Comments on: M Dot: Web’s Answer to Mobile http://gigaom.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/ Tracking the Internet Evolution Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:54:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: David Fox http://gigaom.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-341720 David Fox Fri, 13 Jul 2007 05:15:44 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-341720 <p>another reason for "m." - the soft keyboard setup on the iPhone fills in ".com". Now we really ARE talking about less typing.</p> another reason for “m.” - the soft keyboard setup on the iPhone fills in “.com”. Now we really ARE talking about less typing.

]]> By: Scott http://gigaom.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-274078 Scott Wed, 27 Jun 2007 19:16:29 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-274078 <p>This article was published June 12, 2007 in TechNewsWorld. Like everyone else, we're looking forward to seeing how this all plays out. Comments welcomed and appreciated.</p> <p>Cheers, Scott</p> <p>ARTICLE STARTS:</p> <p>With more than 4 billion cell phones in use worldwide -- 487 million in China alone -- it's no wonder that "mobile" is all the rage.</p> <p>A recent segment of "American Idol" received nearly 80 million text message votes. The 2008 U.S. presidential candidates are incorporating mobile communications elements into their campaigns. Social networks such as MySpace Latest News about MySpace and Twitter are starting to deploy mobile-friendly Web sites. Most mobile access is achieved via traditional methods such as wireless carrier "walled garden" decks, short codes, text messaging and often lengthy, convoluted sub-domains.</p> <p>It begs the question: Is there a simpler, perhaps more powerful mobile access and branding Email Marketing Software - Free Demo tool that has largely gone unnoticed?</p> <p>The Internet and the cell phone are colliding as the media evolve to satisfy our need to socialize and to share information. Personalized mobility will become the norm. If people are going to access Web sites via cell phones, why not make it easy by using numbers instead of letters? Numeric Domains 101</p> <p>On billions of cell phones worldwide, the dial pad numbers 2 through 9 can represent letters of the alphabet. The numeral 2 can represent "a," "b" or "c." The "7" button can represent "p," "q," "r" or "s," etc.</p> <p>Therefore, any string of numbers can represent multiple alpha equivalents. The numbers 3776 can represent 144 alpha combinations (3 can represent d, e or f; 7 can represent p, q, r or s; 6 can represent m, n or o). The numbers 3776 could represent "Esso;" it could also represent "ESPN" or 142 other unique alpha combinations.</p> <p>On your cell phone WAP Latest News about WAP (wireless application protocol) browser, entering a numeric string and adding ".com" creates a numeric domain.</p> <p>Until the domain is specifically purposed, it's just that -- a string of numbers, no trademark issues and no squatting issues.</p> <p>Organizations incorporate numeric domains into their overall marketing mix depending on their respective goals and strategies:</p> <pre><code>* The numeric domain is the brand. Some of the world's most popular Web sites use numeric-domains as their primary Web sites, including 163.com, 126.com, 888.com and 51.com. Numeric domains can be the brand or help to strengthen the brand. The numeric feature can clearly indicate that the WAP site has been specifically formatted for optimum viewing and navigation on cell phones. * Simple input. It's much easier to enter 3776 (.com) -- four input clicks -- than it is to enter a lengthy sub-domain required to get to the same Web site such as mobileapp.espn.go (.com), requiring 32 input clicks. Numeric-domains reduce keypad input clicks, thereby reducing input error, frustration and abandonment. Numeric-domains are handheld device, wireless carrier, language and location agnostic. * Reduce dependency on wireless carrier "decks." Wireless carriers offer premium content (ringtones, music, etc.) to their customers via "on-deck" portals, or "walled gardens." Content providers typically pay dearly to list and sell their content on-deck, yet have little influence over location, positioning and the amount of promotion done by the carrier. Numeric domains allow content providers a direct link to their customers and full control of and responsibility for the user experience. * Exert more consumer influence. Wireless carriers play a crucial role in the wireless Internet ecosystem. However, the growing migration of content owners bypassing wireless carriers' expensive billing costs to deliver content direct to consumer is rampant. Numeric domains enable direct-to-consumer access and a wide variety of payment options. * Short code avoidance, direct-to-consumer delivery. Carrier-controlled short codes are not owned by the content providers. Codes are rented on a monthly basis, can take months to secure and typically are used only for short "campaign" durations. Organizations that own their numeric domain enjoy longer lead times for planning campaigns and can associate the numeric domain with, and strengthen, their brand. * Short codes restrictions. Short codes are geographically restricted to the reach of the carrier network. This is usually not a problem for local or regional campaigns. However, for international campaigns, companies need to schedule, manage and pay for multiple short codes. Numeric domains are equal in the entire global community. The code 3776 is the same in Beijing, Boston or Bali. This ensures that anyone anywhere on the planet with a WAP browser and network access can reach your Web anytime, day or night. </code></pre> <p>Why are numeric domains only surfacing now? Perhaps for a number of reasons -- fear of the unknown, early-adopter reluctance and the evolving technical expertise to deliver a "beyond expectations" mobile user experience.</p> <p>The "wireless" Internet is in its embryonic stages. Access methods such as short codes and text messaging were designed and developed by the carriers and touted by the service providers and/or aggregators. Not surprisingly, each step incorporated substantial profit centers for the emerging cabals. Want a short code? Want to send a text message? Want your content delivered to wireless subscribers? Want that application preloaded on these phones? If so, you're forced to pay the piper. A Place in the Ecosystem</p> <p>Major brands that could afford the higher costs often followed the advice of ad agencies and aggregators. Wireless is new. How do we get into the game and measure results? What will it cost?</p> <p>The answers, and the solutions, were proffered and spoon-fed by the aggregators, ad agencies and the carriers. With substantial mass-media advertising, the result became the accepted way to communicate a message, engage the consumer and to sell a product or service.</p> <p>The industry is maturing and there are alternatives available that many people may not be aware of. However, if embraced and employed, these new tools could dramatically improve on current industry practices.</p> <p>Will numeric domains find a prominent place in the wireless ecosystem? It would seem so. Reported sales of numeric-domains have exploded recently. 15.com just sold for US$100,000, 20.com sold for $75,000, and dozens of others have traded for over $100,000 in private sales.</p> <p>Many companies are learning the value, ease of use and versatility numeric domains. As more and more Web and WAP sites -- such as the recently launched 41414.com and the heavily venture capital-backed www.80108.com jump into the fray, it would appear that the numbers are heating up.</p> <p>Have you got your number?</p> <p>Scott Smith is president and CEO of ArcNum and cochairs the off-portal committee for the Mobile Marketing Association.</p> This article was published June 12, 2007 in TechNewsWorld. Like everyone else, we’re looking forward to seeing how this all plays out. Comments welcomed and appreciated.

