A short, serious walk with dotcom wordnumbers

Jacpar, a member of the domain discussion forum Namepros.com, has recently posted a sale listing for the domain 466453.mobi. 466453.mobi - which contains the wordnumber (aka spells on a phone keypad) for Google - is considered somewhat valuable (at least by us at Jamptap) for two reasons: Google, Inc., owns its dotcom wordnumber, 466453.com (that redirects to Google.com), and Yahoo, Inc., owns 92466.mobi, its own dotMobi wordnumber. Jacpar has indicated that he/she won't take less than $800 for the domain.

Is $800 a lot, or not, for 466453.mobi? For comparison, Scott Smith of NumericDomains.com has listed for sale (since late 2007) hundreds of his dotcom wordnumber domains - for some very popular brands like Google - at the flat rate price of $9,999 (for each domain). Our recent analysis has indicated that Smith hasn't sold more than a very small number of his listed properties.

With a paucity of actual dotcom wordnumber domain sales and virtually no data on the transactions that have happened, it is difficult to know who is right and what these domain properties are really worth.

Of all types of numeric domainers, the ones who are having the hardest time selling their domains are those who own pure numeric URLs that spell words and brands. Leading numeric domainers that invest in these domain types are feeling unease with a flat market situation and their hope now is that generosity will be the catalyst that will light-up a sagging marketplace for dotcom wordnumbers. These leading domainers plan to conduct bargain sales and even give away wordnumber domain properties in 2008. Can top numeric domainers realistically ignite this flat market with a few bargain sales and giveaways? Realistically, no, because dotcom wordnumber domainers are and have been listing their domains at prices that are extremely affordable to corporations but the bait hasn't been moving the fish. Giving them away, for free or cheap, isn't going to change a thing.

The biggest player in the dotcom wordnumber market, owner of an unbelievable number - in the 100,000s - of generic and brand wordnumber domains, is WordDial. The New Zealand firm has had a very difficult time in getting off the ground since being founded before Y2K. It doesn't help that WordDial has a very, very hefty annual domain registration bill for its cache of domains. Recent revenues data listed on a start-up business directory website indicates that WordDial's revenues may still be - 8 years after its founding - not enough to pay that total domain bill. Selling domains is not an option for WordDial, which is sticking - and hoping rather intently for success - with its original revenue model of content partnerships (charging fees to companies to be listed on its vast mobile web directory).

So how will things turn around in this flat market for dotcom wordnumbers? The ball may actually be in the court of a small number of large internet corporations that have escaped nearly all domainers' attention by quietly registering at least one dotTLD wordnumber each - that group of companies includes Google, Yahoo, Expedia, SONY, ChaCha, 4Info, and Reuters. All of those companies are silent players in the wordnumber business since they all own at least one dotTLD wordnumber domain; about half of them are forwarding their domains to their homepages. What is alarming is that NOT ONE of those corporations has taken the simple step of announcing to the public an association between their mobile/PC website and the wordnumber domain. None has said - not anywhere or anytime in recent internet history - that it even owns a dotTLD wordnumber or that the numeric domain resolves to the company's homepage. The easy-to-tap benefits of their wordnumber domains are denied to their combined billions of potential mobile consumers. What are the corporations waiting for? Most likely they're waiting for wordnumber domains to catch on, probably through some other corporation's efforts. Sadly, that is the very same thing the very small niche of dotcom wordnumber domain investors who have laid claim to a majority of the best wordnumber domain properties is waiting for. Nothing is happening. Hence the flat market. Since corporations that own wordnumber domains aren't even using their wordnumber properties, consumers and corporate-competitors aren't even bothering to look 'this way' and therefore domainers get no offers and find it extremely difficult to sell these properties for a respectable price.

Is there a way out of this stalemate?

What will happen with this depressed situation is really out of the hands of the corporations and also those domainers and companies that own dotTLD wordnumbers.

The watershed moment will happen when some well-known non-domaining blogger or journalist or economist 'discovers' this quiet, brilliant corner in the domain world and delivers a definitive assessment such as: that internet companies that are among the first to acquire and actually use their dotTLD wordnumbers will reap enormous benefits as pioneers of a new, global mobile standard.

'That' is exactly what happened with global warming. A small group of scientists and informed citizens have known and worried about the risks of climate change but no one listened to them in the 1980s, and 1990s, and up through late 2006. Then came the 'Stern report' - a significant set of unanticipated findings by a revered U.K. economist who basically said that we'd be very, very, incredibly fiscally (and morally) stupid if we don't act right now to curb CO2 emissions.

