1 character domains coming to .MOBI and .COOP?

WhoNet · 06-01-2008, 10:35 PM

Quote:

They're considered the most precious of all domain commodities: 1-character names.

But they've been unavailable for years in all the major generic extensions (GTLDs). In fact, all 16 gTLD registries are obligated under the terms of their contracts with ICANN to reserve single character names so that they may not be registered.

But there are plans afoot to change that. Last year, ICANN's Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) recommended that 1 and 2 character domains be released in existing and future gTLDs. ICANN itself controls all but 6 of the possible 144 single character names (letters and numbers) in .COM, .NET, .EDU and .ORG (the exceptions are q.com, x.com, z.com, i.net, q.net, and x.org) and is known to be considering auctioning off the single character .COMs.

Can't say I'm a big fan of registry-run auctions, or auctions run by others with a monopoly over the resource they're selling, which is why I was encouraged to read .MOBI and .COOP's May 29th registry requests to ICANN for the release of single character (and 2 character in .COOP's case) domains.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/industry-news/476624-1-character-domains-coming-mobi-coop.html

Both registries plan to rely on requests for proposals instead of auctions. "Evaluation criteria will take into account the applicant's business and technical capabilities, experience in the mobile market, marketing expertise, business plan and the manner and purposes for which the proposed sites would be operated," says dotMOBI, before adding the rather delightful phrase: " Auctions will not form any part of this allocation process and dotMobi will not make a profit from this process."

That's the spirit! Single character domains are so valuable that registries could try to make millions off them. Seeing dotMOBI and dotCOOP go for value to the users of their respective extensions instead is heartening. As dotMOBI rightly points out: "Because domains that require fewer keystrokes are of particular importance to a TLD like .mobi that is geared towards mobile users, the single character .mobi domains will attract significant interest from mobile content providers."

Will this happen? Once submitted, registry requests of this nature first undergo a 15-day preliminary determination period. ICANN's board can then decide whether to OK the requests or not. In these two cases, that means we'll probably find out in Paris.

Both registries are certainly hoping for a quick response. DotMOBI plans to initiate the allocation process before the end of the year, maybe even starting in the 3rd quarter. DotCOOP is in even more of a hurry. " We will be releasing a new version of our www.coop registry site at the end of June 2008 immediately before the International Co-operative Day (5 July 2008) and dotCoop would like to begin broadly circulating the potential RFP concept to the international cooperative community in concert with this event," says the registry.

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