Will Dot.Com's Become The Dinosaurs Of The Internet?

[the_poet]

During the Internet bubble, you were an automatic millionaire if you owned a one-word domain name that matched your business (example: Car.com, Hotel.com and Sex.com etc). Now that all the good ones are taken, it seems to be more than popular to snatch up a domain name with a crazy extension.

Source: BusinessInsider.com

 

[Archangel]

*rolls eyes*

Eventually, yes. When you think about it, having to remember or look up or call up a series of 3+7 numbers is not at all an efficient way to access someone at the other end. A more efficient method of access will replace phone numbers.
If you have to look up the number by the name of the person or the business, why not just call the person or business based on their name or description and cut off the numeric middle-man?



Some other method of access.

 

[bmugford]

On a long enough time scale virtually anything will become irrelevant.

Domains have already been around 25 years, they will certainly be around 25+ more.

Brad

 

[Archangel]

I don't mind discussion but I really do wish others in here would use logic. "I use an app to call ppl that doesn't use a phone number"? Just because you don't type it in doesn't mean there is no phone number at all. And ppl ACTUALLY think there is a chance domains will become irrelevant with no real reason to believe it other than faulty misconceptions? Sure, ppl. Believe that domains will not last for the long run and let your sex.com expire because you believe domains will cease to exist in the future. Whatever tickles your fancy.

 

[DU]

...

 

[nrmillions]

phone numbers are already irrelevant and domains could end up the same. you still call people but i bet if you want to call your friend you pull up their name on your phone to call them, you dont have to know what the number is. every phone has an address book or contact thing built in. i dont know anyones phone number except my own. a domain is like a phone number. the internet will continue to grow like crazy but people dont need to use a domain anymore to access content from the internet. if i go on the wikipedia app on my iphone i am using the internet but havent entered a single domain. i dont even go to namepros.com to use this forum, i just go on the tapatalk app and i can access all my forums including this one without going into any browser or entering any domains. thats where the future is headed. the internet is very young but the number of ways to access it will continue to grow and evolve.

 

[MeanerDomainer]

I don't mind discussion but I really do wish others in here would use logic. "I use an app to call ppl that doesn't use a phone number"? Just because you don't type it in doesn't mean there is no phone number at all. And ppl ACTUALLY think there is a chance domains will become irrelevant with no real reason to believe it other than faulty misconceptions? Sure, ppl. Believe that domains will not last for the long run and let your sex.com expire because you believe domains will cease to exist in the future. Whatever tickles your fancy.

Phone numbers actually are needed because they ARE the address.

That is NOT true for domains. You can get to namepros.com by typing either namepros.com OR http://208.101.31.227. Try it if you don't believe me.

namepros.com is simply something that is easier for you to remember than 208.101.31.227.

But just becasue phone numbers are actually needed does not mean that they will continue to be USED by end users.
The same way that 208.101.31.227 is very hard to try to remember, sooner than later pnone numbers will not be used because they are not easy to remember. A translation scheme will replace phone numbers. As already stated, that is already happening on a large scale on your very own cell phnone contact directory, voice dialing, skype look-up by name, etc., etc.




---------- Post added at 11:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:28 AM ----------

On a long enough time scale virtually anything will become irrelevant.

Domains have already been around 25 years, they will certainly be around 25+ more.

Brad

A very bold prediction considering the rate of change especially when you consider that the rate is accelerating.
As I said before, I wish that it was true, but the odds are not at all good.

And yes, domains could still be "around" 25 years from now and serve some limited purpose, but I am almost certain that typing a domain name into an address bar (or saying a domain name or even thinking a domain name) will not a major route to information we wish to access 25 years from now.

And if domains won't be used or won't be used much, they won't be worth much either.

 

[the_poet]

On a long enough time scale virtually anything will become irrelevant.

Domains have already been around 25 years, they will certainly be around 25+ more.

Brad

Agreed. Several things will change but the concept of the domain name being the fulcrum of a website will be around for a long time.

 

[carob]

Has anyone ever looked into the theories about why the dinosaurs died off? Climate change, asteroids, flatulence, for all I know Sedo overhunted them.

OK well obviously the way to make money when domains have died off is to operate a museum where people pay to enter. So I'll see if I can pick up business.com and sex.com at knockdown prices for later curiosity value.