No one knows why Sir Stern was the catalyst or why people listened only to him at that point in time.

All that is known is that is the way history played out and how a revolution began.

A marriage in mobile cyberspace: URL redirection utility meets dotcom wordnumber

A URL redirection utility startup, Shortify, stands out in the very crowded field of TinyURL clones and look-alikes. Shortify attempts to make it easier to shorten URLs both on a PC and a mobile device for use by those two types of computing devices.

The folks at Shortify registered their dotcom wordnumber, 74678439.com, which resolves to shortify.com, which is dual-optimized for PCs and mobile phones. The slightly spelling-challenged website allows users - via mobile or PC - to enter any URL to be shortened to a numeric ID (the site, however, requires a full http:// prefix to accept URLs). Users who have recorded in some way or another that ID, also called a Shortify URL, can retrieve websites via their mobile device by visiting 74678439.com and entering the Shortify URL in the search box and clicking enter/return, or by plugging in 74678439.com/[ShortifyURL] into their mobile browser. We created a Shortify URL of 6124 that resolves to DigitURL.com when accessed like this 74678439.com/6124. Unlike some URL redirection services, Shortify's 'tiny' URLs are permanent.

Shortify is the first URL redirection service that we know of that employs the wordnumber concept. Shortify differs in this way from an earlier entrant into the mobile URL redirection market, DigitURL. It differs from DigitURL also in another way: its numeric Shortify URLs are generated sequentially - the very first code assigned was 1000 and subsequent codes were 1001, 1002, etc... (There is a user-oriented flaw with this shortURL generation method; can you guess what it is?) DigitURL, on the other hand, assigns a random 11 number array (11 numbers provide a built-in capacity for 100 billion potential URLs) as the 'DigitURL' which can be utilized 3 ways including attaching that 11 digit code as a suffix to the domain digiturl.com (i.e., digiturl.com/12345678901).

If you visit Shortify's website, you'll notice that the site generates not only a numeric Shortify URL but also a duplicate alphanumeric one similar to the type you find at TinyURL.com. You'll also notice that if you try to 'Shortify' a URL, like Google.com, that someone 'Shortified' previously, the website takes you to a page that says 'http://www.google.com' has already been shortified' and reveals the Shortify URL, in this case the very first code assigned: 1000.

You can visit Jamptap by remembering the Shortify URL of 6125, or visiting 74678439.com/6125.

9292.nl goes live

9292.nl, the first domain registered during the .nl pure numeric domain sunrise period in December 2007, is now live. 9292.nl is owned by REISinformatiegroep, the Dutch travel information provider, which until very recently has been using the URL www.9292ov.nl. Presently, 9292.nl redirects users to that URL (www.9292ov.nl). Read more in our February post titled Going Dutch with numeric domains.

You've got to see these never-before-seen stats on WordDial

We found the following never-before-seen details about WordDial on Dean Kilworth's profile at The GoBigNetwork:

WordDial:
* Over 1 million unique global users per month
* 15+ million page views
* Revenues now $32,000 per month; gross annual revenues: $250k+
* 16x growth multiple in 2007 from mainly 20 portals only
* Launched beta 2004 with private ~$US1.84M
* Founded in 1999
* Exclusive licensing of 9000+ URLs with technology based in USA
* Relationships with major global brands, content distributors – Media plazza, advertising partners like Ad Mob, Google, Global VOIP and Location Based Service providers.
* Funding stage: 1st round
* Funding amount: $2 million

NuDoms stepping on each others' toes. Geez Louise!

Late last year, we reported on the discovery that Dean Kilworth, a co-founder, investor and partner of WordDial, had registered a block of domains that included monikers that one would associate with a numeric domain professional association AND a dedicated forum. Those domains, including Numericdomainersforum.com and Numericdomainersassociation.com, have given hope - at least to me - that there will one day be a superb forum and industry association for numeric domainers that will be launched by the WordDial founders, pioneers in the numeric domain and wordnumber fields.

It would appear that numeric domainers would respectfully exhibit patience for WordDial to launch - in due time - their well-thought-out association, and related forum, as with a daily-periodical, etc... Numeric domainers are such a small crowd and there are still so many good numeric domain properties that aren't bought up, so why the need to step on each others' toes?

