how to set a mobile domain?

**Caddyman** · 06-15-2009, 04:37 AM

well i have the mobile detection on TalkDE, it works, well, but I think I would rather remove that and just use something like

standard version www.talkdelaware.com
mobile version m.talkdelaware.com

how do i set that up? anyone?

**nexia** · 06-15-2009, 04:45 AM

.mobi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia is a good start... for the rest, a simple redirect to the proper style inside your vBulletin can be done quickly... depending if you want vB...

**Caddyman** · 06-15-2009, 04:49 AM

do i need to have a separate domain to do this? (like talkdelaware.mobi) or can i just use some kind of redirect for m.talkdelaware and have that run the mobile skin?

sorry, i really have no idea what im talking about, school me nex!

**nexia** · 06-15-2009, 04:55 AM

actually it all depend on what result you want. subdomains can do the same thing as having a .mobi... the difference come with the way the mobiles will play with your site, because a .mobi comes 100% for mobiles... no way to browse it properly with a regular computer... it also mean you need to replicate your website for this... or at least the css, archive page etc... which may be pointless on a vBulletin if you just want a mobile interface.

a subdomain would do it, i think... or a mobile detector that would switch to the proper style/css ... vB 4.0 will have that kind of facility because it will have easier templates... but we never know the future.

there is already existing solutions for redirections: Mobile/Cell Phone Style - vBulletin.org Forum

i know that there is a device that port vBulletin to mobiles and cost about 70$, but i do not remember where it is on the internet... will have to search

**Caddyman** · 06-15-2009, 05:00 AM

Thanks for the link Nex, I think this is what I need

Different Domain, Different Style - vBulletin.org Forum

we will see, ill post back

**Caddyman** · 06-15-2009, 05:43 AM

ok i installed that, set the mobile skin, and had to turn off the vseo setting "Include Domain Name in URLs?" vbseo guys, is that bad?

standard
www.talkdelaware.com

mobile
http://m.talkdelaware.com/forums.php

**KevinL** · 06-15-2009, 05:45 AM

There was a thread on .org about the the thread the Nex posted and the 'force mobile skin if mobile device found' and redirecting to a subdomain. Someone actually did exactly what you want to do.

**KevinL** · 06-15-2009, 05:46 AM

I had this working with vbseo before. You shouldn't have to turn that off. Especially if you had it on before. You don't want to kill your SERP's

**Caddyman** · 06-17-2009, 10:51 AM

would that kill the serps? does that setting matter? if so how can i get what i want here? somebody? anybody? i asked on vbseo.com and they seems to either be not home or not concerned

**Caddyman** · 06-18-2009, 07:22 AM

i pay someone $10 to figure this out....

**Noodles** · 06-23-2009, 04:40 AM

Personally I'd just use a plugin to switch skins for mobile users and just use your regular domain. That way people who are browsing your site on a mobile device just see a cut down version of the forum without entering a new domain.

Mobile Phone / iPhone / PDA Detection and Style Assignment - vBulletin.org Forum is the one I've used before. It works well.

**Caddyman** · 06-23-2009, 06:03 AM

1. I wanted to be able to advertise and promote that we have a mobile version with a domain.
2. I wanted people to be able to choose, while mobile, if they want the full or mobile version of the site.

my phone lets me surf the full-def template just fine, no problems, so i wanted to give people the choice.

I figured it out.....

go to cpanel or whm and add a m. subdomain to your site (or wap. mobile. or whatever)

all you need is the different domain different skin hack.

Then add and make available your mobile skin. Also in vb options>style settings> users can change styles "yes"

Then on the mod ^^ set the m.yourdomain to the mobile style.

only the initial hit to the m.yourdomain will switch the style, then it is switched just like you selecting a new skin in the skin chooser. all subsequent clicks on the site are www. urls. so no duplicated content.

then in your mobile style, if you want, you can add a "full version" link in the footer linked to your full style to switch back if people prefer.

only pita i encountered was that the vba homepage looks horrible on the mobile style so i put a meta refresh redirect in the adv_portal template of the style to redirect to the forums.php