emconsteroids

Ever since the dot-com boom people try to make a business of top level domains. Domains like .name, .jobs, .coop, .museum, .tel or .travel appeard but be honest: have ever used any of them before? The idea is simple: introduce a new top level domain and sell it as much as possible!

That’s exactly what happened to the .mobi domain. Some supposingly clever guys came up with the idea of introducing a new tld called .mobi. Their idea is that everyone will jump on it. If you think twice, it’s a ridiculous idea – but if you don’t, you better jump on it before your desired domain is gone. My worry is, that they succeed trough some mad marketing and virtual “hype”.

There are at least three reasons, why .mobi is just a ridiculous idea:

1. The aim for the future is to make websites, that are W3C standard. Thus developing according to the .mobi guidelines is just what everyone else should do:
   • Provide consistent navigation mechanisms.
   • Clearly identify the target of each link.
   • Use clear and simple language.
   • Limit content to what the user has requested.

   Ok, there are a few more rules, but that’s just common sense: Adding Access Keys to the links where needed or making sure, the device supports the content.

2. The goal of the future is to have ONE url and the server detects the device. Is it a browser of a computer or is it a handset? Then according to the device or browser, redirect the user to the appropriate page. This has NOTHING to do with the top level domain. In fact, why should a end user enter a different url for accessing a site depending on which device he is using? This is just not user friendly.
3. Speaking of user friendliness: entering the domain .mobi into your cellphone requires you to press 6 — wait — 666, 22, 444. How silly is that? WAP was only 927. Particularly using a word that uses two successive letters placed on the same key is just the proof that this concept has not been thought through well enough!

If you really want to have a different url, why not set up a subdomain e.g. wap.domain.com? its not only shorter than www.domain.mobi, easier to type in and more flexible – it also saves you the fee of registering a new top level domain …

PS: The next one is already coming: There is a discussion about a .web top level domain going on…