One NuDom, Matt Asher, has beat Dean to the cookie jar - shame shame - and launched his own numeric domain forum. Via Top Cola Inc., Matt registered on March 2, 2008, the following domains: Numericdomainforum.com, Numericdomainforums.com, Numericdomainsforum.com and Numericdomainsforums.com; they all go to Matt's very own forum for us numeric domainers. The tagline for Matt's magnificent NuDom discussion board, which he branded 'NDF', is 'Exclusive web forum for numeric domain name holders'. His forum is brand new...there's not even a post on it... but at this early stage it already boasts 2 members and apparently there are people lurking already since I noticed 3 users were online when I was checking it out. The newest and 2nd member to the forum website, located at NumericDomainForums.com, is 'sevent', the 'handle' Matt uses on other forums.

I guess I find NDF is in poor taste. Okay, maybe there's enough of 'us' to have 2 forums, but why not pick a different URL, like nudomforum.com, or seventsforum.com? I am convinced that Dean and the WordDial folks have the enterprising and forward-thinking qualities to do a first-class job with their Numeric Domain Association and affiliated Forum, the latter located at Numericdomainersforum.com, now parked (for now). These TWO 'forum' URLs, however, are AWFULLY similar and NuDoms will undoubtedly get them mixed up quite often. Say what you will, comment what you like, but I think this is not the way we should be putting our collective best NuDom foot forward (by stepping on each others' toes).

Ding Ding! Round 2: WordDial's OTHER challenger emerges

Hands down, WordDial won the first round against Mobile Ventures' FindbyNumbers.com/8e8.mobi wordnumber directory service that - at blogging time - still hadn't added any content to any of its portals. So when it seemed that at the onset of Round 2 we would see more of the same (WordDial signing on more content partnerships and 8e8 collecting dust), a new contender emerges: Numbers That Work.

Jamptap is a bit slow to learn about this new kid on the block, however that is not for lack of trying. After coming across many registered domains like this one 1-466453.com, why, we asked, is some guy buying up dotcom wordnumbers with a one and dash prefix? We didn't go any further. Just shrugged.

And now we see that there is a website behind all of this: Numbersthatwork.com. To start, first, let's dispel any disbelief that these guys are serious. Yes, they're serious. They even have attached copyright claims to their brand name and certain marketing phrases (I assume they mean to say they intend to trademark their brand and those taglines).

Second, what is the '1-' (one dash) thing all about? Per the website: 'Like phone numbers, 1-Dial Domains begin with the number “1”.' Oh-ok. 'The 1- mimics a phone number so it’s a great memory trigger for people using a phone to connect to the web.' Even better. 'Pre-fix a common word with 1- to make it look like a phone number so that it will appeal to mobile users...A 1-Dial Domain consists of numbers converted on a phone keypad, looks like a phone number and spells something.' Okay-doke...though I'm still wondering what this is all about...

Third, it appears Numbers That Work is not just about wordnumbers in the dotcom, but also dotmobi, and also letter-only domains too. Still reading?

Fourth - okay before this goes too far, we should note that although Numbers That Work owns a portfolio of '1-' domains, its domains including 1-wordnumber.tld's are parked (not set up with any content). What this is all about is pushing for a naming convention that will never catch on. It is a '1-Dash Naming convention' that the founder hopes to popularize and cash in because they've been nuts enough to buy lots of one-dash domains and think they'll be right on the money. In a similar regard, if I bought generic words and wordnumbers according to a bizarre naming convention using the prefix 'diyb-' (do it yourself better), what would I do? I'd buy diybpizza.tld, diybgolf.tld, diyb466453.tld, etc... and buy-up the rest of the top generics and wordnumbers and then market my new 'convention' like mad. I'd be making claims of how popular this convention will be, and that the aftermarket price of these domains will soar when it becomes all the rage, and blah blah blah.

Certainly the 1- convention has more promise than diyb-, and the Numbers That Work founders have made a good effort at marketing and taglines ('Home of domain names that look like Phone Numbers!'), however we're not sold. But before Round 2 is over, you didn't chow down that hotdog for bad entertainment; all is not lost, friends. Numbers That Work is the creator of 'KeyPad Golf,' a free 'text to phone keypad converter.' I know. You were thinking: 'I was going to do that!'

Negotiate this, Mr. Shatner!

You can take on other challengers in and out of your Star Trek costume Mr. Shatner, but you can't negotiate your way out of a full thirty-two taps on your cell phone to get to Priceline's new mobile website at the more-taps-than-bricks-in-the-Great-Wall-of-China URL, Priceline.mobi.

You lose this one, Bill. You can try to bring down the price of inefficiency, however what you'll end up with is cheap thrills!

There's no other option than to tap your customers' fingers to blisterdom from doing this: p-r-r-r-i-i-i-c-c-c-e-e-l-l-l-i-i-i-n-n-e-e dot m-o-o-o-b-b-i-i-i. To make matters worse, you can't even book or bid at the mobile version of the popular competitive travel site.

