Verisign (NetSol) to lose .NET tld June 30th 2005

[aww]

ICANN's contract with Verisign (and its public registrar Network Solutions aka NetSol) to operate the .NET tld expires June 30th 2005. This means it will (hopefully) be assigned to another group (though Verisign is elgible to re-apply for it).

ICANN is coming up with a procedure to pick the new operator and has opened the current document on it for public comments until July 14th, 2004.

http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-25jun04.htm

25 June 2004 – 14 July 2004 (19:00 UTC): Final Public Comment Period

In this final comment period, the public is invited to submit comments on the new version of the initial report from the GNSO subcommittee.

Here is the report:
http://www.icann.org/tlds/dotnet-reassignment/dotnet-committee-report-23jun04.htm

Here are the comments so far:
http://forum.icann.org/lists/dotnet-criteria

 

[netPH]

well I think that's enough for them (Verisign)... They've been monopolizing for so many years and I think it's ok to assign .NET registry to some "more" deserving group.

Thanks aww for keeping us updated

:talk:

 

[aww]

If Verisign had not even attempted sitefinder (and still threaten to bring it back) they'd be getting alot more love. But in reality they are a fossil of the early domain age and really need to fade away.

It's amazing how many fortune 500 companies still do business only with them. When they lose .NET all that will change.

 

[ExpireGuy]

If they lose .net, it would spell the end to the current incarnation of the WLS. Perhaps it's the very reason why it's stalled.

 

[Cow]

A friend of mine still has 300 domain names with them. He refuses to leave and somehow believes that by paying more his domain name is somehow different. I beg to differ, it just leaves a gaping hole in your wallet is all.

 

[aww]

It's like when AT&T used to be the only long distance. After others got established such as MCI and Sprint, people insisited AT&T was better somehow and insisted on paying twice as much. It's brand perception and marketing, old tricks.

But note we are talking about Verisign as a "registry" not as a "registrar" in this news event.

 

[AdoptableDomains]

Originally posted by aww

But note we are talking about Verisign as a "registry" not as a "registrar" in this news event.

Funny how many people still don't know that verisign (the registry) divested Network Solutions (the registrar) last year. I think they still own some percentage of stock in the separate company though.

From a promotional standpoint, it would be nice to see another company actually promote the .net registry to give it it's own marketing personality.

As much as I'd like to see VS lose the .net registry, I predict they will keep it.

 

[Albert]

I hate VeriSign!!! Hope they lose .com too hahahhahhahaha...

 

[Riceman]

I think when they lost .org to PIR things actually improved. I am sure a similiar result would occur with .net