A few .mobi questions

[katherine]

Another brain washed newbie victim of the .com agenda!

http://www.ejrb.com/dotcom.jpg

Wannabe what? A dot com god?

I own a variety of extensions. .com, .org, .co.uk, .info, .de, .es, .in, .net, .TV, and wait for it........... .mobi! Domain extensions of ALL colours.

That's good. My portfolio spans more than 20 different extensions (but not one single mobi).
But please stop saying or suggesting that mobi bashers are just hardcore .com dinosaurs, it is another weak, worn-out defense. Not you in particular but the mobi enthusiasts in general.

 

[iDName]

That's good. My portfolio spans more than 20 different extensions (but not one single mobi).
But please stop saying or suggesting that mobi bashers are just hardcore .com dinosaurs, it is another weak, worn-out defense. Not you in particular but the mobi enthusiasts in general.

Why do you people continue to bash just .mobi then? Is it something about .mobi that really bugs you?

 

[sashas]

i disagree and i say you are thinking like a domainer.

but neither one of us can really prove either side of this argument.

MJ, actually I'm not thinking like a domainer.

A domainer would be actually okay if he loses traffic, even a whole lot of it.

I'm thinking from the perspective of a large developer. Suppose you're putting 1 million dollars into developing and marketing Music.mobi as the definitive guide to mobile music.

And lets say that your site is a huge hit with a big online community that discusses things in forums, etc.

And now suppose your users like the site so much that they want to use it on their PCs too. But because they've been told through marketing that .mobi is for mobiles by you, Bank of America, everybody, they assume that for PCs, the site must be Music.com...and what happens is that you lose traffic everyday, AND users - people who might stumble onto Music.com and like it more than your site.

If you're pumping in so much money into a project, every single penny, every single user becomes important. You might be using VC money, money from the bank...not doing it just as a hobby or side project, as most domainers tend to be

 

[mjnels]

MJ, actually I'm not thinking like a domainer.

A domainer would be actually okay if he loses traffic, even a whole lot of it.

I'm thinking from the perspective of a large developer. Suppose you're putting 1 million dollars into developing and marketing Music.mobi as the definitive guide to mobile music.

And lets say that your site is a huge hit with a big online community that discusses things in forums, etc.

And now suppose your users like the site so much that they want to use it on their PCs too. But because they've been told through marketing that .mobi is for mobiles by you, Bank of America, everybody, they assume that for PCs, the site must be Music.com...and what happens is that you lose traffic everyday, AND users - people who might stumble onto Music.com and like it more than your site.

If you're pumping in so much money into a project, every single penny, every single user becomes important. You might be using VC money, money from the bank...not doing it just as a hobby or side project, as most domainers tend to be

ok, lets assume this is the logic people will follow.

lets say theyve been to music.mobi... and accidently stumple upon Music.com and like it better.


it sounds to me like the Music.mobi has some competition now and better get their asses in gear and make their site just as good as the other one, if not 10x better.

competition is healthy.

 

[Gerry]

That's good. My portfolio spans more than 20 different extensions (but not one single mobi).

That is a good strategy.

Nothing wrong with that.

But why the insistence of coming on to a .mobi thread purely for the sake of bashing a domain?

I do not like Dodge. Next time I go by a Dodge dealership, I should stop, get out of the vehicle, walk into the showroom and shout, "Dodge sucks!"

I do not like Captain Crunch cereal. I should go into the grocery store and shout "Captain Crunch Sucks!"

But it can't end there. In order for me to get my point across I will have to stop at EVERY Dodge dealership and EVERY grocery store.

It is no different on this forum and in the mobi threads and with some members. Got to stop by and proclaim MOBI SUCKS on every mobi thread.

Even with my displeasure of Dodge my distaste of Capt. Crunch, will my effort force them to stop selling the product? Stop people from using it?

Hell no.

Do people think it will be any different because a few domainers got together and proclaimed MOBI sucks and mobi will go away? businesses won't use them? people won't use them?

DODGE SUCKS and I HATE CAPT. CRUNCH!

 

[mjnels]

now where have i heard that captain crunch thing before... hehehe

http://www.dnforum.com/f31/great-domain-extension-scam-5-thread-183753.html#post972310

 

[sashas]

ok, lets assume this is the logic people will follow.

lets say theyve been to music.mobi... and accidently stumple upon Music.com and like it better.


it sounds to me like the Music.mobi has some competition now and better get their asses in gear and make their site just as good as the other one, if not 10x better.

competition is healthy.

thats one way to look at it. But either ways, you would be losing traffic, and ATLEAST some users. If you're playing in a very competitive field on a limited budget against some big players, then you would want to secure every single lead, every single time.


Btw, why don't most .mobi sites use automatic browser detection? Instead of placing a link to "graphics version", why couldn't wwf.mobi designers just make it detect my browser and send me to the proper site?