 

[MeanerDomainer]

Saying today that domains will be in use for the next 25+ years is like someone in the year 1900 saying that stage coaches or steam locomotives will be in use for the next 200+ years. That is how much more rapid the rate of change is in the develpment of the internet is compared to transportation and the internet is also at least as close to it's infancy today as transportation was in year 1900.

 

[Archangel]

True. In a realistic sense, domains will cease to exist only if IPs are no longer necessary.For now, if domains are ever rendered dead, we'd need a replacement for domains (assuming IPs are still necessary). What would replace a domain? That is what I'm wondering.

Phone numbers actually are needed because they ARE the address.

That is NOT true for domains. You can get to namepros.com by typing either namepros.com OR http://208.101.31.227. Try it if you don't believe me.

namepros.com is simply something that is easier for you to remember than 208.101.31.227.

 

[MeanerDomainer]

In a realistic sense, domains will cease to exist only if IPs are no longer necessary.For now, if domains are ever rendered dead, we'd need a replacement for domains (assuming IPs are still necessary).

No. Have you read any of this thread?
Some address is needed. That is and could remain the IP. Domain is not needed. There are other ways to get to the IP. Ways that will both make the big players more money and will be more convenient for consumers. A bad scenario for longevity of domains.

What would replace a domain? That is what I'm wondering.

No-one knows for sure. But several possibilities (with a good possibility that none of them ends up being the inevitable one) have been mentioned in this thread if you read it.

 

[Archangel]

I am a moderator. Of course I've read this thread over. This thread irks me because ppl are bypassing what I've said and are acting like I have no idea in hell what I'm talking about. You've said it yourself: IPs are needed and if domains are ever taken outta the picture, there will need to be a replacement for them. It's insulting that SOME ppl twist my words around in hopes of making themselves seem smarter and me the idiot.

No. Have you read any of this thread?
Some address is needed. That is and could remain the IP. Domain is not needed. There are other ways to get to the IP. Ways that will both make the big players more money and will be more convenient for consumers. A bad scenario for longevity of domains.



No-one knows for sure. But several possibilities (with a good possibility that none of them ends up being the inevitable one) have been mentioned in this thread if you read it.

---------- Post added at 03:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:50 PM ----------

Could we all stick to topic here? This thread's going downhill at a steady pace

 

[MeanerDomainer]

I am a moderator. Of course I've read this thread over. This thread irks me because ppl are bypassing what I've said and are acting like I have no idea in hell what I'm talking about. You've said it yourself: IPs are needed and if domains are ever taken outta the picture, there will need to be a replacement for them. It's insulting that SOME ppl twist my words around in hopes of making themselves seem smarter and me the idiot.



---------- Post added at 03:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:50 PM ----------

Could we all stick to topic here? This thread's going downhill at a steady pace

This is the statement of yours that I was replyiing to:

" In a realistic sense, domains will cease to exist only if IPs are no longer necessary."

I did not mean to (and I don't think that I did) insult you, but I hope that you can see why reading that would lead me to believe that you either had not read or not understood the tread.

 

[carob]

Well since we're having an argument about whether virtual entities will one day become virtual dinosaur bones, let's not forget there are people who believe passionately that dinosaurs never existed in the first place. Stay calm everyone, there may be a new TLD called .fossil coming along.

 

[MeanerDomainer]

Well since we're having an argument about whether virtual entities will one day become virtual dinosaur bones, let's not forget there are people who believe passionately that dinosaurs never existed in the first place. Stay calm everyone, there may be a new TLD called .fossil coming along.

Heh, I know about this first hand. I dated a girl who actually said that dinosaur bones were not from real dinosaurs, but rather planted by the devil to cause people to question their faith because the pastors at her church said so and the bible didn't mention dinosaurs, etc. ect. Believe it or not, she was otherwise very smart, nice and also seriously hot. She said that it doesn't necesarily sound solid, but that is what her religion teaches and for that reason she has to believe it.

 

[Kate]

The article was reader's digest grade.

Nonetheless ccTLDs have already taken over .com in quite a few countries (Europe notably). When .com becomes a dinosaur it will mean the whole domain system has become prehistory.

Are phone numbers becoming irrelevant anytime soon?

What is going to replace domains?

