James Williams “Mr. Connectivity” Joins Freename as Advisor & Ambassador

Freename welcomes James Williams, widely known across the industry as “MrConnectivity,” to our growing network of ambassadors and advisors. 

James brings decades of experience across telecoms, customer experience, and digital identity, making him an ideal voice to help expand awareness of Web3 domains worldwide. Since 2013, he has worked with organizations worldwide to help them understand evolving markets, develop growth strategies, and strengthen their brand presence. His expertise bridges telecoms, digital identity, and now, the expanding world of Web3 domains.

In this exclusive interview, James shares his journey, his views on the future of domain ownership, and what excites him most about joining Freename’s mission.

Interview with James Williams 

Q1. James, you’ve built a long career across telecoms and digital identity. Can you tell us about your background?

Sure. Thirty-five years ago (it feels like just yesterday!), I stumbled into this field by chance while looking for an industrial placement during my first year at university in Nottingham, UK. 

Although I had focused on languages in school, my early career was a mix of finance, commercial roles, customer training, and sales. It was all in the telecoms industry. It wasn't until I started my own business in September 2013 that I ventured into the world of digital identity as well.

Q2. You’re also known as Mr. Connectivity. How did domains first become part of your journey?

MrConnectivity has been my brand name for a decade now, and it was actually a customer of mine in Sweden (the mobile network operator group Tele2) who first unofficially called me MrConnectivity, given exactly what I was doing for them - telecoms, connectivity, you get the idea! That name stuck, and I’ve rolled with it ever since.

As an independent consultant across multiple sectors (Business Messaging in particular) I was introduced to Andrey Insarov, the founder of Intis Telecom. Andrey had invested $3.5 million in purchasing the it.com domain name back in 2021 and needed some assistance with strategy. It.com Domains was, therefore, my first real step into the world of domain names. Had I known 30+ years ago what I do now, though

Q3. You’ve invested in both traditional and Web3 domains. What first drew you into domain acquisition, and how has your approach evolved?

Whilst owning only a handful of traditional Web2 (think .com. .co .uk) domains, I’ve got a fair few Web3 TLDs. I knew precisely nothing about Web3 until I saw Freename presenting on stage during the first-ever running of the Domain Days Dubai event in 2023, which I was hosting. The concept of Web3 domains resonated with me straight away, and I’d signed up for a Freename account, got my credit card out, and bought my first Web3 TLD even before Freename had stepped off stage after their 30-minute presentation on November 1st, 2023!

The majority of my initial Web3 purchases weren’t a result of me following a structured approach. I just went for it and bought what resonated with me. I secured my name, my brand name, my home city, my home region, things like that. I did get more organised, though, as time went on, and looking back, with the benefit of hindsight, I would have strongly advised myself to invest in a handful of super premium ones rather than more, perhaps less premium. That’s not to say I don’t have some decent ones though!

Q4. Among the Web3 TLDs you’ve acquired, which ones stand out to you the most, and why did you choose them?

The first I invested in I will always remember - .messaging. I’ve focused on the world of messaging (think SMS, WhatsApp etc.) for businesses for years so this was a super logical one for me.

As a set, perhaps the nicest I have is Martial Arts and Combat Sports related, including the likes of .taekwondo, .karate, .brazilianjiujitsu, .muaythai,. judo, .kungfu and .wushu. Seek and you will find: I simply started checking Freename’s availability for one of them and then went for it as I know these arts and sports have a huge global following. I’m sitting on all of those now and suspect I will end up with one big showcase page for the lot and sell through that at some point.

My smartest, I have to say, on the face of it, perhaps don’t look much - .byday and .bynight. But think about it. You can link any city, state, region, country name, etc. on the planet to them and they make total sense as portals (for examples) to museums, galleries, restaurants, bars, clubs, casinos, etc. Think the likes of london.byday and nyc.bynight.

Q5. In your view, what factors really determine whether a domain or TLD will hold long-term value?

The undisputed kings of the hill in the domain name world are undoubtedly short .com domains, but with Web3 in play now, there is an added dimension: if I just happen to own the Web2 AND Web3 of something, that increases the value further. Selling the pair really cannot be beaten, and I think the value of many Web2s will be strengthened if their owners proactively go after the Web3 equivalents to make the set. So, I think that many of you sitting on perhaps the nicest generic Web3 TLDs could do very well. And this is where Freename’s Aftermarket offering comes into play VERY nicely!