 

[mjnels]

thats one way to look at it. But either ways, you would be losing traffic, and ATLEAST some users. If you're playing in a very competitive field on a limited budget against some big players, then you would want to secure every single lead, every single time.


Btw, why don't most .mobi sites use automatic browser detection? Instead of placing a link to "graphics version", why couldn't wwf.mobi designers just make it detect my browser and send me to the proper site?

i dont know.

honestly if i waited for all these answers the opportunity for me to secure decent mobee domains would be long gone.

 

[sashas]

i dont know.

honestly if i waited for all these answers the opportunity for me to secure decent mobee domains would be long gone.

well, thats fine if you're reselling. If you're developing with all your life savings or bank money, I think getting the .com would along with the .mobi would be the best way to go about it.

But then, I'm just paranoid about losing traffic. My hardwork shouldn't line someone else's pockets.

 

[katherine]

...
But why the insistence of coming on to a .mobi thread purely for the sake of bashing a domain?

I do not like Dodge. Next time I go by a Dodge dealership, I should stop, get out of the vehicle, walk into the showroom and shout, "Dodge sucks!"

I do not like Captain Crunch cereal. I should go into the grocery store and shout "Captain Crunch Sucks!"
...

So you want a debate with no critics and only one side of the story ?
Instead try to convince the OP why he should believe in mobi.

 

[mjnels]

well, thats fine if you're reselling. If you're developing with all your life savings or bank money, I think getting the .com would along with the .mobi would be the best way to go about it.

But then, I'm just paranoid about losing traffic. My hardwork shouldn't line someone else's pockets.

but now im in the position to do both.. resale and develop.

sure, getting the .com is a very very smart move... but i think its possible and viable to operate on just a .mobi

lots of websites lose traffic and survive/thrive.. digg.com doesnt own dig.com.. youtube doesnt own utube.com... and on and on and on..

 

[Gerry]

So you want a debate with no critics and only one side of the story ?
Instead try to convince the OP why he should believe in mobi.

This is not even a debate.

The time for debating this was years ago when ICANN went on record to consider the extension.

And the other side of what story? That people have the opinion that it sucks? If that is the opinion that you and others have formulated then there is little cause to even see another side.

And in regards to the OP, I think this has already been accomplished.

 

[Fearless]

So you want a debate with no critics and only one side of the story ?
Instead try to convince the OP why he should believe in mobi.

They should stick to Namepros then. Those guys are happy to shut down any .mobi dissension.

but now im in the position to do both.. resale and develop.

By having a bunch of keyword .mobis you know developing would be a waste of time and money. You're probably the only active .mobi defender that knows .mobis are worthless and the only money to be had is by flipping them. You'll probably be the only one to admit this one day too.

 

[namewaiter]

They should stick to Namepros then. Those guys are happy to shut down any .mobi dissension.

well considering the main moderator of this sub forum is very much anti .mobi as well ... i guess things even out, yet here we are.

 

[mjnels]

By having a bunch of keyword .mobis you know developing would be a waste of time and money. You're probably the only active .mobi defender that knows .mobis are worthless and the only money to be had is by flipping them. You'll probably be the only one to admit this one day too.

word on the street is you flipped a bunch of LLL.com's back in the day for a few hundred dollars.

your crystal ball musta been broke those days. :lol:

 

[Fearless]

word on the street is you flipped a bunch of LLL.com's back in the day for a few hundred dollars.

your crystal ball musta been broke those days. :lol:

Turns out I should have kept those damn things. Maybe you should keep all those crappy .mobis you have left.

 

[mjnels]

Turns out I should have kept those damn things. Maybe you should keep all those crappy .mobis you have left.

i am keeping some.. but im working with very little cash.

for me its about cashflow AND hedging a few category killers.

 

[Gerry]

We don't need mobi.

Then what do we need?

This?

