DNCart – Domain Network

Ron Jackson, editor of DNJournal recently published the June edition of his newsletter featuring a great editorial about ICANN’s decision to allow “vanity” TLDs.  There is plenty of commentary from experts such as Michael Castello and Rick Schwartz debunking the idea that new domain extensions could spell disaster for the domain industry.

DotSauce has been hesitant to cover this news for the very reasons these experts describe below, that and the fact that it has spread across many many news sources, domaining releated and otherwise. This editorial should put to rest the debate and give you a clear understanding of what will go on in the near future.

Click on the image below for a copy of the June newsletter.

Ron Jackson, Editor of DNJournal says…

“In a nutshell, past history has not been kind to new TLDs and I see little reason to believe that dumping a massive number of them on the market at once will be any more or less successful than ICANN’s previous strategy of releasing new extensions in a slow, deliberate manner.”

Michael Castello of CCIN says…

“The markets within markets of domain speculation are timing out and so many new extensions will only confuse the masses. Most domainers only talk to domainers and do not understand the logic on the street. Domainers are thinking way too much and in reality success in this business is very simple. Search engines will help with the clutter of these new vTLDs (’vanity’ TLDs, a term coined by Michael’s brother and CCIN partner, David Castello) but in the long run .com is the easy way for people to navigate.”

Rick Schwartz, co-founder of TRAFFIC says…

“This is the biggest nothing I have seen in quite some time. It won’t affect anything for 10 years and when it all kicks in, it will cost traffic to .com…ZIPPO. It may even increase it as folks become more aware of the browser bar and direct navigation.”

This article is from DotSauce Magazine – The Domain Industry’s HOTTEST Publication!

Putting the Vanity Domain Extension Debate to Rest

Today, we received a copy of an email which was sent out to all ICANN accredited domain name registrars. You can review the original message below.

Beginning October 1st 2008 there will be a domain price increase.

The price for a .COM domain name registration will increase 7% from the current base price $6 to $6.86. This does not include ¢0.25 ICANN fee and registrar markup.

According to the ICANN-VeriSign Settlement, this 7% price increase can and may be implemented each and every year. This may be a good time to bulk-renew your domain names and register new domains while pricing remains low.

From: VeriSign Customer Service nfo@verisign-grs.com
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 4:02 PM
Subject: Advisory: Notice of Fee Change

March 27, 2008
VIA Email and Express Delivery

Re: Notice of Fee Change

To All Registrars,

VeriSign, Inc. and it’s wholly owned subsidiaries (”VNDS”) is hereby notifying all registrars of a fee change for .com and/or .net domain names effective October 1, 2008. In accordance with our contract, ICANN has already been notified. Details as follows:

1. VNDS’ fee for each annual increment of a new and renewal .com domain name registration and for each transfer of a .com domain name registration from one ICANN-accredited registrar to another will be US $6.86, exclusive of any ICANN Variable Registry-Level Fee (as defined in the .com Registry

Agreement) or any other ICANN fee; and

2. VNDS’ fee for each annual increment of a new and renewal .net domain name registration and for each transfer of a .net domain name registration from one ICANN-accredited registrar to another will be US $4.23, exclusive of any ICANN Variable Registry-Level Fee (as defined in the .net Registry

Agreement) or any other ICANN fee.

Except for the above-described fee changes, all other terms of the relevant agreements (.com and .net Registry Agreements and Registry-Registrar

Agreements) remain unchanged.

Please contact Customer Affairs Office at cao@verisign-grs.com if you have specific questions regarding this notice.

Best regards,

PJ Bolanos
Vice President, Customer Support
VeriSign, Inc.

This article is from DotSauce Magazine – The Domain Industry’s HOTTEST Publication!

Domain Registration Price Increase Beginning October 1st

Aside from connecting with and snooping around profiles of my old high school and college friends, my time on Facebook is spent networking with other web professionals, namely domainers and domaining organizations, events and groups.

