Could .LA be a sleeper?

[WordWalker]

Saw this article about ICANN & potential new TLDs:

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20081110/BUSINESS/811100254

So, if it's true that, "Marriott is considering acquiring the rights to Marriott.nyc, Marriott.travel or Marriott.vacations", then the sudden popularity of .LA couldn't be far behind. The only difference is that .LA is available right now.

The .NYC campaign is well under way:

http://www.openplans.org/projects/campaign-for.nyc/project-home

I'm finding that .LA is, for the most part, overlooked by domainers compared to other TLDs. Because of this, some really great names are still available. I picked up Tattoos.LA, TalkRadio.LA, Refinancing.LA, Dentists.LA and many more. As part of a geo-based domain strategy, I think .LA could be a good move.

Anyone else staking out a little .LA domain turf? I'm wondering what .LA domains other people are going after.

 

[-REECE-]

I guess you haven't been briefed on these scammers..

See: http://www.namepros.com/domain-name-discussion/367804-very-bad-news-for-la.html?highlight=letter+.la

 

[MicroGuy]

I think .LA could be a good move.

I couldn't disagree more. This extension is managed by the same people pulling the US.COM registration scheme. Steer clear of this ccTLD.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.la

 

[WordWalker]

.LA Sleeper?

I appreciate the heads-up on this.

The question I have is whether the kind of names my company has registered (as described above) are at risk? If not, I believe that once we get past the politics of any given TLD registrar issue for "rare" domains, my geobased .LA plan could prove successful.

What I'm trying to assess is a Los Angeles population that I believe would enthusiastically pursue .LA domains once .nyc is approved for registration. I think it's reasonable to assume that once .nyc starts to show up on the web and in the press, the City of Angels will jump into the frey big time. I haven't paid more than reg. fee for any .LA domain, so I believe the risk is reasonable and the rewards could be great.

But based on what you have said, I will be very careful before considering any aftermarket .LA domain (and I will absolutely avoid one and two character .LA domains). Thank you.

 

[MicroGuy]

I appreciate the heads-up on this.

The question I have is whether the kind of names my company has registered (as described above) are at risk? If not, I believe that once we get past the politics of any given TLD registrar issue for "rare" domains, my geobased .LA plan could prove successful.

What I'm trying to access is a Los Angeles population that I believe would enthusiastically pursue .LA domains once .nyc is approved for registration. I think it's reasonable to assume that once .nyc starts to show up on the web and in the press, the City of Angels will jump into the frey big time. I haven't paid more than reg. fee for any .LA domain, so I believe the the risk is reasonable and the rewards could be great.

But based on what you have said, I will be very careful before considering any aftermarket .LA domain (and I will absolutely avoid one and two character .LA domains). Thank you.

If you were my client, I would advise you to forget about .LA. Run, don't walk.

( then again, that's coming from a guy with a beer on his head. Lol. )

 

[WordWalker]

If you were my client, I would advise you to forget about .LA. Run, don't walk.

( then again, that's coming from a guy with a beer on his head. Lol. )

But then, one day, when I see Tattoos.LA doing a brisk business by somebody else with the fortitude and temperment to stick it out, I'll be kicking myself. For $40 and the cost of launching a mini-site, the downside isn't so bad. I realize there are never any guarantees, but so long as I know what the risks are, I can make an informed choice.

Remember when we all thought real estate was a sure thing?

 

[soggyindo]

this is where it might get confusing. is .LA a ccTLD? in that case, it will feature pretty badly in the los angeles search engine results.

yet .nyc (why not .ny?) will, i guess, be a TLD and rank fine.



i agree with your thoughts that .nyc makes .la logical, but there's going to be all sorts of complications with the new system

 

[MicroGuy]

Are these guys serious? From the website of the registry:

"LOS ANGELES is the world's first city to be awarded its own unique internet address: .LA."

http://www.la/

I guess the question is, who awarded it? Lol.

 

[-REECE-]

[Querying whois.nic.la]
[whois.nic.la]
This whois service is provided by CentralNic Ltd and only contains information
pertaining to Internet domain names we have registered for our customers. By
using this service you are agreeing (1) not to use any information presented
here for any purpose other than determining ownership of domain names (2) not
to store or reproduce this data in any way. CentralNic Ltd - www.centralnic.com

