To ICANN and the ICANN
Community:
I
am writing in support of the .mobi Sponsored Top Level Domain (STLD)
application submitted by the Nokia Corporation, VodaFone Group and Microsoft,
Inc. (hereinafter collectively known as the “Group”).
The .mobi
application is one of 10 applications submitted to ICANN under its Request For
Proposal issued on December 15, 2003. The proposal submitted by the Group
provides a clear strategy and rationale for a new TLD and is supported firmly
by the criteria established and set out by ICANN. Overall, the application
demonstrates a thorough analysis of what would likely be involved in
implementing a new .mobi TLD including a careful explanation of all relevant
issues, and a well-articulated assessment of the business, financial,
technical, operational, and marketing requirements.
Summary of Proposal:
The
Group’s application applies to mobile Internet devices. With the market for mobile devices projected to reach 2.2
billion by 2006, a TLD targeted exclusively at the mobile market is without a
doubt one of the best utilizations of the existing DNS. As mobile devices
proliferate, the need for sites with optimized Internet content and services
will only become greater and greater.
Application
of Criteria
The
application clearly meets or exceeds the criteria established by ICANN in that
mobi:
1.
maintains the Internet’s stability
2.
enhances the utility of the DNS
3.
meets an unmet need of the Internet and communications community.
Stability
Given the
Group’s formidable prowess, the presented proposal would clearly provide
for stable operation of the proposed TLD. Moreover, given the proliferation of
the mobile device and the convergence with the Internet and the DNS, the TLD
will likely be widely adopted and have broad market acceptance, thus proffering
up a more stable DNS.
Nokia,
VodaFone, Microsoft, and its other partners have impressive capabilities in the
communications and technology fields, and the application reflects the
professionalism and expertise they would bring to building out a new TLD within
the present DNS system.
Enhancement of Utility of the DNS
Given the
different standards presently be served up on websites today, .mobi is arguably
a more technically sound way to achieve the functionality of matching a
communications device to DNS name and directory servers. The Group’s
application appears to sensibly add to the existing DNS hierarchy, does not
appear to create or add confusion to the existing DNS hierarchy, and is
semantically far from existing TLD's.
Meets an unmet Need of the Internet and
Communications Community
The surge
in business and consumer use of mobile Internet devices has led to a greater
and greater demand for applications and content. With a .mobi TLD,
businesses and consumers will have a wide range of Internet services available
in a format that is standardized and homogenized. With the truly global
reach of mobile devices, a new TLD will enable scores of users to better
communicate and transact using a DNS platform. Moreover, a new .mobi TLD
will promote innovation and additional investment in applications that can
leverage the new TLD. The result will be a broad-based advancement in
communication and technology.
In
summary, the Group’s .mobi application meets or exceeds the requirements
and criterion set forth by ICANN and is perfectly aligned with the expansion of
the DNS. The utility of the domain will undoubtedly serve the Internet
community for years to come.
Sincerely
yours,
Dave Rae
Chief Strategy Officer
FindWhat.com
DaveR@xxxxxxxxxxxx