Facebook and other social networks will play a large role in the ever increasing exposure of the domaining industry in the next couple years. The closer we work together and learn from each other the better and more profitable our businesses will become.

If you would like to connect with me on Facebook, visit my profile.
Also, please show your support by joining the DotSauce Fan Page.

Facebook can offer you a direct line of communication with brilliant minds in the domain name and development industry. Facebook messaging is less-intrusive than direct email. Sometimes you can get behind the scenes access to what is going on in the lives and projects of those people, promising new websites that might not be released yet, ideas and business plans.

It’s pretty sweet that I am Facebook friends with people like Jay Westerdal (DomainTools), Seth Coman (Modern Domainer), Frank Michlick (DomainNameNews), Ryan Stout (Bust-A-Name), Nate Whitehill (Unique Blog Designs) and many more.

Groups on Facebook related to the Domain Industry

• Domaining – 60 Members
• Domainer – 111 Members
• LinkedICANN – 51 Members
• ICANN (Official) – 108 Members
• Facebook Domain Name Network – 180 Members
• DOMAINFest – 197 Members
• NamePros.com Group – 25 Members
• GrassRoots.org Group – 32 Members

Useful Facebook Applications

• Mixx on Facebook – Social news, photo and video sharing.
• Stumbleupon – Discover new websites and promote your own.
• Sphinn: Hot Topics – See what’s new in Search Marketing and SEO.
• Business Cards – Design and share virtual business cards with friends.
• LinkedIn Contacts – Get friends to connect with you on LinkedIn.
• Blog RSS Reader – Share updates from your own blog posts instantly.

Late last year I beta tested a Facebook application which was essentially a fully featured marketplace for buying and selling domain names. It was extremely well made, I am honestly not sure why it is not live and active right now. Maybe we’ll here more from the developer after he reads this article.

Facebook Instant Messaging: Coming Soon!

Facebook recently announced at a press conference that they will be releasing a built in instant messaging application to allow friends to chat with each other. While web based chat is nothing new, it will bring social ties between friends that much closer.

Here is a short video preview of the yet-to-be-released Facebook IM.

Look forward to seeing you all on Facebook!

During a special meeting of the ICANN Board of Directors a resolution was passed which will end domain tasting as we know it. The discussion was sparked in response to the scandalous practice of Network Solutions hijacking domain searches in recent weeks. Oddly enough, the industry can be thankful to Net Sol for getting the snowball rolling on the end of domain tasting.

Grace Period Abuse Leads to the End

In this preliminary report, you will see the acronym AGP thrown around alot. AGP stands for “Add Grace Period” an idea initially created to reimburse domain registrants for names they accidentally registered or miss-typed.

The official resolution states, “The practice of ‘domain tasting,’ by which names are registered and then deleted during the AGP, has grown at a very great rate since 2005, with tens of millions of domains registered and deleted each month.”

And the kicker… “The Board believes that the withdrawal of ICANN’s waiver of ICANN’s non-refundable transaction fee to the deletion of names within the AGP will substantially end the practice of abusing the AGP.”

A voice vote was taken of all Board Members present and the motion was approved by a vote of 13-0.

What does this mean for the domaining industry?

This change in policy will improve many aspects of domaining in general;

• The typo-squatting business will plummet as domain tasting is somewhat essential for profitable typo choices.
• Expired domain after-market will thrive as lists begin to be “cleansed” from these bogus tasted names.
• Pay-Per-Click parking services may become more reputable as domains will be long standing and garner targeted traffic.
• Registrars will become more credible down the road, because in many cases they themselves were the biggest players in domain tasting.
• Domainers will not have to worry about companies stealing WHOIS search data.

It is not certain when this change will begin to take effect, but sources reveal it may be within a month.

What are your thoughts on this revolutionary news?

There has been alot of buzz surrounding the release and questionable launch date of the .ME top level domain. Well, we don’t have an official launch date just yet, but can confirm it will be later in 2008! GoDaddy.com announced in a press release today that they have won the bid to manage the new .ME ccTLD.

