discuss .DEV Domains...

[DanBingham]

So, we all know of the impending launch of the .DEV domains. There has also been some discussions on here about our thoughts, what we think and whether this new extension will take off or merely just be a fad.

I personally was going to take a back seat and watch from the sidelines but decided to opt in and pre-registered one (and my only one) today. Its a great name (i think) for me so decided to take a punt and see.

Will you be opting in?
Have you already pre-registered yours?

 

[DomainGuy1]

It means that Godaddy thinks that it can make money from this gTLD. When it no longer is making enough money to justify its position, then it will be relegated or dropped. Godaddy is the largest registrar for a reason.

Regards...jmcc

Okay but look at what you posted below....and now that I found that Godaddy is pushing .dev on there home page. Your coming up with another excuse.

3. Google hasn't a clue about the domain name business. Godaddy is the one to watch. If Godaddy is pushing a new gTLD, then it will be noticed. If not, the gTLD will not gain significant market share in the North American markets.


And I replied

Looks Like Godaddy starting to advertise the .dev that's a very good sign IMO, I never seen Godaddy advertise a .extension on there home page.

https://www.godaddy.com/?isc=cjcbh99

 

[DomainGuy1]

Okay but look at what you posted below....and now that I found that Godaddy is pushing .dev on there home page. Your coming up with another excuse.

3. Google hasn't a clue about the domain name business. Godaddy is the one to watch. If Godaddy is pushing a new gTLD, then it will be noticed. If not, the gTLD will not gain significant market share in the North American markets.


And I replied

Looks Like Godaddy starting to advertise the .dev that's a very good sign IMO, I never seen Godaddy advertise a .extension on there home page.

https://www.godaddy.com/?isc=cjcbh99

Your answer Google hasn't a clue about the domain name business. Godaddy is the one to watch. If Godaddy is pushing a new gTLD, then it will be noticed. If not, the gTLD will not gain significant market share in the North American markets.


and now Godaddy is doing what you stated lol , but now your coming up with something else.

 

[jmcc]

Okay but look at what you posted below....and now that I found that Godaddy is pushing .dev on there home page. Your coming up with another excuse.

No. Google doesn't have a clue about the domain name business. Godaddy is the one to watch. It is simple enough. Godaddy is a ruthless operator in this business and if it thinks it can make money from a gTLD, it will. Once it stops making enough money to justify the prominence or shelfspace, that gTLD will be relegated. Create problems for Godaddy, as Uniregistry did when it changed the renewal fees and Godaddy will act in its and its customers' interests. Godaddy isn't doing this because it thinks that Google is great. It is doing this to make money.

Regards...jmcc

 

[Bob Hawkes]

While thank you for your sage advice based on many years of crunching use numbers @jmcc but I don't agree with the following opinion, at least not completely.

It does not matter what big brand names use a new TLD. Non-brand usage is what matters. If there's no non-brand usage, then there is no market awareness.

I think it matters a lot in acceptance by small operations that are open to considering an alternative extension. If they see a big trusted brand using a new extension it gives credibility that makes a difference in later adoptions. I would argue that market awareness is overwhelmingly affected by what big names do. Or more precisely it is what big names that are relevant to other potential adopters do. If companies they know, whether locally or because big names, use an extension, they are more likely to.

Thanks for the information re renewal prices, @MadAboutDomains. I am not sure (someone reading this thread probably knows) but do TM owners that come online during sunrise, that is before EAP, do they have to pay premium renewals?

Whatever, it is just smart marketing by Google to get some big names online by extending cheap prices in return for up front adoption. In my opinion this is what most of the ngTLD failed to do. When they came out with an extension they should have some big names clearly related to that extension on board with up and running sites.

Rather than chasing registration numbers with $1 level registrations the ngTLDs would have been better served to get trusted names as early adopters, even if they gave them the domains.

Google hasn't a clue about the domain name business. Godaddy is the one to watch. If Godaddy is pushing a new gTLD, then it will be noticed. If not, the gTLD will not gain significant market share in the North American markets.

Google domains now is a top 10 registrar of .com, with their registrar business growing strongly. They are a trusted name to most, and a known name to all. Did they make some strange early domain extension decisions? Absolutely. Apple got a few things wrong before they became such a success. Ask yourself how many times you use Google each day in one way or another (search, maps, Android, Chrome, etc.) I would not bet that they do not know what they are doing in domains. Getting to 64000 registrations without discounting in a few days to me suggests that they are doing some things right.