abcnews.go.com wap.go.com /wireless/abcnews/xhtml/ ABC News
allrecipies.com mobile.allrecipes.com Cooking
alternet.org www.alternet.org /module/feed/mobile/ News, politics
amazon.com amazon.com /mcommerce
answers.com mobile.answers.com Dictionary, encyclopedia
aol.com wap.aol.com
ask.com m.ask.com
ballbug.com ballbug.com/mini Baseball
bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk/mobile
bloglines.com www.bloglines.com/mobile RSS Reader
bloomberg.com www.btogo.com /avantper/WinCE/Home/index.htm
businessweek.com businessweek.mobi
careerbuilder.com mobile.careerbuilder.com Jobs
cars.com mobile.cars.com Cars
cbc.ca www.cbc.ca/mobile/ Canada News
cbsnews.com wap.cbsnews.com/news/ CBS News
chicagotribune.com mobile.chicagotribune.com Chicago Tribune
cinematical.com m.cinematical.com Movies
clusty.com m.clusty.com Search engine
cnet.com m.cnet.com Tech news
continental.com pda.continental.com Continental Airlines
delta.com mobile.delta.com Delta Airlines
digg.com diggriver.com Tech news
edmunds.com xhtml.edmunds.com Cars
espn.go.com mobileapp.espn.go.com /wireless/espn/redesign/index
facebook.com m.facebook.com Social network
fandango.com mobile.fandango.com Movie tickets
fatwallet.com fatwallet.mobi Deals
flickr.com m.flickr.com Photo sharing
foxnews.com foxnews.mobi Fox News
gmail.com mail.google.com/mail/x/
gocomics.com m.gocomics.com/Mobile Comics
godaddy.com www.godaddymobile.com Domain names
google.com www.google.com/xhtml
iht.com mobile.iht.com Intl’ Herald Tribune
jajah.com mobile.jajah.com Phone
jetblue.com mobile.jetblue.com Jetblue Airlines
latimes.com mobile.latimes.com LA Times
live.com m.live.com Live/MSN search
local.com mobile.local.com Yellow Pages & Classifieds
mail.google.com mail.google.com/mail/x/
mail.yahoo.com wap.oa.yahoo.com/mail
marketwatch.com www.marketwatch.com /portfolio/avantgo Financial News
memeorandum.com www.memeorandum.com/mini Politics
metacritic.com wireless.metacritic.com/avantgo/ Movie/DVD reviews
mlb.com wap.mlb.com Baseball
news.google.com news.google.com/news?output=xhtml
news.yahoo.com wap.oa.yahoo.com/raw?dp=news
newsvine.com www.newsvine.mobi News
newsweek.com mobile.newsweek.com
npr.org thin.npr.org/ National Public Radio
nwa.com mobile.nwa.com Northwest Airlines
nytimes.com mobile.nytimes.com
online.wsj.com mobile2.wsj.com/wsj_premium Wall Street Journal
orbitz.com mobile.orbitz.com Travel
plaxo.com m.plaxo.com Contact & Calendar Manager
rememberthemilk.com m.rememberthemilk.com To-do list
reuters.com mobile.reuters.com Reuters News
seattletimes.com seattletimes.nwsource.com/text/
slate.com mobile.slate.com News & Opinion
sportsline.com cbs.volantis.net/sportsline/ Sports
starbucks.com mobile.starbucks.com Starbucks Finder
techmeme.com www.techmeme.com/mini Tech news
thenation.com mobile.thenation.com News magazine
theonion.com mobile.theonion.com Humor
time.com mobile.time.com
twitter.com m.twitter.com
united.com ua.flightlookup.com United Airlines
upcoming.yahoo.com m.upcoming.yahoo.com Event planner
usatoday.com wap.usatoday.com
washingtonpost.com mobile.washingtonpost.com
weather.com xhtml.weather.com/xhtml/home
wesmirch.com www.wesmirch.com/mini Celeb gossip
wikipedia.org wapedia.mobi
wordpress.com m.wordpress.com
wsj.com mobile2.wsj.com/wsj_premium Wall Street Journal
wunderground.com mobile.wunderground.com Weather
yahoo.com m.yahoo.com
yelp.com mobile.yelp.com Restaurant reviews
youtube.com m.youtube.com

So tell me about auto detection.

Better yet, don't tell me about auto detection. Get out your phone and use it yourself and then tell me about auto detection. Sucks, doesn't it?

Can't see the whole site, use the whole site.

And what about the list above?

You've got companies that can not agree on a set standard to access a mobile site. How many variations do you see on this one page?

 

[sashas]

Better yet, don't tell me about auto detection. Get out your phone and use it yourself and then tell me about auto detection. Sucks, doesn't it?

what if you have to use autodetection to make your site viewable to PC audience, and they get to see a shitty page?
What would you rather lose, the much larger PC audience, or the currently much smaller mobile audience?


The only effective way I see of using .mobi is the way most companies are using it: .com as the main site, .mobi as the secondary site for mobile users.
Fine. Thats great, and an effective use of .mobi.

But can you really make .mobi your main site? Can you rely on autodetection to give your PC users a good experience?

Look, getting the .mobi is great if you own the .com/other main extension. But if you own only the .mobi, you're relying on an essentially flawed mechanism of browser detection.
And if you have to rely on this flawed browser detection mechanism, what would rather choose? Giving a shitty experience to your mobile audience by using the .com as the main site, or giving a shitty experience to the currently much much larger PC audience by using .mobi as the main site?


Doesn't this go against the very fundamental of .mobi ownership and the basic fundamentals of entrepreneurship? That .mobi an opportunity for those who cannot afford good keywords in .com to compete against the big boys? You'll be giving a shitty experience to at least one part of your audience with browser auto detection. Why not choose the one with the larger market share?

 

[Gerry]

what if

What if every question you have asked has been answered many, many times?

What if the answer to these questions were posted in this very thread that you have not taken the time to read?

What if we say, "sashas, what we really need is to say right now what is the one and only way to say...

this site is mobile."

Look at post #193.

How many ways to you see in that one single list that represent a mobile website.

What one way would you say this site is mobile?