CNN: Group considers relaxing Internet naming rules

[CrazyTech]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/06/25/domain.names/index.html

(CNN) -- The group controlling Internet domain names may soon decide whether to relax naming rules and potentially open up a virtual domain name gold rush.

At a meeting in Paris Thursday, the board of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers will vote on two key proposals.

The first would allow domains that do not use Latin characters, meaning domain names using Chinese, Arabic or Cyrillic letters. The other proposal would allow domains to use nearly any letter or number combination, up to 64 characters.

If ICANN approves the proposals, the world of .com and .org and country names like .jp or .fr would be opened to a much wider choice, such as .hotel or .sex.

Just the thought of .sex has bloggers predicting an auction frenzy, as almost any word in any language could become a domain name extension.

 

[dan_Vt]

Do you think .com remain king if this passes?

I think so, but the value may still take a hit.

 

[-Alex-]

Do you think .com remain king if this passes?

I think so, but the value may still take a hit.

Yes, it probably will remain "the top" extension, but naturally you would expect prices to drop drastically.

 

[bmugford]

I think the value of .COM only goes up. The only aspect I think that could suffer is Adult names with a XXX or SEX extension.

In the general business word there is no standard other than .COM.
Why would .business succeed when .BIZ failed.

The majority of internet users don't even know any extension other than COM/NET/ORG now, and I don't think there is a big demand for thousands of more obscure extensions.

 

[dan_Vt]

I think the value of .COM only goes up. The only aspect I think that could suffer is Adult names with a XXX or SEX extension.

In the general business word there is no standard other than .COM.
Why would .business succeed when .BIZ failed.

The majority of internet users don't even know any extension other than COM/NET/ORG now, and I don't think there is a big demand for thousands of more obscure extensions.

But since anything can be used (up to 64 characters) more businesses might do something like: home.mybusiness or anything they feel will be memorable (or which utilizes keywords).

 

[Guillam]

The BBC is reporting that this proposal was approved.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7475986.stm

 

[BitcoinDK]

To all those that thinks this will hurt .com ...you are absolutely right

.com is falling dooown and will never get up again... so you better get rid of your LLL.com's and premium dictionary .com's. :ghost:

PS.: I am willing to buy your LLL.com 's and premium dictionary .com's for low $xx :talk: me

:lol:

 

[CrazyTech]

bmugford and I think alike on this one. One thing I've always payed careful attention to within my own real-world experience with domains is what the average Joe says about them. I even look at and listen to the advertisements when I hear them.

People don't know about the other extensions. .Com is synonymous with the internet. I can promise that when most people hear internet, .com is the first term in their minds. I don't believe for a minute that this .whatever rush will do a lot. Yes there will be hype because it does open up the market, but it won't last simply because it's more to remember.

You can argue that people would type in .coke or something of that nature, but I just don't think all of this .something.business will catch on at all. I think this will be interesting to watch, but I just don't see the end of domaining as we know it currently in any form. It sounds good to the big brands, but this doesn't particularly appeal to the masses IMHO.

 

[BitcoinDK]

Just for your information this is also discussed here:
http://www.namepros.com/industry-news/484901-create-your-own-tld.html

 

[wikes82]

will it hurt .com ? yes, less end user will purchase .com version
but, it will drive more traffic to .com
how many users will type www.coca.cola.com instead of www.coca.cola?
now, TLD usually less than 5 letters, so start buying / registering short .com

 

[BitcoinDK]

If I were advising Coca Cola, I would tell them to buy the whole extension of .cc its already out there people knows about it and its shorter and easier to type then their whole name.

 

[dan_Vt]

I do see how this can drive up the value of .com -- with the added confusion people will cling to .com.

I just don't know which way it will go (not a fortune teller). Only time will tell.

 

[Sam]

"We expect that the fee will be in the low six figure dollar amounts," said Dr Twomey.

Nothing will happen, no company is going pay 6 figs to reg an extention.

 

[onlinedomains00]

The sole purpose this is happening is because all the good .com's are taken and worth serious cash. I think .com will hold its value, ICANN is opening up can of worms with this new rule, I don't know who is going to benefit financially. The .web extension will make someone a billionaire... otherwise I think this will be a big bust ... much like .mobi...

 

[Sam]

If I were advising Coca Cola, I would tell them to buy the whole extension of .cc its already out there people knows about it and its shorter and easier to type then their whole name.

.co.ke is a valid extention already Drink.Co.ke

 

[wikes82]

.co.ke is a valid extention already Drink.Co.ke

yet, they (Coca Cola) still prefer to use coke.com instead regging that domain name

 

[mwzd]

Min 3 letters, nothing that confuses existing TLDs, no .con or similar, no 2 letter / 1 letter, no .mobile or even .mobike or .usa coz .us exists :D

$100,000 is pretty affordable for a new extension, as long as thats one time, and not an annual fee. Would take 10k registrations at $10 to break even. 25k is a given for any extension, if only the top keywords. Thats a $150k profit :P

Some people will buy their own extension, just the nature of the game.

 

[c4smok]

I am semi worried about this... for example if you have a ton of names in .us just wait till .usa comes out and knocks you down to nothing =X

But more invested in .com so I do not see that going down the tube =)

 

[Sam]

Min 3 letters, nothing that confuses existing TLDs, no .con or similar, no 2 letter / 1 letter, no .mobile or even .mobike or .usa coz .us exists :D

$100,000 is pretty affordable for a new extension, as long as thats one time, and not an annual fee. Would take 10k registrations at $10 to break even. 25k is a given for any extension, if only the top keywords. Thats a $150k profit :P

Some people will buy their own extension, just the nature of the game.

it the $100,000 an APPLICATION fee ? Would stink to have it rejected... would Icann allow personal speculation? Like owning .sex? What if the big name players regged all the big ones and put them in the closet to protect their own investments? Would be smart for elequa to drop a couple million on all the top generics to protect his name values.

 

[mwzd]

I think I read somewhere that if there was more than one applicant for the same TLD it would goto auction.

So .sex would be a lot more than .sam :D

Imho