Disapproval of .mobi
30 April 2004
Disapproval of .mobi
Stance of JPRS
As the sponsoring organization and DNS operator for .jp top-level domain, JPRS exercises technical and operational leadership in management and administration of the domain. Also, JPRS believes that it has a role in preventing confusion or trouble on the Internet.
JPRS submits the following comment as a result of study of each application from the aforementioned standpoint. We expect ICANN's serious consideration of our comment.
Introduction of new TLDs may result in addition of new value and interest for the Internet community; on the other hand, it may result in unnecessary confusion and disbenefit of the community. Therefore, decision to introduce any of the proposed TLDs must be made based on the thorough evaluation of experience of the seven TLDs introduced in 2000.
Disapproval of .mobiJapan is one of the countries where use of Internet via mobile devises, especially mobile phone, is common. Based on the situation and experience of the usage, we envisage that there is no need to introduce .mobi, and that it does not add value to the users, since it hinders the use of other TLDs in mobile businesses. And we are opposed to introduction of .mobi top-level domain for the following reasons:
1. Unnecessary segmentation of the InternetAt the layer of accessing Internet with domain names, mobile devices should not be regarded as special. As the technology develops, service and contents are removing the borderline between PC's and mobile devices.
The technical necessity advocated in the proposal is already implementable in the existing domain name space without any new specific TLD.
.mobi will only create a partial network which appears to be functionally specialized and independent. However, it is only a part of the Internet, and there does not exist distinct "mobile Internet" in reality. It is not the creation of the sponsored community.
What led the Internet to success as we know it today is the principle that mobile and other services on the Internet should be provided seemlessly. .mobi defies this idea and is to segment the Internet by devices.
In Japan, Internet use via mobile devices, especially mobile phone, is already common. Over 40% of all the Internet users in Japan are mobile users. The number of customers subscribing to Internet access service through mobile device is the largest in the world.
Provision of mobile service contents is integrated into Internet usage through PC, and it is inseparable.
Under this circumstance, introduction of .mobi and inclusion of mobile service contents into the .mobi space will place a heavy burden on many mobile contents providers who conducts the services with existing domain names.
Sincerely,
Koki Higashida
President, Japan Registry Service Co., Ltd (JPRS)