Domain ID:CNIC-DO465448
Domain Name:WWW.LA
Created On:20-Nov-2000 01:00:00 UTC
Last Updated On:16-Apr-2007 09:50:00 UTC
Expiration Date:20-Nov-2009 23:59:59 UTC
Status:OK
Registrant ID:ndn-26053
Registrant Name:LA Names Corporation
Registrant Organization:LA Names Corporation
Registrant Street1:Sarnia House, St Peter Port
Registrant Street2:Suite 14 & 15
Registrant City: Guernsey
Registrant State/Province:NA
Registrant Postal Code:NA
Registrant Country:US
Registrant Phone:+44.2073233494
Registrant FAX:+44.207323349
Registrant Email:[email protected]
Admin ID:FR-10b5d02cc7f2e
Admin Name:Technical Department
Admin Organization:CentralNic Ltd
Admin Street1:35-39 Moorgate
Admin City:London
Admin Postal Code:EC2R 6AR
Admin Country:GB
Admin Phone:+44.8700170900
Admin FAX:+44.8700170901
Admin Email:[email protected]
Tech ID:FR-10b5d02cc7f2e
Tech Name:Technical Department
Tech Organization:CentralNic Ltd
Tech Street1:35-39 Moorgate
Tech City:London
Tech Postal Code:EC2R 6AR
Tech Country:GB
Tech Phone:+44.8700170900
Tech FAX:+44.8700170901
Tech Email:[email protected]
Billing ID:ndn-26053
Billing Name:LA Names Corporation
Billing Organization:LA Names Corporation
Billing Street1:Sarnia House, St Peter Port
Billing Street2:Suite 14 & 15
Billing City:Guernsey
Billing State/Province:NA
Billing Postal Code:NA
Billing Country:US
Billing Phone:+44.2073233494
Billing FAX:+44.207323349
Billing Email:[email protected]
Sponsoring Registrar ID:7279-LN
Sponsoring Registrar Organization:LA Names Corporation
Sponsoring Registrar Street1:Dixcard House
Sponsoring Registrar Street2:Sir William Place
Sponsoring Registrar City:St Peter Port
Sponsoring Registrar State/Province:Guernsey
Sponsoring Registrar Postal Code:GY1 4EZ
Sponsoring Registrar Country:GG
Sponsoring Registrar Phone:+44 8700 170 900
Sponsoring Registrar FAX:+44 8700 170 901
Sponsoring Registrar Website:http://www.la/
Name Server:NS0.CENTRALNIC-DNS.COM
Name Server:NS1.CENTRALNIC-DNS.COM
Name Server:NS2.CENTRALNIC-DNS.COM
Name Server:NS3.CENTRALNIC-DNS.COM
Name Server:NS4.CENTRALNIC-DNS.COM

--------------

I'm sure they have the best interests of Los Angeles at heart :hehe:
Setting a great example for registrants by having an incomplete whois.

 

[WordWalker]

.LA Sleeper

i agree with your thoughts that .nyc makes .la logical, but there's going to be all sorts of complications with the new system

I agree there will be complications, but if I'm right and .nyc has a successful launch, there will instantly be so much potential value in the Los Angeles .LA market that whatever problems exist will have to be worked out - whether that means a new business plan, new management or new ownership.

Because if they don't work it out, nobody is going to tap into that market - and nobody is going to make good money. I think big enough dollar signs will provide plenty of incentive for somebody to get this thing right!

(Nonetheless, I do recognize this is all speculative)

 

[-REECE-]

That's been said many times post-2000 with new extensions.. Heck, I've even been suckered into it a couple times.

I agree there will be complications, but if I'm right and .nyc has a successful launch, there will instantly be so much potential value in the Los Angeles .LA market that whatever problems exist will have to be worked out - whether that means a new business plan, new management or new ownership.

Because if they don't work it out, nobody is going to tap into that market - and nobody is going to make good money. I think big enough dollar signs will provide plenty of incentive for somebody to get this thing right!

(Nonetheless, I do recognize this is all speculative)

 

[~ServerPoint~]

All of them are guesses. We will know for sure only once that happen.

 

[soggyindo]

hey, risk = reward too. it's a good idea for some perhaps.

 

[MicroGuy]

It wouldn't hurt for the registry to quit printing false and misleading statements on their website. ".LA is the official internet address for Los Angeles, .."

 

[acronym007]

The biggest obstacle.

Teach the public to use them.

You might of just taught your mom how to use the Internet, now throw this .la, .nyc curve ball at her and you'll fry her circuits.

Even IFsomehow these other tld's become popular, you are looking at 5-10 years down the road it will not be overnight on their launch day.

 

[GF]

I feel bad for the people of Laos... The registry publicizes it as the extension for the city of Los Angeles - lame.

 

[-REECE-]

Yeah agree Galel. I thought the purpose of cctlds was to give every nation a voice on the Internet, not to let people game the system like this.

I feel bad for the people of Laos... The registry publicizes it as the extension for the city of Los Angeles - lame.

Very misleading: http://www.la/about.php :td:

 

[WordWalker]

.LA Sleeper

I feel bad for the people of Laos... The registry publicizes it as the extension for the city of Los Angeles - lame.

Just like Montenegro and .me:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.me

IMO, it's all about the marketing.

 

[Seabass]

Just like Montenegro and .me:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.me

IMO, it's all about the marketing.

Then one day you wake up and Russia controls the .me extension.

Who would put their money behind such a flimsy plan?

.LA a sleeper? Yes.....like Rip Van Winkle......forever.

 

[Pred]

.LA a sleeper? Yes.....like Rip Van Winkle......forever.

lol
i was thinking same, as in the mafia sense.
'you're off to sleep with the fishes'
:sold: