Doc, to me, those 3.3 billion cell phones don't really mean much - how many of those cell phone users actually access the internet on their phones?
In Japan, PC and Laptop sales are 60% in the downslide. So much in fact, that the makers Toshiba and Sony do not even advertise their products in their own native countries.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, cell phone sales and upgrades are up 60%. The country is connected to the mobile internet. Soon, Japan will be offering college course via the cell phone.
In Italy, the italian government now uses .mobi for all major branches of government including the police department. Why? Everyone has a cell phone.
I think this is one point that everyone is missing here. The infrastructure is still way behind for mobile internet (and .mobi) to be mainstream. These sales are about 5 years too early.
That infrastructure is in place and only going to get better with the auctioning of the 700mhz spectrum and the introduction of 3.5g, soon 4g, and WiLDnet.
Mobi has made tremendous progress in many nations, including the US, in such a short period. There is much talk about going mainstream. The innovators that are not going with the "mainstream" thought of connecting to the consumer are the real winners in this arena. It will now be up to the others in the banking sector to catch up with Bank of America who recently signed up 500,000 BofA.mobi customers, more mobile banking customers that all other banks combined. BusinessWeek.mobi and CNNmoney.mobi, TBS.mobi, Amazon.mobi, and hundreds more are branding this and entrenching it into the minds of the consumer.
A huge proportion of those 3.3 cell phones are in the developing world. And trust me - I come from India - in such countries, mobile internet is almost unheard of. Its expensive, and its not available.
Therein lies tremendous opportunity to reach a growing and emerging market. Many nations and countries deemed "third world" are not able to afford nor fund what it takes to create an infrastructure of traditional internet. Nor are their population able to afford a computer let alone monthly fees for connectivity.
But they can afford a phone which enables them to connect to the internet as well as stay connected. At a very affordable option to the standard PC and laptop.
I understand you are from India. I have been in contact with many from India and Pakistan as well as from nations in Africa. This is moving rapidly and gaining great support. These are new markets, not emerging markets.
Heck, even in the US, mobile internet is a huge pain. How many of the .mobi lovers can (and do) access the internet on their cell phones as much as they do on their computers? How many of these posts were written on cell phones?
So its not really 3.3 billion cell phones. Its only a very very small fraction that can and does actually use the mobile internet. The rest will still take years to take to it.
Right now, there are estimates that 30% of those capable of accessing the internet via cell phone do. That is 1.1 billion people. That is equal to 1/6 of the global population.
Mobile devices are outselling PC's and laptops 4:1. The odds are in favor of mobile internet. Hugely in favor.
But rather than take my word for it or all these facts and figures, it would be wise for any one to do diligent research before making any investment of any type. I treat domains as a share of stock in a commodity. Each domain is a share of stock. You wouldn't blindly buy stock in a company without doing your own research, would you?
I conducted my own research on this topic for months on end and continue to do so. I was not a land rusher and did not reg any mobi's until mid-January 2007. No one sold me on it, no one talked me into it, and no one tried to talk me out of it. The research was done and the plans were put into motion.
I am equally not trying to sell anyone on the purchase of a .mobi. But at the same time, until someone can come up with their own research to counter the effort put into this, then all I am seeing is opinions.
Everyone is entitled to their opinions. But it is also nice to have a little bit of evidence to support a claim before just stating opinions. That is what I am doing. Again, not trying to sell a damn thing here. But wondering what everyone else is trying to sell or protect me from.
The odds are overwhelmingly in my favor that this will succeed. Not only the odds, but the evidence is there. Do I need to quote it all? Or is there a chance some one can do their own due diligence and research themselves. I did. Feel free to bookmark this thread and revisit it in a year.
As for how much of these posts were written on cell phones is not suitable to enter in this equation. This forum is not mobile compatible and would take forever to access this site. And can you imagine my thumbs on a qwerty keyboard banging all this out? Plus, I have better things to do and better sites to visit on my Helio Ocean than DNF. I know, I know, what a shock
I'm not saying that the sales aren't legitimate. They very well might be. All I'm saying is that the sales have been way too inflated for a very new extension. Even the most ardent of .mobi lovers won't deny that the extension needs at least 5 more years to mature (as the infrastructure matures).
Time will tell about .mobi. To me, its just happening way too fast, way too soon, and way too easily.
To me, its just happening way too fast, way too soon, and way too easily.
Those words should look familiar. And I could not have said it any better.
You say that even the most ardent of .mobi lovers won't deny that the extension needs at least 5 more years to mature.
I deny it. Here and now.
We are talking about a global TLD, not as some might say a cc TLD. My research led me to pursue the emerging markets and trends in other nations and parts of the globe that were being impacted first by the technology and innovation.
Consider this. We want to talk about it will take this and take that to be mainstream. What exactly will it take and how long? It seems the only ones debating it is domainers. In the end, the consumer will decide what is best for their uses and lifestyles. And the smart companies are going to them rather than wait for the consumer to come to the company.
I perhaps have more faith but it is not blind faith. I have equal convictions of my other "domain shares" in my portfolio.
Yes it is happening fast.
Glad I didn't wait too long.