Cheers,
Scott

ARTICLE STARTS:

With more than 4 billion cell phones in use worldwide — 487 million in China alone — it’s no wonder that “mobile” is all the rage.

A recent segment of “American Idol” received nearly 80 million text message votes. The 2008 U.S. presidential candidates are incorporating mobile communications elements into their campaigns. Social networks such as MySpace Latest News about MySpace and Twitter are starting to deploy mobile-friendly Web sites. Most mobile access is achieved via traditional methods such as wireless carrier “walled garden” decks, short codes, text messaging and often lengthy, convoluted sub-domains.

It begs the question: Is there a simpler, perhaps more powerful mobile access and branding Email Marketing Software - Free Demo tool that has largely gone unnoticed?

The Internet and the cell phone are colliding as the media evolve to satisfy our need to socialize and to share information. Personalized mobility will become the norm. If people are going to access Web sites via cell phones, why not make it easy by using numbers instead of letters?
Numeric Domains 101

On billions of cell phones worldwide, the dial pad numbers 2 through 9 can represent letters of the alphabet. The numeral 2 can represent “a,” “b” or “c.” The “7″ button can represent “p,” “q,” “r” or “s,” etc.

Therefore, any string of numbers can represent multiple alpha equivalents. The numbers 3776 can represent 144 alpha combinations (3 can represent d, e or f; 7 can represent p, q, r or s; 6 can represent m, n or o). The numbers 3776 could represent “Esso;” it could also represent “ESPN” or 142 other unique alpha combinations.

On your cell phone WAP Latest News about WAP (wireless application protocol) browser, entering a numeric string and adding “.com” creates a numeric domain.

Until the domain is specifically purposed, it’s just that — a string of numbers, no trademark issues and no squatting issues.

Organizations incorporate numeric domains into their overall marketing mix depending on their respective goals and strategies:

* The numeric domain is the brand. Some of the world's most popular Web sites use numeric-domains as their primary Web sites, including 163.com, 126.com, 888.com and 51.com.

