google Vendors Hoping The .Mobi Domain Will Help The Mobile Web Not Stink - InformationWeek

[Adam Dicker]

Vendors Hoping The .Mobi Domain Will Help The Mobile Web Not Stink
InformationWeek, NY - 9 hours ago
... Mobi is different from other domain names like .biz, .info, and .net, which haven't quite taken off, because it's backed by a consortium of large technology ...
Protect Your Domain Name DailyIndia.com
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[LizzeyDripping]

Hi - can anyone please explain to me if/why this is different to any other domain? I mean - my understanding is that this is just an extension like any other and that it is the content of the site that will vary - i.e. any site with the .mobi extension will be optimised for mobile phone use, but this is just an indicator isn't it?! Rather like a ccTLD indicates a particular country, but I could still have a .co.uk site entirely in Swahili if I wanted - it doesn't dictate content.

Is my understanding correct? Because it seems to be that this is exactly like all those other TLDs...for all that the mobile phone companies seem to be trying to suggest that this is some form of new technology...

[dreambig]

Hi, I believe the difference lies in a couple of factors...
1. the people involved. For a TLD to take off there has to be considerable marketing. dotMobi was started with these investors: Ericsson, Google, GSM Association, Hutchison, Microsoft, Nokia, Orascom Telecom, Samsung Electronics, Syniverse, T-Mobile, Telefónica Móviles, TIM and Vodafone. So,
they have vested interest in the domain and funds to back it up.

2. The whole reason to start the .mobi was so that .mobi sites conform to a set of protocols or style guides for 'best mobi practices'. Basically, you have to conform to a set of rules (so the websites look ok on the phone and dont crash, etc). This has come under some fire of course. There have been lots of people complaining about "mobi" is too long to spell but
I believe (and it has been written) that mobi browsers, which will eventually come on phones, will automatically put the .mobi at the end of a word (and not .com). Many people have speculated that it should have been called .wap. But, I do believe that mobi is a better choice for the 'average joe or judy' who doesn't have a clue what wap means. Also, mobi would likely be a better voice activation trigger.

[LizzeyDripping]

OK, thanks for this. So basically so far the main difference is in the marketing - presumably anyone taking the time and effort to make their, say, .com mobile friendly would want to conform to said practices to enable the site to be viewed or they'd just lose custom?

I am a little dubious about the need for .mobi - but would be very interested to know where you have read about this idea that browsers on mobiles will automatically add .mobi - are you saying that this would be enforced, i.e. you could only access .mobi sites from your phone? A link or a bit more info would be great!