Do any online search and results such as ‘brandability’, ‘memorability’, ‘scarcity’, ‘exclusivity’, and ‘industry relevance’ will, of course, be returned, and all are factors in determining the long-term value of practically anything – domains and TLDs included.

We’re in the infancy of Web3 TLDs and domains right now, and I strongly advise anybody to invest even just a little bit of their way. Over the long term, I have no doubt you will make a very nice return indeed.

Q6. How do you see the role of Web3 TLDs compared with legacy extensions like .com - do you see them competing, complementing, or serving different needs?

Most of you reading this article are likely already active in the domain sector and familiar with it. However, many people are not. Few have heard of Web3, but it’s essential that everyone does. As everything shifts into the digital world, we all need to establish our digital identity - our names, brands, and more. The great thing about Web3 is that once we claim something, there are no annual fees to maintain it. In Web2, these increasing fees are becoming a problem for many who own numerous traditional domains, and I am noticing more people looking to reduce their portfolios as a result.

It makes sense mirroring your Web2 presence in the Web3 world, too, if you can, so don’t delay in securing your piece of virtual real estate right now!

If you are a start-up or thinking of starting any new venture, my piece of advice would be to go to Freename’s search function and find a name that is available right now in both the Web2 and Web3 worlds. Not an easy ask, I know, but Freename has made the search function itself very easy.

Web3 TLDs are therefore competing, complementing, and serving different needs all at the same time!

Q7. What convinced you to join Freename as an Ambassador, and what made this opportunity stand out from others?

First and foremost, I am a client of Freename.

Freename is a relatively new company, and I have noticed from the very beginning that they truly listen to their customers. This is not just empty talk; they take customer suggestions seriously and make changes based on feedback. Because of this, I have faith in Freename. They have a dedicated and loyal client base that realised early on that the more we engage, the better Freename can become, benefiting everyone involved. I am now part of this journey in my new role as an Ambassador.

Q8. In this new role, how do you plan to support Freename’s mission and help grow awareness of Web3 TLDs?

Education has been front and centre of much of what I have been doing as MrConnectivity for well over a decade now. There is a clear value proposition to Web3 and I want to bring this now to as wide an audience as possible, beyond just the domain community.

There are over 300 million listed businesses globally and every single one could do with grabbing its brand in the digital world. We as individuals need to do the same as cryptocurrencies push more mainstream across many parts of the world. It generally is all about claiming our own identity out there in the perhaps virtual world, but something that in the medium term will have far more of an impact on our real, day-to-day lives than most can imagine today.

I’ve been very well connected globally across telecoms, security and other areas but actually, since 2023, I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve recommended to normal folk I know to invest in a Freename TLD! I’ll be driving Freename’s value proposition every single day to a very wide audience and not approaching it from any niche, technical angle.

Q9. For domain collectors and investors, what mindset shift is needed to approach Web3 domains and TLDs effectively?

Web3 is not a fad. It’s not fleeting, rather something which is here to stay and actually increasing in importance as each hour ticks by. You can’t bury your head in the sand if you’re a ‘traditional’ domainer. Roll with it, embrace everything Web3 domains and TLDs offer, and get adding them to your portfolio now. And actually, realise the supreme value of having BOTH the Web2 and Web3 versions of any domain if you possibly can!

Q10. Looking ahead, where do you see Web3 domains adoption in the next 5–10 years, and what role will Freename play in shaping that future?

There is currently a rush for Web3 TLDs and digital real estate, presenting excellent opportunities for those of you who, like me until two years ago, may not have been familiar with it. The real value of having a Web3 presence will become clear to people over the next 5 to 10 years. When that moment arrives, it will be significant, and you’ll regret not having got involved sooner!

I believe we need to make it easier for everyday people to explore the world of domains. This means providing a user-friendly interface, strong search capabilities, a comprehensive knowledge base, fair pricing, and responsive customer support. Freename is committed to delivering on all these fronts.

For any idea to succeed, there must be demand. Once that demand is established (which is my role), we need to ensure that purchasing is straightforward and the implementation process is simple. Freename excels in these areas. So, what are you waiting for? Claim your digital identity now!