m.dot or dot.mobi – which mobile website naming convention will prevail? | London Calling - Blog Archive of The Actionable Futurist Andrew Grill

m.dot or dot.mobi – which mobile website naming convention will prevail?

Posted 20/12/2007

I have been seeing a lot of m. web addresses spring up for mobile sites lately such as m.dopplr.com but fewer .mobi addresses, and I am interested in understanding what the trends are for mobile website naming conventions and which one will win in the end.

In thinking about this from a usability point of view, it seems easier to type into a numeric keypad m.website.com than website.mobi

Interestingly Microsoft have m.live.com to access email on a mobile but no equivalent live.mobi site.

From a cost point of view, it is much easier to add a “m.” subdomain to an existing website (just another folder and a couple of clicks on the DNS entries) than registering (and paying for) a new .mobi domain.

I’m a strong supporter of the .mobi concept, but at around £30+ VAT for 2 years registration for a .mobi vs free for a m. subdomain I wonder if m. may win in the end for mobile enabled sites. The decider may be consumers who primarily access the mobile internet from a device with a numeric keypad (multiple key presses to enter a URL) and they may more readily remember the “m.” version of their favourite website when using their mobile.

I’ve hedged my bets and I am using both m. and .mobi on my website, but I wondered what others thought and what the general trend has been for mobile enabled sites.

What do you think? Please feel free to leave a comment below.

Article also cross posted at Forum Oxford

About Andrew

Based in London, The Actionable Futurist and former Global Managing Partner at IBM, Andrew Grill is a popular and sought-after presenter and comementator on issues around digital disruption, workplace of the future and new technologies such as blockchain. Andrew is a multiple TEDx and International Keynote Speaker.