.pro registry sold to Hostway

[aww]

Apparently the yet-to-be-launched .pro registry has been sold by Register.com to Hostway.

http://www.hostway.com/aboutus/newsarchive/dotpro021204.htm
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040212/cgth063_1.html

During the fourth quarter of 2003, Register.com entered into an agreement (with Hostway Corporation, a global leader in Web hosting and managed Internet services) to sell the core assets of its subsidiary, RegistryPro. Subject to approval by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), Hostway will become the registry operator for the .pro top-level domain for professionals. Financial terms of the deal will not be disclosed.

Read an earlier discussion about .pro on NamePros here:
http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19688

(it would be nice if Hostway removed the qualifications from this interesting sounding TLD, but I don't think they have the power)

 

[Bill1]

i dont think .pro will be too successfull

 

[Aka Tolken]

Yeah, it's a pity, I quite like the sound of it.

 

[aww]

Well maybe after a year if they only have a few dozen registrations they will open up the 2nd level a bit more.

I can see that in .pro's future unless they are worried about upsetting an exisitng registration base. It's one thing to limit a domain based on country residency but to limit by profession is just elitest and shouldn't be allowed or tolerated.

I mean CPA's? Who the heck chose that group to include? This was obviously income based. How about professional firemen, they save people, shouldn't they have their own TLD if doctors are going to have one? Do laywers really need anyone to protect a namespace for them? Sheesh.

 

[AdoptableDomains]

ICANN would have to approve any policy changes from the contract like they did approving .name when it opened up. The .pro would have a little more difficulty here since it's been promoted as exclusive and is expensive.

I think they could open up somewhat to other professionals though. Can you imagine how popular the generics golf.pro or photo.pro could be? They could still keep the exclusivity by taking RFP's to develop key names in a "professional" manner without opening the TLD to just anyone. Then maybe have the best of both worlds. The approval process could be a little like the kids.us domains in control of content rather than control by title or profession. Even now you could probably have a doctor or cpa register a domain and put up content that was not in the TLD's best interest.

 

[Jeanco]

I think this domain has potential, but limited potential

 

[CoolGuy]

Nice TLD i find

Mechanics.pro

maybe something like this.

 

[Anthony]

I wonder if Hostway will change any of the requirements.

 

[AdoptableDomains]

ICANN officially approved the change of hands this this week in a special meeting.

http://www.icann.org/minutes/prelim-report-18feb04.htm