While I agree that GoDaddy dominates, especially in North America, the registrar market, I am not as convinced that it is only GoDaddy that you look to for success of an extension. In terms of dev they are currently the third largest registrar for .dev, after Google and Namecheap. I think .dev can be successful whether GoDaddy choose to push it or not. And I would regard 9000 registrations in a couple of days at GoDaddy as a success. They have a bit over 9000 registrations in first two days, about 1/4 the rate Google are selling directly.

Am I a fan of Google extensions as a domain investor? Not really (personally I own 3 in total across .app, .page and .dev). Do I think they will become a bigger and bigger player in domains. Yes.

Bob

 

[DomainGuy1]

No. Google doesn't have a clue about the domain name business. Godaddy is the one to watch. It is simple enough. Godaddy is a ruthless operator in this business and if it thinks it can make money from a gTLD, it will. Once it stops making enough money to justify the prominence or shelfspace, that gTLD will be relegated. Create problems for Godaddy, as Uniregistry did when it changed the renewal fees and Godaddy will act in its and its customers' interests. Godaddy isn't doing this because it thinks that Google is great. It is doing this to make money.

Regards...jmcc

But we understand they are making money thats 100% , but if there bringing attention to the .dev and millions of viewers daily thats going to cause some to start buying a .dev for a cheaper cost then most .coms and start creating .dev websites.

You did say this

It does not matter what big brand names use a new TLD. Non-brand usage is what matters. If there's no non-brand usage, then there is no market awareness. This is because people remember the big brand names and not the extension.


And plus 86,260 in a few days .dev reg that's a big jump. https://ntldstats.com/tld/dev

 

[DomainGuy1]

While thank you for your sage advice based on many years of crunching use numbers @jmcc but I don't agree with the following opinion, at least not completely.



I think it matters a lot in acceptance by small operations that are open to considering an alternative extension. If they see a big trusted brand using a new extension it gives credibility that makes a difference in later adoptions. I would argue that market awareness is overwhelmingly affected by what big names do. Or more precisely it is what big names that are relevant to other potential adopters do. If companies they know, whether locally or because big names, use an extension, they are more likely to.

Thanks for the information re renewal prices, @MadAboutDomains. I am not sure (someone reading this thread probably knows) but do TM owners that come online during sunrise, that is before EAP, do they have to pay premium renewals?

Whatever, it is just smart marketing by Google to get some big names online by extending cheap prices in return for up front adoption. In my opinion this is what most of the ngTLD failed to do. When they came out with an extension they should have some big names clearly related to that extension on board with up and running sites.

Rather than chasing registration numbers with $1 level registrations the ngTLDs would have been better served to get trusted names as early adopters, even if they gave them the domains.



Google domains now is a top 10 registrar of .com, with their registrar business growing strongly. They are a trusted name to most, and a known name to all. Did they make some strange early domain extension decisions? Absolutely. Apple got a few things wrong before they became such a success. Ask yourself how many times you use Google each day in one way or another (search, maps, Android, Chrome, etc.) I would not bet that they do not know what they are doing in domains. Getting to 64000 registrations without discounting in a few days to me suggests that they are doing some things right.

While I agree that GoDaddy dominates, especially in North America, the registrar market, I am not as convinced that it is only GoDaddy that you look to for success of an extension. In terms of dev they are currently the third largest registrar for .dev, after Google and Namecheap. They have a bit over 9000 registrations in first two days, about 1/4 the rate Google are selling directly.

Am I a fan of Google extensions as a domain investor? Not really (personally I own 3 in total across .app, .page and .dev). Do I think they will become a bigger and bigger player in domains. Yes.

Bob

Agreed Bob, Google ,Apple who ever learned form there mistakes and will not continue to them over and over. IMO Google has a big plan for this .dev and with over 80,000 to be reg in a few days that makes you wonder.

