MONTREAL-Citing the frustration and difficulty of entering Web address URLs on Internet-enabled wireless handsets, a new firm called Rocketfinger Corp. said it has developed a method to make URL entry easier for phone users.
Content providers may register their domain name at the Rocketfinger.com Web site. Rather than using traditional text-entry processes to spell out the actual letters of the URL on the screen, users press the number that correlates to the desired letter. As long as that domain name is registered with Rocketfinger, the company would return a navigable link to that site.
However, should two companies share the same combination of numbers, only the first content provider to register with Rocketfinger would receive that designation. For instance, British Broadcasting Corp. has registered with Rocketfinger, so the domain 222 is unique to it. Should ABC want a similar listing, it’s out of luck because, for Rocketfinger users, 222 means only BBC.
The shorter the domain name, the greater the likelihood of conflicts. As such, shorter domain names are more expensive to register. Domain registration starts at $50 per year. The site is free for users.