  Numeric domains can be the brand or help to strengthen the brand. The numeric feature can clearly indicate that the WAP site has been specifically formatted for optimum viewing and navigation on cell phones.

* Simple input. It's much easier to enter 3776 (.com) -- four input clicks -- than it is to enter a lengthy sub-domain required to get to the same Web site such as mobileapp.espn.go (.com), requiring 32 input clicks.

  Numeric-domains reduce keypad input clicks, thereby reducing input error, frustration and abandonment. Numeric-domains are handheld device, wireless carrier, language and location agnostic.

* Reduce dependency on wireless carrier "decks." Wireless carriers offer premium content (ringtones, music, etc.) to their customers via "on-deck" portals, or "walled gardens." Content providers typically pay dearly to list and sell their content on-deck, yet have little influence over location, positioning and the amount of promotion done by the carrier.

  Numeric domains allow content providers a direct link to their customers and full control of and responsibility for the user experience.

* Exert more consumer influence. Wireless carriers play a crucial role in the wireless Internet ecosystem. However, the growing migration of content owners bypassing wireless carriers' expensive billing costs to deliver content direct to consumer is rampant.

  Numeric domains enable direct-to-consumer access and a wide variety of payment options.

* Short code avoidance, direct-to-consumer delivery. Carrier-controlled short codes are not owned by the content providers. Codes are rented on a monthly basis, can take months to secure and typically are used only for short "campaign" durations.

  Organizations that own their numeric domain enjoy longer lead times for planning campaigns and can associate the numeric domain with, and strengthen, their brand.

* Short codes restrictions. Short codes are geographically restricted to the reach of the carrier network. This is usually not a problem for local or regional campaigns. However, for international campaigns, companies need to schedule, manage and pay for multiple short codes.

  Numeric domains are equal in the entire global community. The code 3776 is the same in Beijing, Boston or Bali. This ensures that anyone anywhere on the planet with a WAP browser and network access can reach your Web anytime, day or night.

Why are numeric domains only surfacing now? Perhaps for a number of reasons — fear of the unknown, early-adopter reluctance and the evolving technical expertise to deliver a “beyond expectations” mobile user experience.

The “wireless” Internet is in its embryonic stages. Access methods such as short codes and text messaging were designed and developed by the carriers and touted by the service providers and/or aggregators. Not surprisingly, each step incorporated substantial profit centers for the emerging cabals. Want a short code? Want to send a text message? Want your content delivered to wireless subscribers? Want that application preloaded on these phones? If so, you’re forced to pay the piper.
A Place in the Ecosystem

Major brands that could afford the higher costs often followed the advice of ad agencies and aggregators. Wireless is new. How do we get into the game and measure results? What will it cost?

The answers, and the solutions, were proffered and spoon-fed by the aggregators, ad agencies and the carriers. With substantial mass-media advertising, the result became the accepted way to communicate a message, engage the consumer and to sell a product or service.

The industry is maturing and there are alternatives available that many people may not be aware of. However, if embraced and employed, these new tools could dramatically improve on current industry practices.

Will numeric domains find a prominent place in the wireless ecosystem? It would seem so. Reported sales of numeric-domains have exploded recently. 15.com just sold for US$100,000, 20.com sold for $75,000, and dozens of others have traded for over $100,000 in private sales.

Many companies are learning the value, ease of use and versatility numeric domains. As more and more Web and WAP sites — such as the recently launched 41414.com and the heavily venture capital-backed (link) jump into the fray, it would appear that the numbers are heating up.

Have you got your number?

Scott Smith is president and CEO of ArcNum and cochairs the off-portal committee for the Mobile Marketing Association.

