Is there a risk of ".pro" domains going away?

[sky]

Someone mentioned that he "hoped the .pro" domain business would pick up soon, and advised caution. What if it doesn't pick up?

Googling "site:.pro" shows 170,000 active sites, and I'm sure even more domains are registered. They can't pull the plug on that, right? Isn't it likely that the status quo will remain the same, or that due to EnCirca's 'reselling' (licensing) generic domains, that they'll have to make them more available so the price can go down.

And all these people wanking about $99/yr to register a top-level .pro domain, I mean, sure it's expensive, but .com was $75 when they got started and people didn't think that was so outrageous.

How does one get involved in the decisions that affect the future of the .pro .TLD? How does one find out what the latest plans are? When the contract renewal happens? I don't think they're going away.

 

[Silhouette]

what do you mean by "going away"? scrapping this s'gTLD?

I dont think so. at least no news about it , right?

(Are you being scare'd off by the .web.com incident? )

 

[sky]

what do you mean by "going away"? scrapping this s'gTLD?

I dont think so. at least no news about it , right?

(Are you being scare'd off by the .web.com incident? )

No, not that. But I did read about it. I'm talking more about the generic 2nd-level TLDs that are effectively sub-leased by EnCirca. Not the .eng.pro, or .cpa.pro thing.

But I did hear that one actual TLD was revoked. I forget the name of it. 4 letters. And I don't know why. Was it a low adoption rate?

I just want to rule out that happening with .pro. I think I can rule it out,
since it would be weird to pull the plug on so many licensed professions and professionals. Plus, 170,000 websites that Google has indexed.

So yeah, I'm becoming quite a .pro-ponent. I've invested in some names, and I want to develop and sell them. I can accept the financial 'risk' that they are not well known right now, and call out less profit than .com on just the name alone, and that I have to market them creatively. Take the time. Build them. That's fine, a longer term investment. I just want them to remain viable, or ICANN to make them more available. I just don't see why a good .pro name can't make as much as a good .com. I think the day is coming. I certainly hope it is. What would stop it from happening?

What EnCirca did to end-run the qualifications for 2nd-Level TLDs was very cool. And it seems that ICANN is ethically obligated by neglecting to enforce it for so long not to pull the plug on all of those business, but instead to admit, the genie is out of the bottle, and just give the people their grazing land.

 

[Silhouette]

yes. I know you are refer'ing to the 2nd level .pro.

I guess you mean .nato, the only gTLD that was retire'd and replace'd by .int. yes,no?

I guess .pro supporters here have more insights to share (I own none.)
I think you are being abit paranoid (unless there are hearsays)

Well, one true fact is that, we cant predict the future. Who knows the whole domain name system thing might be scrapp'ed one day if "something" revloutionary comes out :yell:

 

[RJ]

I had the same concerns when buying my first .pro names with Encirca in March 2005. It's somewhat of a loophole that Encirca is using that allows anyone to obtain a nice .PRO domain. 2½ years later, I'm not worried about it.

I really doubt our names are in any danger of repossession. Both ICANN and Registry Pro are aware of the situation, and neither has an official stance against it. The Encirca registrations are technically within the terms of .PRO contract, and if anything help .PRO TLD get some much needed exposure. If there is a risk it's small, because if the terms of .PRO registrations are changed, existing registrations should be grandfathered in.

Reg away, I say!

Rj

 

[sky]

I guess you mean .nato, the only gTLD that was retire'd and replace'd by .int. yes,no?

Yes. That's the one I heard mentioned in passing with no context. So it was replaced? A 1-1 swap for all the registrants? What was the story there?

I guess .pro supporters here have more insights to share (I own none.)
I think you are being abit paranoid (unless there are hearsays)

I'm not being too paranoid, after all I've spent $1500 on the investment, which is a substantial sum. And that's OK, its investment capital... it takes money to make money and all. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

The 'hearsays' were about .nato going away and the comment Josh (estibot) said, to the effect of "hopefully .pro will start doing better". Did he mean, hopefully it will command the same respect and $ as .com?

I suppose I could ask him.

He also warned to stay away from the non-.com TLDs unless I 'really know what I'm doing'. But doesn't developing a high quality site and traffic make any site fair game for good ROI with a simple, attractive, relevant name? I researched all the names I have, so they appraise well in multiple places. And I like them, which is a big motivator to me, making me able to sell them with passion and glee.

I think my main paranoia was that EnCirca was tempting the fates by using their status as a 3rd-level domain provider to get 2nd-level domains and give them to everyone, clearly creating a loophole. But it's not the end-user's fault if ICANN has a problem with that, so I just don't see how there could ever be any justification to penalize the end registrants, but only incentive to level the playing field by allowing access by more 'self-certified' people.

Well, one true fact is that, we cant predict the future. Who knows the whole domain name system thing might be scrapp'ed one day if "something" revloutionary comes out

Yes, that could happen, but not likely when the .pro domain contract is up for renewal (ie. if it did, it would almost certainly happen later and sooner, so I'm not worried at all about that).

 

[mjs]

The circle of .Pro owners is expanding both in numbers and reach. Furthermore, Encirca, through its subsidiaries, is maintaining, if not growing, its stake in the extension. Growing a .Pro portfolio, like picking through a rose bed, requires thoughtful navigation. My foray into .Pro has not been without its thorns. Nor would I argue that .Pro, having made it this far, is immune from further risk. It is simply not the case. That said, my Sedo account is currently reflecting open offers on fifteen different .Pro domains, with a sixteenth appearing on Afternic. The sixteen offers represent a record in the history my .Pro strewardship. Moreover, for those invested in the .Pro extension, and/or considering investments, I deem it significant enough to report.