The Internet Goes .mobi(le)

Though they haven't yet captured the hearts and minds of American consumers (and the online marketers who love them), ".mobi" websites may be the Next Big Thing in online retail. Haven't heard of dot mobi websites? You will.

What is .mobi?
Technically-speaking, .mobi is a Top Level Domain (TLD), just like .com, .net, and .org. The major distinction is that .mobi websites are designed specifically to be viewed on "mobile" devices, particularly mobile/cell phones. With the explosion of wireless technology and the mad proliferation of mobile devices, particularly BlackBerrys and cell phones, .mobi websites are designed to deliver user-friendly content to be viewed on smaller screens.

And for anyone who's tried to browse the Web or, yikes, attempted to complete an online transaction on their mobile device, they know first-hand that, when it comes to user experience, all websites are not created — or optimized — equal. The .mobi websites aim to standardize that experience.

The origins of .mobi
First conceived by Nokia in 2000, .mobi gained prominence once Microsoft and Vodafone jumped on board. Other backers ranging from Google to Samsung to T-Mobile have helped the .mobi movement gain traction over recent years.

With total online retail in 2007 expected to reach an estimated $116 billion (according to Jupiter Research), and more than 1 billion people worldwide expected to access the internet from a mobile device at least once a month by 2010 (according to the IDC Internet Commerce Market Model, version 11.1), this win-win intersection of commerce and technology is steaming toward critical mass.

".mobi-lize" your website
To get a .mobi name, start with your hosting provider or domain name company. You simply sign up for a .mobi name the way you'd sign up for a .com one. You can also advertise the new name on your materials to let customers know your site works on mobile devices.

Next, you'll have to format your site upfront so that it will render properly on as many mobile devices as possible. Obviously, this involves working with a designer who follows the .mobi standards created by MTLD Top Level Domain Ltd. Feel free to consult with us at Bending Design about this type of work, as it is one of the many services we offer.

For those of us who have surfed the Web via a mobile device, you know one absolute — simple is good. Mostly this means simple navigation tools, easy use of the up or down key, clearly displayed information without left or right scrolling and minimal content. Poorly designed screens, long load times and slow access are anathema to the overall online experience, but particularly deadly when using a mobile device.

A good time to get goin'
There are many other considerations to be made when thinking about repurposing your website for the mobile internet. And now is as good a time as any to put those thoughts together. After all, the mobile internet offers one more opportunity to share your brand, move product or provide additional services to your clients. As the internet goes mobile, so should you.

To view an example of a .mobi website, view ours at www.bendingdesign.mobi from your wireless device.

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