news .WS Changes 2-3 Character Premium Policy. 5-20 Number .WS domains will be released tomorrow.

[.WS Registry - WebSite.ws]

The .WS registry is excited to start a presence on Name Pros with this account. We will continue to update you with the latest news.

New Premium Domains Will Renew at Standard Prices

Our premium domain pricing for all 2 and 3 character .WS domains is changing. Beginning Monday, 2-22-16 (February 22, 2016), all new registrations of 2 and 3 character domains will be sold for a onetime premium rate which includes one year of registration. All renewals and transfers will be charged at the same rate as all other standard .WS domain registrations. This pricing change will be extended to all our registrars as well. So whether someone buys directly from us or one of our registrars, everyone will be able to take advantage of our new pricing.

5-20 All-Number Domains Made Available for the First Time Ever on 1-28-16.

5-20 all-number .WS domains (5N-20N) have been held back at the Registry level since we launched the .WS top level domain. We will officially make these domains available for registration on Thursday, 1-28-16 (January 28, 2016) at 8:00pm EST / UTC -5 (check time). These newly released 5N-20N domains will be charged at standard domain pricing.

Please see the below link for the complete press release that has more info about the demand coming from the Chinese domain market.

We appreciate you checking out this post!

https://www.website.ws/news/index.dhtml?func=shownews&article=new_low_character_pricing

 

[theSun]

What are the names and what are the "registration" prices of these pending released .ws domains?

 

[Nick]

What are the names and what are the "registration" prices of these pending released .ws domains?

These newly released 5N-20N domains will be charged at standard domain pricing.

 

[DomainAgency.com]

I know for the 5 numbers that are going to be released later today, Dynadot charges $6.99. Not sure if this is the best price.

 

[theSun]

What is "5n-20n"? 5 numbers to 20 numbers .ws domains right?

And this:
Our premium domain pricing for all 2 and 3 character .WS domains is changing. Beginning Monday, 2-22-16 (February 22, 2016), all new registrations of 2 and 3 character domains will be sold for a onetime premium rate which includes one year of registration.

Where will they be sold? And how much?

 

[Kate]

The registries smell the money...

And it's interesting that they are courting domainers Which is no problem if they are reaching out as much to end users too
I'm just saying

 

[Elenka]

But many of 5n (.)ws have already been registered . And most of them , as I can see by Chinese .

 

[jamesau]

But many of 5n (.)ws have already been registered . And most of them , as I can see by Chinese .

That is interesting. Not sure how 5 - 20 digit domains have been restricted a registry level but the premium ones have been registered, eg. 88888.ws

 

[DomainAgency.com]

Sorry added this to reply below.

 

[DomainAgency.com]

What is "5n-20n"? 5 numbers to 20 numbers .ws domains right?

And this:
Our premium domain pricing for all 2 and 3 character .WS domains is changing. Beginning Monday, 2-22-16 (February 22, 2016), all new registrations of 2 and 3 character domains will be sold for a onetime premium rate which includes one year of registration.

Where will they be sold? And how much?

I have been working with the .WS registry on this process as a consultant. What I can tell you is that Dynadot was selling 2 character premiums for recurring yearly fees of $995.00 and 3 character premiums for $495.00 per year before they were pulled and the policy change was implemented moving forward. My understanding is that they plan to keep that pricing except at only onetime fees not recurring ($995,$495). Don't hold me to that. When they release that info is when anything is official. I can't speak for any of the registries but that is a range to except. I think a few places will carry the premiums but again unfortunately for now it is a wait and see.

 

[DomainAgency.com]

But many of 5n (.)ws have already been registered . And most of them , as I can see by Chinese .

Actually a very small amount of 5N and a handful of 6N + did get out but 99% of 5N have been available until now.

 

[DomainAgency.com]

The registries smell the money...

And it's interesting that they are courting domainers Which is no problem if they are reaching out as much to end users too
I'm just saying

Great point! In this case it's a matter of a registry seeing new opportunity based on the emerging Chinese domain market along with the possible pinyin meanings of the letters WS.

WS has a lot of possible pinyin meanings:

网上 wǎng shàng – online
卫士 wèi shì – guardian
卫视 wèi shì – TV
威势 wēi shì – power and influence

Please independently verify the above.

 

[brindle123]

Dynadot was selling 2 character premiums for recurring yearly fees of $995.00 and 3 character premiums for $495.00 per year before they were pulled and the policy change was implemented moving forward

Can you explain what you meant by "before they were pulled"? Do you mean stopped selling them at that price or pulled off the market the ones that had not been registered? Do you mean the price structure was pulled.
If there were still 2-3 character domains available to register .ws that doesn't seem to have much value.

 

[DomainAgency.com]

Can you explain what you meant by "before they were pulled"? Do you mean stopped selling them at that price or pulled off the market the ones that had not been registered? Do you mean the price structure was pulled.
If there were still 2-3 character domains available to register .ws that doesn't seem to have much value.

The reason there will be a ton of good 2 and 3 characters avail on 2-22 is that they had a re-curing premium fee in the past. Much different proposition to pay $500 for a 3 number domain vs $500 per year, In this case, when the opportunity and interest started coming in from the Chinese market (based on pinyin meanings of WS) they realized to create an aftermarket and sustainability they had to do away with those high recurring fees on 2-3 character domains. This takes time to implement so they were pulled back so they could be re-launched (2-22-16) under a new onetime premium fee structure. Ultimately under this new structure the market (both in the East and West) will decide.

 

[brindle123]

I'm still unclear on what you mean by "Pulled BACK".
I hope you don't mean that they were taken from the people who were paying $500 a yr just to resell them for $1000's more due to chinese demand.
I know there is a difference between paying $500 a yr and a one time fee.
Please be a little more clear on this.

Can you please answer these two questions?

1)Were there 2-3 character .ws domains still available for registration before this decision and sales were just halted?

2)Were domains taken from the original owners?

 

[DomainAgency.com]

Of course no domains were pulled back from people. These were domains that people could have purchased for re-curing fees of say $1K per year. Nobody bought them ever and they were pulled meaning - not available until the new system implemented.

 

[hugegrowth]

I started a .WS discussion and sales report thread if anyone interested.
https://www.namepros.com/threads/ws...-and-sales-report-thread.915621/#post-5284000

Seems like a lot of good pattern 5N.ws are gone already.

 

[brindle123]

Of course no domains were pulled back from people. These were domains that people could have purchased for re-curing fees of say $1K per year. Nobody bought them ever and they were pulled meaning - not available until the new system implemented.

Ok thank you for clearing that up.

I didn't see the new pricing for a 2-3ch .ws
Is the new pricing listed anywhere?

 

[hugegrowth]

I think the 2 and 3 character will move when the new pricing plan is implemented. No one wants to pay super high renewal fees every year, but a one time upfront premium price then regular renewal is easier to take.

 

[brindle123]

I agree no one want to pay huge renewal fees every year. No one wants crazy pricing based on what the registrar thinks a domain category is now worth.

Will they ever lower the price if demand drops?
You don't have to answer that.
If you can make money selling them that's great. I and many others just don't like weird pricing that changes at a whim.