September 26, 2006

Net delivers mobile domains

by Brian Turner

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Public registrations of .mobi - the newly accredited domain name extension - has opened up today.

The aim of .mobi domain names is to cater specifically for mobile device users.

The domain registration body overseeing the project - Mobile Top Level Domain (MTLD) - insists they will ensure that web standards are applied to ensure they work well with mobile users.

It comes at a time when both internet use and mobile phone use has become a global phenomon - but although mobile phones themselves are often internet enabled, few mobile phone users access the net with them.

Key reasons include speed and cost, with mobile phone users having to pay much higher prices for internet access which is slower than broadband.

Additionally, the majority of websites simply will not display properly on a mobile browser, further reducing any incentive for users to go online with their mobile devices.

Although 13,000 .mobi domain names have already been registered, MTLD expects to see another 200,000 registered over the next year.

However, the whole .mobi domain launch could be something of a pink elephant.

In the event that mobile devices find themselves able to display web pages properly, making for a proper user experience, then the uniqueness of the domain could well become irrelevant.

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Story link: Net delivers mobile domains

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