Will extensions always be restricted?

[EricH]

It seems as though more and more extensions are becoming available. I don't know all the details of extensions, so I wonder; will extensions always be restricted or will we be able to name our own extension just like the domain some day?

 

[Riceman]

Do you mean like phony new.net names or something else

 

[Dave_Z]

I don't know all the details of extensions, so I wonder; will extensions always be restricted or will we be able to name our own extension just like the domain some day?

Extensions will always have a restriction or 2 or so. But if we're allowed to
name our own extension, who will manage the authoritative registry of the
extension we name?

 

[RJ]

For the sake of the Internet, I hope so. Could you imagine if anyone was allowed to create their own registry and extension? Chaos!

 

[Midano]

Anarchy.

If we were allowed to create our own extensions, 90 percent of all domains whould have been something like this:

sex.blah
sex.blahblah
sex.<insert your own>
...

 

[Mark]

If you have Deep Pockets and Lots of Patience ... It's really not that Restricted :bingo:

For the sake of the Internet, I hope so. Could you imagine if anyone was allowed to create their own registry and extension? Chaos!

Do you think Goog would block any of them ? - lol - Doorway Extensions ... Wave of the Future

 

[EricH]

Anarchy.

If we were allowed to create our own extensions, 90 percent of all domains whould have been something like this:

sex.blah
sex.blahblah
sex.<insert your own>
...

But seeing that there's already 258 (or so) according to This List from ICANN, why shouldn't "they" open it up and let people choose their own? By the way, the link doesn't have ICANN in the URL, but it's from This ICANN page under "List of Top Level Domains"

When you think about it, the majority of web "surfers" are probably going to think of .com first. They MIGHT think of .net. Some... SOME... may think of .edu or .gov... MAYBE. But, NO ONE is probably going to remember any of the other 254 extensions unless they are reading directly off of a flyer or what not. So, the only way the others (like .name, .tv, ....) are going to be found is if they hear/see it on a commercial, or find it through PR. If they find it through PR, they may bookmark it to return directly to it, but more than likely they will think "what was that site... something.. something.. .com". Which, as you all know, is a great way to get mistyped traffic.

This being said, if sex.blahblah thinks people will remember them, then why not let them have sex.blahblah? Personally, I don't like names unless it's a .com, because of that reason. I know if someone happens to find (even) a .net, more than likely they will want to go to .com next time. UNLESS, they're web smart.

 

[Dave_Z]

One word: manageability.

Many people don't realize how technically challenging it is managing a domain
name extension, much more the actual financial costs involved.

One reason, I think, those ccTLDs are there is because those countries asked
to be there. Since they have little to no experience with DNS but do have the
financial resources (and want a piece of the Internet pie), they figure ICANN's
the one to consult on how to go about it.

That being said, it's never cheap being able to manage a domain registry. Each
registry charges a "tax" for every domain name registration and transfer that
takes place with all accredited registrars.

Heck, even trying to secure ICANN-accreditation isn't cheap!