Brad

.tel oops

 

[MeanerDomainer]

Oops, I must be way off since Network Solutions allows you to register a .com for a maximum of 100 years! :D
I guess if you have a really good domain, for $999 you never have to worry about forgetting or being unable to renew it within your lifetime

 

[DnEbook]

Are phone numbers becoming irrelevant anytime soon?

What is going to replace domains?

Brad

you beat me to it , how long have phone numbers been around and have they changed .....no

facebook is fast becoming spamville , i know i am only interested in promoting junk i have when i go there

hear a facebook web address on the radio the other day and lost interest after the 8th word

.com will always be around to some degree but the cctld's and new gtld's are no doubt the next step in the evolution of the net

---------- Post added at 11:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:12 AM ----------

should be fun watching someone voice command their favorite porn site in a busy cafe ?

 

[MeanerDomainer]

you beat me to it , how long have phone numbers been around and have they changed .....no

No, but if you do in fact still use them, you won't be DIRECTLY using them for long in the sense that you won't be actually pushing a series of individual numbers except in very rare exceptions. Domains will become the same, at most: something that you may use on very rare occasions.
Phone numbers are not a good anology anyways because phone numbers are on much more solid ground than domains for the reason already explained.

facebook is fast becoming spamville , i know i am only interested in promoting junk i have when i go there

They will prevent you from spamming there wnen they decide that you are spamming too much and they will give you the option to continue spamming by paying to spam.

hear a facebook web address on the radio the other day and lost interest after the 8th word

Then that was a poorly chosen address by an inexperienced advertiser.

new gtld's are no doubt the next step in the evolution of the net

I have serious doubts about that. Those kind of beliefs will cost a lot of domainers a lot of money and make a lot of registries and registrars a lot of money.
New gTLDs are the next series of domain bubbles, with the possible exception of some rare correctly chosen name+extension combos.

I completely agree about the ccTLD, however. But they will become irrelevant in most locations around the same time that .com's do.

---------- Post added at 04:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:26 PM ----------

BTW, I do very much hope that I am completely wrong. I want my domains to have a long useful life ahead of them. I just don't believe that to be a realistic expectation.

 

[DnEbook]

facebook is spamville and they are doing nothing about it , domains not on solid ground ???????????????

 

[junosama]

.com will rule forever. The more extensions that come out, the more valuable .coms will be. There would need to be some MAJOR pr working and branding to get any other extensions possible. .net is ur next best bet and even .nets are frowned upon compared to .coms. People always want the BEST.

 

[DnEbook]

it is not so much that .com is the best , it's just in a worldwide situation it is the most appropriate , in australia .com.au is the best because it's our extension and we trust it

funny the people saying facebook will take over are in fact typing in facebook.com

 

[cache]

I think the IP address is similar to our social security number, the domain name is similar to our first/last name (except domain must be unique). Both has its purpose, neither one may replace the other.

 

[DomainBroker5]

I have serious doubts about that. Those kind of beliefs will cost a lot of domainers a lot of money and make a lot of registries and registrars a lot of money.
New gTLDs are the next series of domain bubbles, with the possible exception of some rare correctly chosen name+extension combos.

I completely agree about the ccTLD, however. But they will become irrelevant in most locations around the same time that .com's do.

Couldn't agree more. .COM is here to stay. The valuable ccTLD's are few and far in between, no matter what other domainers will tell you (those domainers that sound so optimistic about ccTLD's usually have no less than 5 links to a whole portfolio of useless ccTLD domains). People get caught up in how a domain name looks and sounds, but forget that every ccTLD is connected to ONE country legally. The law is important. .COM is THE domain name that represents commerce AROUND THE GLOBE. While domainers with small websites and minisites don't care, businesses and large corporations actually have to consider the rules and laws of a given extension. Same with gTLD's- how many companies are going to want to build a brand subject to new and varying rules and regulations with little to no law supporting them? With .COM having been around for decades and being directly geared toward GLOBAL COMMERCE, this simply isn't going to change.

 

[DnEbook]

wow some really dumb comments about cctlds in this thread , why would a domain in your own homeland be considered useless .... what a load of poontang

of course people feel more at home with their own extension, it's just commnom sense

.com is not going anywhere but the cctlds are on the rise because depending on the service/product you want to know where and who you are dealing with