 

[DomainGuy1]

Biggest Threat to .COM Dominance Is Google’s Involvement in New gTLDs

March 1, 2019 By John Colascione 10 Comments





NEW YORK – According to industry news website, DomainNameWire.com, Google’s launch of “.dev” domain names is off to a prosperous start with the zone file representing over 64,000 registrations just one day after it entered general availability. That’s amazing even for a bearish believer of nGTLDs.

I guess it is only a matter of time until more and more people begin accepting the fact that all of the good .com domain names are long gone, and there are these new sort of odd alternative dot names that people will just have to settle for. It’s still pretty unfortunate to have to resort to a secondary pick – alternative domain name, but it will happen eventually, it’s just going to take a really long time for it to become accepted, and maybe never “as good” but people will use them because they are there, and they will begin to notice other people using them.



https://www.strategicrevenue.com/bi...ominance-is-googles-involvement-in-new-gtlds/

 

[jmcc]

While thank you for your sage advice based on many years of crunching use numbers @jmcc but I don't agree with the following opinion, at least not completely.

I also crunch web usage and development data so it is not simply domain registrations statistics, Bob,
Registrants in successful TLDs generally end up thinking of the TLD as their TLD. The big brands are TLD agnostic in that people recognise the brand and not the TLD. These big brands tend to register in most TLDs and redirect to the main site or a country site. New TLDs have a limited window in which to kickstart development in a TLD. The registry has to do this through a combination of marketing and outreach to registrars. Many of the problem new gTLDs completely underestimated the importance of marketing and outreach.

Rather than chasing registration numbers with $1 level registrations the ngTLDs would have been better served to get trusted names as early adopters, even if they gave them the domains.

Trusted names may help but they have to get to the registrants who will develop. Though many consider .MOBI a failed TLD, it was one of the most impressive in terms of helping developers. It was Apple's decision to stick with .COM on the iPhone that effectively doomed the .MOBI gTLD but it still has a strong renewal rate.

Google domains now is a top 10 registrar of .com, with their registrar business growing strongly.

That's the retail registrations and hosting business rather than the domain name business. The domain name business is about running a registry and competing with other TLDs for registrations. The expertise to run a registrar is not that expensive and can be bought. Running a registry requires a different skillset.

While I agree that GoDaddy dominates, especially in North America, the registrar market, I am not as convinced that it is only GoDaddy that you look to for success of an extension. In terms of dev they are currently the third largest registrar for .dev, after Google and Namecheap. They have a bit over 9000 registrations in first two days, about 1/4 the rate Google are selling directly.

How many of those Google registrations are premium reservations?

Am I a fan of Google extensions as a domain investor? Not really (personally I own 3 in total across .app, .page and .dev). Do I think they will become a bigger and bigger player in domains. Yes.

I think that there is a shift away from gTLDs happening over the last few years and that Google is still .COM focused at a retail level.

Regards...jmcc

 

[jmcc]

But we understand they are making money thats 100% , but if there bringing attention to the .dev and millions of viewers daily thats going to cause some to start buying a .dev for a cheaper cost then most .coms and start creating .dev websites.

Just because someone registers a domain name, it does not mean that they will ever develop a working site on that domain name.

Regards...jmcc

 

[Bob Hawkes]

Hi @Kate your post lead me to research what the potential market it. I agree fundamentally with your view that is important.

You are assuming there is a 'target community', as if there were a clear (and large enough) market for it. I'm not convinced.

So I found this that suggests that the development community currently is just over 18 million. That is interpreting .dev as only developer in the code sense, and clearly we see .dev early use that extends to using the word development in other senses, such as resource and economic. But even if we exclude that, I think 18 million is sufficient for economic viability of the extension.

https://www.computerworld.com/artic...ake-u-s--on-number-of-developers-by-2017.html

Interestingly the US is about to lose leadership in the number of developers to India.

Bob

 

[bmugford]

It is like Groundhog Day every time a new extension launches. This time it is gonna be different, this one is going to be the one that takes over, that has resale value....

Almost every new extension starts with excitement, then fades into the wind like a fart.

Spoiler alert. The outcome is always the same when it comes to resale potential.
People drawn to these want cheap domains, not to pay a premium.

Brad

 

[jmcc]

Or in more financial terms, everyone thinks that the new TLD in which they've invested is the greatest thing since sliced bread until they get their renewal notices for the domains they couldn't flip. After that, the TLD is toast because they've just found the next big thing.

