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dotMobi to Auction Off Remaining 1 and 2 Character Domain Names

Company asks ICANN to let it auction off short domain names.

dotMobi is asking ICANN (pdf) for permission to auction off remaining one and two character .mobi domain names. Back in 2008 dotMobi requested permission to release one and two character domain names through an RFP process. Now the group wants to auction off any remaining ones, and then open up unclaimed short domains to general registration.

Many other registries have released (or are in the process of releasing) one and two character domain names, which was originally forbidden for gTLDs. .Biz had successful auctions for its short domain names. Even .net might be getting in on the action soon (VeriSign has withdrawn its request to release one and two character .net domains.)

.mobi is one top level domain name where a very short domain could pay big dividends given that people access .mobi sites through small keyboards on mobile phones. Still, these short .mobi domains would have sold for a lot more a couple years ago before the TLD fell out of favor amongst domain investors. How far has .mobi fallen? We might find out next month at TRAFFIC, when flowers.mobi will be auctioned with no reserve. It originally sold for $200,000.

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Related posts:

1. dotMobi Details 1 and 2 Character Domain Allocation Process
2. One and Two Character Domains Coming to .Mobi
3. dotMobi to Auction Premium Domain Names Through Sedo

Tags: dotmobi