What could you have done better, Shatner? What mystical incantation could you have employed to win this lost negotiation?

Welcome....


...to the shores of NuDom-don.


Introducing the Zen of the Wordnumber.


For you, we have looked into our numerical crystal ball and...
what do I see....
ahh...
yes..
774235463.
A wordnumber that spells Priceline. Only requires 9 taps to execute (excluding the dot and tld).

Now you're negotiating wordnumbering!

Fast-Food 628466

So you're standing in line at your favorite fast-food chain and there are 3 people in front of you. You have a mental list of your order and then, suddenly, you are overcome with guilt. 'How many calories are really in chicken nuggets, a chocolate frosty and large fries?' You are blinded by a yellow flash of light and a guardian angel appears with a tiny badge that reads 'nutritionist'. She whispers to you that she can answer any and all nutritional questions you have. Could this be remotely possible?

Imagine that you had a way to instantaneously consult a food expert while you deliberated over your order at any food establishment. Would the information that the food expert provides actually change your food-order decision? Never mind that you got into your car, drove into the parking lot of the fast-food chain, and walked right up to the counter to order a typical bloated-feeling-inducing meal. If you had a dietary guardian angel, do you really think the caloric tally whispered into your ear would stop you from ordering the fatty, stomach-stretching mass of matter you craved?

Apparently the people at Diet.com think so. Their new text answer service is a favorite mobile tool for fast-food and chain restaurant aficionados, at least from the looks of the continually updated 'see what other[s]...are looking for' flash 'menu' at diet.com/mobile.

What does the person standing in line at McDonald's who takes the extra step of actually texting the phrase 'mcdonalds bigmac' to diet.com's shortcode, 34381.com (Diet1) in order to ascertain the calorie and fat content of the mega-burger hope to find out? That the USDA has suddenly discovered that they were wrong? That for decades nutritionists have carried the decimal place one place to the right too far and that the big mac actually is only 54 calories, not 540?

If you're actually bothering to check the calorie and fat count of a big mac, fries, chicken nuggets, big slam, cheeseburger, tacos or any of a slew of unhealthy food items that most people are texting to 34381, what does that make you? And what does it make you if you go ahead and order what you were planning on ordering despite the waistline-expanding calorie-details you 'ordered' via text message? Wouldn't you be better off not expending your texting energy and not incurring text message charges and instead leaving that food establishment to head towards a healthier set of food choices? Or not ending up at a fast-food restaurant in the first place? And if it all was just a 'fun' text query experience, is it better to be an informed fast-food junkie than a non-informed fast-food junkie? Wouldn't Diet.com be better off sending an automated text reply that reads, 'STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND WALK SLOWLY OUT OF THE LINE. CALMLY PUT YOUR WALLET AWAY AND SLOWLY PROCEED OUT OF THE RESTAURANT TO YOUR CAR. GO TO THE SUPERMARKET AND BUY RICE AND VEGGIES.'

Connect to the mobile source

As I was reading early this morning the 'Celebrity Giveaway' post on NumericDomains.com, a butterfly landed on me and whispered softly the words, "dr. dyer." It was then that I knew. I knew that Dr. Dyer would win this exceptionally unique contest to acquire - for no cost at all - a dotcom wordnumber.

The more I thought about it, the more it made sense that Dr. Dyer MUST be the winner of this contest.

The butterfly uttered two more phrases before continuing on her effortless journey. I heard her say, 'the power of your mobile intention' and then, 'connecting to your mobile source.' Before I could look up, she was gone.

The butterfly was right. Although Dr. Dyer was very, very unambiguous in his workshops about what he really meant as the 'source' and what was the real power of 'intention,' it just might be possible that Dyer was holding back from us what ALSO the source could be...Dyer must have had a mobile internet strategy in mind when he said all of that...he must have known that excessively long URLs were just not going to work on mobile phones...and how was he going to get his message out to the billions of cell phone users that will need to hear his philosophy in the coming decades. The 'source' must be the mobile internet. And the 'intention' - if you intend it, then it shall be true - was to learn, adopt, accept, and cherish the idea of the dotcom wordnumber. Intend to wordnumber and you will connect with the mobile internet. By owning - for free! - 373937.com, the dotcom wordnumber that spells 'DrDyer,' the beautiful sentient beings on all continents with their tiny powerful mobile devices of intention will be able to connect to Dr. Dyer's one-and-only mobile internet site to buy tickets to one of his traveling new-age, self-help, bettering-you workshops.

Connect to the source. Intend it. Go Dr. Dyer!!