]]> By: Doug http://gigaom.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101137 Doug Thu, 24 May 2007 22:43:46 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101137 <p>Many hundreds, even thousands of large corps have begun to use, and even market their .mobi sites...</p> <p>examples include: msn.mobi, amtrak.mobi, nba.mobi, bofa.mobi, ferrari.mobi, yahoo.mobi, google.mobi, bmw.mobi, statefarm.mobi, sas.mobi, polo.mobi, businessweek.mobi, foxnews.mobi and hundreds more.</p> <p>Why? Because mobi is sexy!!! From a marketing point of view, which looks better? m.polo.com or Polo.mobi? Stop thinking like techies and think like teenagers - who will someday rule the internet.</p> <p>That's not to say, there won't be room for both standards - some may not be able to get the mobi version of their .com /.net /.org /.whatever, so they will have to settle for the m.subdomain, or domain/m, etc.</p> <p>The trouble with m.domain standard is there is no organized force behind it, whereas .mobi has a consortium of mobile industry leaders, such as Nokia, Samsung, Ericsson, GSM Association, Hutchison, Microsoft, Orascom Telecom, Syniverse, T-Mobile, Telefónica Móviles, TIM and Vodafone behind it, as well as investment from Google, Microsoft, and Visa.</p> <p>With this kind of consortium, we may even see such things as .mobi hotkeys or mobile defaults - which would not just make typing .mobi a non-issue, it would catapault .mobi leaps and bounds ahead of any other extension.</p> <p>Mobi has hit the emerging North American mobile market with perfect timing. With an expected million .mobi registrations within the coming year, all this new mobile content will be getting marketed by late 2007, and .mobi will explode into the public consciousness all at once.</p> <p>Wise firms are readying their .mobi sites even as we chat.</p> Many hundreds, even thousands of large corps have begun to use, and even market their .mobi sites…

examples include: msn.mobi, amtrak.mobi, nba.mobi, bofa.mobi, ferrari.mobi, yahoo.mobi, google.mobi, bmw.mobi, statefarm.mobi, sas.mobi, polo.mobi, businessweek.mobi, foxnews.mobi and hundreds more.

Why? Because mobi is sexy!!! From a marketing point of view, which looks better? m.polo.com or Polo.mobi? Stop thinking like techies and think like teenagers - who will someday rule the internet.

That’s not to say, there won’t be room for both standards - some may not be able to get the mobi version of their .com /.net /.org /.whatever, so they will have to settle for the m.subdomain, or domain/m, etc.

The trouble with m.domain standard is there is no organized force behind it, whereas .mobi has a consortium of mobile industry leaders, such as Nokia, Samsung, Ericsson, GSM Association, Hutchison, Microsoft, Orascom Telecom, Syniverse, T-Mobile, Telefónica Móviles, TIM and Vodafone behind it, as well as investment from Google, Microsoft, and Visa.

With this kind of consortium, we may even see such things as .mobi hotkeys or mobile defaults - which would not just make typing .mobi a non-issue, it would catapault .mobi leaps and bounds ahead of any other extension.

Mobi has hit the emerging North American mobile market with perfect timing. With an expected million .mobi registrations within the coming year, all this new mobile content will be getting marketed by late 2007, and .mobi will explode into the public consciousness all at once.

Wise firms are readying their .mobi sites even as we chat.

]]> By: Dan http://gigaom.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101136 Dan Wed, 16 May 2007 14:36:56 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101136 <p>The "extra effort" to get content negotiation working is just on the part of the server maintainers (who are supposed to be up on such techie stuff anyway)... it's no effort at all on the part of the end users, who just have to enter the address of the site, the same in both mobile and non-mobile devices, to get to it.</p> The “extra effort” to get content negotiation working is just on the part of the server maintainers (who are supposed to be up on such techie stuff anyway)… it’s no effort at all on the part of the end users, who just have to enter the address of the site, the same in both mobile and non-mobile devices, to get to it.

]]> By: John Roberts http://gigaom.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101134 John Roberts Tue, 15 May 2007 15:26:08 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101134 <p>http://m.cnet.com and http://m.news.com/ have been around for 2 or 3 years. Brevity is all. Content negotiation on the server sounds great, but hardly worth the extra effort.</p> (link) and (link) have been around for 2 or 3 years. Brevity is all. Content negotiation on the server sounds great, but hardly worth the extra effort.

]]> By: Dan http://gigaom.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101135 Dan Tue, 15 May 2007 14:20:51 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101135 <p>Isn't the support of alternate data formats at the same URL part of the standard HTTP content negotiation protocol, supported by Apache?</p> Isn’t the support of alternate data formats at the same URL part of the standard HTTP content negotiation protocol, supported by Apache?

