longer for mobile devices, I can't see it being able to compete. I wish .mobi would succeed, I have my eye on a great name. But I don't want to flush $30 down the drain.

Really "random" ccTLDs only apply to ONE part of the world...

.mobi is global..

and once again MOBI JUST CAME OUT 4 MONTHS AGO... WHY WOULD IT BE POPULAR ALREADY?


heh

 

[scandiman]

There are too many of us that truly believe in mobi - it can't help but succeed.

I'm a mobi enthusiast but just because a bunch of us like it is no guarantee of success. It takes quality development and market penetration to succeed, no matter what the tld.

 

[mjnels]

Who says that .mobi is "competing" against the other extensions? Why can't they co-exist in peace? .Mobi is a unique extension that is for a very specific purpose, and isn't threatening or competing with any other tld's or cctld's.

exactly.

 

[Fundraiser]

Sure, they could choose to do that...but they would still be in the "I wonder if this site will work on my mobile?" catagory to most mobile users.

Do most mobile users think that or are you projecting that? The only way they will know to go to dot mobi is if they know it exists and right now, chances are they will not. Instead they will try to go to sites they know, and if it works, end of story.

The fact is, though, that more and more companies are choosing the .mobi option.

That is quite misleading. While true, it is because so few exist today.

See my answer to the previous question. .Mobi is all about reassuring mobile users that the site is designed for mobile devices.

Again, they will have to create that brand. It does not exist today and branding costs money. If they spend money to brand it and people end up typing "generic keyword dot mobi" only to find another ppc page or nothing at all that branding effort will have been wasted.

 

[ofclean]

exactly.

It's competing the mobile-friendly .coms, .nets, and .everythings.

And once phones can display better content, .mobi will be marginalized. If they remove the restrictions on it, then it will be competing as a third-tier domain, along with .ws, .cc, .in, etc.

 

[mjnels]

It's competing the mobile-friendly .coms, .nets, and .everythings.

And once phones can display better content, .mobi will be marginalized. If they remove the restrictions on it, then it will be competing as a third-tier domain, along with .ws, .cc, .in, etc.

ok so once it got popular your saying the public would rebel, and stop typing the extention just because they would say "HEY SCREW THIS, mobi aint needed... i aint going to this site"


they dont care. its like saying the 1-877 prefix for phone numbers is better than the 1-800 prefix... i dont have a personal opinion about it, i just dial the friggin number.

The whole world doesnt think like domainers....

 

[ofclean]

ok so once it got popular your saying the public would rebel, and stop typing the extention just because they would say "HEY SCREW THIS, mobi aint needed... so i aint going to this site"


they dont care. its like saying the 1-877 prefix for phone numbers is better than the 1-800 prefix... i dont have a personal opinion about it, i just dial the friggin number.

Wait what? Who said .mobi would get popular? Right now no one knows about it, very few sites are developed, and the need for it is getting smaller and smaller as technology gets better and better.

 

[yoyosean]

wrong, wrong, wrong!!!

Lets assume that mobi beats technology to the punch and establishes a significant presence this year in the mobile space, lets say the mobile search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, etc knowing that .mobi has sites that are mobile compliant give heavier weight to a .mobi site for indexing purposes.

Therefore these sites are now indexed in the mobile search engines, they have now sealed their place in the mobile world!!