Regards...jmcc

 

[Bob Hawkes]

I could not agree more that it is use, real use, that ultimately is the test. None of us will know for some time actually. I find it encouraging that they got some big names to use it before public availability launch. I also feel they have done smart launching, stressing their secure preload (listen to Brent's DNW interview if you have not, please), did not go down the deep discount route, did not unreasonably hype the extension, brought it out smoothly. The difference from many ngTLD launches is this 80,000 + registrations in first few days came without discounting, each of those were at (at least) amounts equal to the renewal rate and cost of a .com registration (exception few dozen early adopters, possibly, and the few hundred free ones for their conference give away).

I also think they did something that we will realize after some time is truly brilliant (and that I think most ngTLD registries have totally failed at). They have reached out to young developers (especially) with the offer of a free .dev account if they are attending the Google sponsored developers contest. We need to get young people, those still in university, excited about domain names and using them. It is extremely early days, but this seems to be catching on. On social media I stumbled across a .dev in use by a computer science student at a large university about 70 km from here, essentially for her resume, etc. If such use becomes even remotely viral, in the way that interest in .io grew from that group, it makes a big difference.

Those in university now will be the ones owning and managing the hot startups in a few years. Getting them to consider an extension is important, imho. While Apple was financially struggling the one thing they did well for decades, that probably kept the company alive, was to effectively reach the education community. When they had 1% of marketshare they had much higher share among educational users, and many of those went on to personally purchase Apple products a few years later.

I will say again, when I look at it with an open mind and at the numbers I think the prospects for success is at least possible for the extension. I am less convinced that there is significant money to be made by domainers, but might be wrong, just as I was in predicting registration early success for .dev.

Bob

 

[DomainGuy1]

Over 90,00 In zone file for .dev climbing

 

[DomainGuy1]

Can anyone please confirm this ho wmany .dev are Reg ???

So I checked google if you type in Site:.dev what number do you guys get ?

 

[JB Lions]

I never seen Godaddy advertise a .extension on there home page.

They always have. I don't see .dev on their homepage now. I see .shop, .club, .online.

Over 90,00 In zone file for .dev climbing

It's going to climb, it just came out. Doesn't look like big numbers tho.

Problem I mentioned earlier:

"I’ve heard a number of people in the tech world complain that Google made all this buzz about .DEV and then everything they go to register is already taken."

https://morganlinton.com/dev-domain...e-great-for-developers-but-not-for-domainers/

You should maybe read up on the history of what Google has backed up.

"With Google backing it up I think it is"

 

[DomainGuy1]

They always have. I don't see .dev on their homepage now. I see .shop, .club, .online.



It's going to climb, it just came out. Doesn't look like big numbers tho.

Problem I mentioned earlier:

"I’ve heard a number of people in the tech world complain that Google made all this buzz about .DEV and then everything they go to register is already taken."

https://morganlinton.com/dev-domain...e-great-for-developers-but-not-for-domainers/

You should maybe read up on the history of what Google has backed up.

"With Google backing it up I think it is"

Well this has to be a glitch IMO there is no way in Hell that Google Results is showing 520,000 for .dev

 

[JB Lions]

Well this has to be a glitch IMO there is no way in Hell that Google Results is showing 520,000 for .dev

Looks like a bunch of cv/resume/vcard/portfolio sites. Most will probably only be visited by friends and family, some employers. Definitely not an extension for domain investing.

 

[DomainGuy1]

Looks like a bunch of cv/resume/vcard sites. Most will probably only be visited by friends and family, some employers.

True a bunch of code I will never understand.

 

[Bob Hawkes]

NameStats currently show it in 40th place with 94000 in zone file. Usually some lag so actual probably a bit higher. It just passed .design in registrations.
https://ntldstats.com/tld/dev

I think the 520,000 sites considering some duplication is believable - like a 10 page site probably gets listed several times in results. They are encouraging developers and code university students to set up code sharing resume type pages and I guess computer science students are fast getting online. I actually know a couple up on a .dev already and I know hardly any students anymore.

There are about 50 .dev websites in Alexa 1M.

Incidentally I personally agree with Morgan that it will be a success among end users but not, in general, profitable for domain investors unless they cleverly think of a term that got missed as a premium and in EAP. Just my opinion.

Bob