]]> By: MyZine.com http://gigaom.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101133 MyZine.com Tue, 15 May 2007 06:04:57 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101133 <p>I think m.myzine.com is great idea than myzine.mobi</p> <p>why I have to have another extension while I have already myzine.com so for us will go with either m.myzine.com or Auto-detection</p> I think m.myzine.com is great idea than myzine.mobi

why I have to have another extension while I have already myzine.com so for us will go with either m.myzine.com or Auto-detection

]]> By: kiwi http://gigaom.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101129 kiwi Sun, 13 May 2007 13:51:41 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101129 <p>With regard to using a dot in front of the domain - for ANY purpose, I get the sense that an "area code" has been added. This is not as simple as using an ending (mTld such as .mobi) which tells me exactly what I am getting.</p> With regard to using a dot in front of the domain - for ANY purpose, I get the sense that an “area code” has been added. This is not as simple as using an ending (mTld such as .mobi) which tells me exactly what I am getting.

]]> By: Ravi Venkatraman http://gigaom.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101132 Ravi Venkatraman Sun, 13 May 2007 13:47:04 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101132 <p>m.domain.com is a good strategy compared to .mobi domain names for few reasons: 1) The Current domain owners of .com don't have to register a new .mobi or buy the domain in the secondary market. (Especially true for owners of generic .com owners). 2) The subdomains could be used by prefixing m. example one could use m.subdomain.name.com 3) mobi.name.com , mobile.name.com, wa.name.com or any other mobilesubdomain.name.com can be redirected to m.name.com</p> <p>The only person gaining from promoting .mobi initiative is the dotMobi promoters and the speculators who are able to flip the generic .mobi for quick gains.</p> m.domain.com is a good strategy compared to .mobi domain names for few reasons:
1) The Current domain owners of .com don’t have to register a new .mobi or buy the domain in the secondary market.
(Especially true for owners of generic .com owners).
2) The subdomains could be used by prefixing m. example one could use
m.subdomain.name.com
3) mobi.name.com , mobile.name.com, wa.name.com or any other mobilesubdomain.name.com can be redirected to m.name.com

The only person gaining from promoting .mobi initiative is the dotMobi promoters and the speculators who are able to flip the generic .mobi for quick gains.

]]> By: Yelo http://gigaom.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101131 Yelo Sun, 13 May 2007 06:26:54 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101131 <p>"but b) still be allowed to go to the full PC site should their patience (and browser’s abilities) permit it. With auto-detection, that’s a very rare choice."</p> <p>So why not just brand your existing .com with forced mobile redirect? Because of this unsolved problem:</p> <p>A .COM developer doesn't know whether to keep the full site preserved for advanced PDA access (with scrollbars) or do a mobile device detect and mobile site version redirect on the .com for the lower end phones.. it seems like there is a split here.. an abyss like division..</p> <p>Conceptually, the user typing in "m.brand.com" can solve this; but, a user typing in "brand.com" with a forced mobile redirect does not solve this matter.</p> <p>With the m.brand.com notion, what will become PoPuLaR in the mainstream seems to become more and more where the race is..</p> <p>What will be the global trend?</p> <p>Now and Later?</p> <p>The mobile/pc solutions must recognize, greater, the demand issue for preservation of .com/.cn/etc. full PC information for PDA access "on the go".. of the current existing .com/.cn/etc. eco-system..</p> <p>Kind Regards,</p> “but b) still be allowed to go to the full PC site should their patience (and browser’s abilities) permit it. With auto-detection, that’s a very rare choice.”

So why not just brand your existing .com with forced mobile redirect? Because of this unsolved problem:

A .COM developer doesn’t know whether to keep the full site preserved for advanced PDA access (with scrollbars) or do a mobile device detect and mobile site version redirect on the .com for the lower end phones.. it seems like there is a split here.. an abyss like division..

Conceptually, the user typing in “m.brand.com” can solve this; but, a user typing in “brand.com” with a forced mobile redirect does not solve this matter.

With the m.brand.com notion, what will become PoPuLaR in the mainstream seems to become more and more where the race is..

What will be the global trend?

Now and Later?

The mobile/pc solutions must recognize, greater, the demand issue for preservation of .com/.cn/etc. full PC information for PDA access “on the go”.. of the current existing .com/.cn/etc. eco-system..

Kind Regards,

]]> By: Edward Vielmetti http://gigaom.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101130 Edward Vielmetti Sun, 13 May 2007 03:41:05 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101130 <p>I've collected a bunch of these at</p> <p>http://monkey.org/~emv/m</p> <p>mostly for my own use.</p> <p>Some sites also use "mobile" and "wireless" as the indicator of a mobile site.</p> I’ve collected a bunch of these at

(link)

mostly for my own use.

Some sites also use “mobile” and “wireless” as the indicator of a mobile site.

]]> By: N.Cauldwell http://gigaom.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101128 N.Cauldwell Sat, 12 May 2007 21:20:49 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101128 <p>James Pearce - you should have chosen a three letter domain extension. Why ask mobile users to hit more keys than the desktop .com users?</p> <p>Web developers don't use separate URLs to avoid browser rendering engine inconsistencies, they make their .com site work for IE/Opera/FF/Safari etc. This'll end up being the same for mobile devices too.</p> <p>It shouldn't matter whether I'm mobile or desktop based, just as it shouldn't matter which browser I'm using. Just give me the same service across all devices without confusing your brand image with different URLs.</p> James Pearce - you should have chosen a three letter domain extension. Why ask mobile users to hit more keys than the desktop .com users?

Web developers don’t use separate URLs to avoid browser rendering engine inconsistencies, they make their .com site work for IE/Opera/FF/Safari etc. This’ll end up being the same for mobile devices too.

It shouldn’t matter whether I’m mobile or desktop based, just as it shouldn’t matter which browser I’m using. Just give me the same service across all devices without confusing your brand image with different URLs.

]]> By: Uday http://gigaom.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101127 Uday Sat, 12 May 2007 15:38:47 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101127 <p>I think m.domain.com is a good strategy compared to .mobi domain names for few reasons: [1]Easy to type in the cellphones.(less characters) [2]Easy to remember for the user. [3]It may also give confidence to the users, as it is the same domain name ending with .com, which they used to type in the PC.</p> I think m.domain.com is a good strategy compared to .mobi domain names for few reasons:
[1]Easy to type in the cellphones.(less characters)
[2]Easy to remember for the user.
[3]It may also give confidence to the users, as it is the same domain name ending with .com, which they used to type in the PC.

]]> By: James Pearce http://gigaom.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101126 James Pearce Sat, 12 May 2007 09:49:35 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101126 <p>Yes, I've seen m.sites pop up, but I'm not sure I'm a big fan (but then perhaps you expect me to say that :-) )</p> <p>Someone has said that it's less key presses than .mobi. Well, yes. But not if you remember that you're removing the .com when you use .mobi...</p> <p>m.thingy.com is 2+thingy+7+pause+1 thingy.mobi is thingy+2+pause+8</p> <p>i.e. .mobi has the same URL usability (sans T9, and slightly quicker with)</p> <p>So I would say it's not about key presses: it's about consistency, trustworthiness and consumer recognition:</p> <p>1) Users can't be expected to guess whether a given site's mobile interface is m.thingy.com, mobile.thingy.com, thingy.com/mobile or (even!) thingy.com/xhtml. Outside of .mobi, there's as little sign of convention as there is with the diversity of different devices :-)</p> <p>2) .mobi, as the top-level-domain <em>designed</em> for mobile, provides a lelev of trustworthiness to the user (although they may not explicitly know it). We have a set of best practices, developed with the W3C, that we expect our registrants to build their sites to. And theoretically the right to disable sites if they flaunt basic principles of mobile suitability.</p> <p>3) It's not blindingly obvious to a non-technical user that m.site means mobile. Put it on a billboard ad and people are going to scratch their heads. I would have hoped that a URL ending .mobi has a fairly obvious intention - even to my grandmother.</p> <p>I think autodetection does have an impact of course - being able to spot a mobile device and route accordingly. But .mobi is also about more than markup suitability - it's also about providing services suitable for the mobile <em>context</em>. And I believe users should a) be given mobile-relevant services by default, but b) still be allowed to go to the full PC site should their patience (and browser's abilities) permit it. With auto-detection, that's a very rare choice.</p> <p>James CTO, dotMobi</p> <p>Our development community: http://dev.mobi</p> Yes, I’ve seen m.sites pop up, but I’m not sure I’m a big fan (but then perhaps you expect me to say that :-) )

Someone has said that it’s less key presses than .mobi. Well, yes. But not if you remember that you’re removing the .com when you use .mobi…

m.thingy.com is 2+thingy+7+pause+1
thingy.mobi is thingy+2+pause+8

i.e. .mobi has the same URL usability (sans T9, and slightly quicker with)

So I would say it’s not about key presses: it’s about consistency, trustworthiness and consumer recognition:

1) Users can’t be expected to guess whether a given site’s mobile interface is m.thingy.com, mobile.thingy.com, thingy.com/mobile or (even!) thingy.com/xhtml. Outside of .mobi, there’s as little sign of convention as there is with the diversity of different devices :-)

2) .mobi, as the top-level-domain designed for mobile, provides a lelev of trustworthiness to the user (although they may not explicitly know it). We have a set of best practices, developed with the W3C, that we expect our registrants to build their sites to. And theoretically the right to disable sites if they flaunt basic principles of mobile suitability.

3) It’s not blindingly obvious to a non-technical user that m.site means mobile. Put it on a billboard ad and people are going to scratch their heads. I would have hoped that a URL ending .mobi has a fairly obvious intention - even to my grandmother.

I think autodetection does have an impact of course - being able to spot a mobile device and route accordingly. But .mobi is also about more than markup suitability - it’s also about providing services suitable for the mobile context. And I believe users should a) be given mobile-relevant services by default, but b) still be allowed to go to the full PC site should their patience (and browser’s abilities) permit it. With auto-detection, that’s a very rare choice.

James
CTO, dotMobi

Our development community: (link)

]]> By: AK http://gigaom.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101125 AK Sat, 12 May 2007 08:08:15 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101125 <p>From a consumers point of view, .mobi makes more sense because it gives users a consistent and optimized experience. Otherwise, it becomes a guessing game: was it 'm.name.com', 'mobile.name.com', 'wap.name.com', 'name.com/mobile', etc. Furthermore, the backers of .mobi, including Google, Microsoft, and Nokia, alone have the power and influence to make .mobi the default mobile internet extension and if they choose to exercise that power, the game will be over. At the end of the day, however, it will come down to development. If there are more .mobi sites developed, it will become the defacto standard. If there are more 'm.name.com' mobile sites developed (or sites with auto-detection), then it will become the defacto standard. At the current rate of development, however, .mobi is poised to win that race. If general-use auto-detection arrives too late and after another alternative has already become the defacto standard in consumers minds, then it won't have much effect, even though it's the best solution. That's because consumers don't easily change habits.</p> From a consumers point of view, .mobi makes more sense because it gives users a consistent and optimized experience. Otherwise, it becomes a guessing game: was it ‘m.name.com’, ‘mobile.name.com’, ‘wap.name.com’, ‘name.com/mobile’, etc. Furthermore, the backers of .mobi, including Google, Microsoft, and Nokia, alone have the power and influence to make .mobi the default mobile internet extension and if they choose to exercise that power, the game will be over. At the end of the day, however, it will come down to development. If there are more .mobi sites developed, it will become the defacto standard. If there are more ‘m.name.com’ mobile sites developed (or sites with auto-detection), then it will become the defacto standard. At the current rate of development, however, .mobi is poised to win that race. If general-use auto-detection arrives too late and after another alternative has already become the defacto standard in consumers minds, then it won’t have much effect, even though it’s the best solution. That’s because consumers don’t easily change habits.

]]> By: Shawn McCollum http://gigaom.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101124 Shawn McCollum Sat, 12 May 2007 05:09:31 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/m-dot-webs-answer-to-mobile/#comment-101124 <p>I've got m.wampad.com and wampad.mobi available, but doesn't make much difference because my site is all mobile. I've always said that m. was a better choice then mobi because to me it just makes more sense. I'm also sure that eventually dectection will win out, but i wonder if things like bitty browser will be no longer doable. Then on the reverse what happens to all the new mobile browsers like iphone or deepfish that are supposed to show a full size site and let you zoom in to an area. I also wonder if detection is going to bring about a bit of user agent masqueading by search engines and other automated agents. I understand that for usability to the masses means it should just work, but as an advanced user i'd also like to choose.</p> I’ve got m.wampad.com and wampad.mobi available, but doesn’t make much difference because my site is all mobile. I’ve always said that m. was a better choice then mobi because to me it just makes more sense. I’m also sure that eventually dectection will win out, but i wonder if things like bitty browser will be no longer doable. Then on the reverse what happens to all the new mobile browsers like iphone or deepfish that are supposed to show a full size site and let you zoom in to an area. I also wonder if detection is going to bring about a bit of user agent masqueading by search engines and other automated agents. I understand that for usability to the masses means it should just work, but as an advanced user i’d also like to choose.

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