Insight into the Value of .ME

• Will not be restricted, anyone in the world can claim one.
• GoDaddy will use its marketing muscle to globally promote it.
• Many languages contain the word “me” with various catchy meanings.
• Huge branding potential for English speaking countries.
• All registrars will be invited to resell the .ME extension.

Alongside GoDaddy, Afilias Global Registry Services will have oversight of the domain. Afilias is a highly respected organization which also manages the .INFO and .ORG registries.

“To take full advantage of .ME, it needs to be properly promoted and properly managed. We have an unparalleled track record in promoting domain names and keeping customers happy. Afilias has an impeccable record when it comes to managing domain extensions. We offer the complete package to catapult .ME into the International mainstream.”

Bob Parsons
Founder & CEO
GoDaddy.com

In September, DotSauce reported here that ICANN approved a request for assigning the .ME domain to the country of Montenegro, which declared independence from Yugoslavia (.YU) in 2006.

If you are looking to branch out from your .COM investments into something that will retain and increase in value over time, you will want to seriously consider composing a list of potential .ME domains to register.

With the launch of any new domain extension there will be a sunrise grace period for companies with certified trademarks to claim their respective domain names.

Get ready for a huge land rush on launch date. DotSauce will keep you updated with any developing information, we too are actively interested in this extension.

What do you think of the potential brandability of the .ME domain? Do you plan on registering some when the registry opens?

There has been alot of buzz surrounding the release and questionable launch date of the .ME top level domain. Well, we don’t have an official launch date just yet, but can confirm it will be later in 2008! GoDaddy.com announced in a press release today that they have won the bid to manage the new .ME ccTLD.

Insight into the Value of .ME

• Will not be restricted, anyone in the world can claim one.
• GoDaddy will use its marketing muscle to globally promote it.
• Many languages contain the word “me” with various catchy meanings.
• Huge branding potential for English speaking countries.
• All registrars will be invited to resell the .ME extension.

Alongside GoDaddy, Afilias Global Registry Services will have oversight of the domain. Afilias is a highly respected organization which also manages the .INFO and .ORG registries.

“To take full advantage of .ME, it needs to be properly promoted and properly managed. We have an unparalleled track record in promoting domain names and keeping customers happy. Afilias has an impeccable record when it comes to managing domain extensions. We offer the complete package to catapult .ME into the International mainstream.”

Bob Parsons
Founder & CEO
GoDaddy.com

In September, DotSauce reported here that ICANN approved a request for assigning the .ME domain to the country of Montenegro, which declared independence from Yugoslavia (.YU) in 2006.

If you are looking to branch out from your .COM investments into something that will retain and increase in value over time, you will want to seriously consider composing a list of potential .ME domains to register.

With the launch of any new domain extension there will be a sunrise grace period for companies with certified trademarks to claim their respective domain names.

Get ready for a huge land rush on launch date. DotSauce will keep you updated with any developing information, we too are actively interested in this extension.

What do you think of the potential brandability of the .ME domain? Do you plan on registering some when the registry opens?

On December 21st the .TRAVEL top level domain was opened to the global public. The price of each registration starts at $99 per domain name per year.

Tralliance Corporation entered an agreement with ICANN to manage the .TRAVEL TLD in May of 2005. Tralliance Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of theglobe.com, Inc.

According to this report filed to the Securities & Exchange Commission, Labigroup (Who is owned by Michael Egan, CEO of .Travel) has agreed with theglobe.com, Inc. to buy 25,000 .TRAVEL domain names within the period of one year.

On December 20, 2007, the Company, through its subsidiary, Tralliance Corporation (�Tralliance�), entered into a Bulk Registration Co-Marketing Agreement (the �Agreement�) with Labigroup, under Tralliance�s Bulk Purchasing Program available to entities committing to a minimum purchase of 25,000 �.travel� domain names within one-year. Labigroup is controlled by the Company�s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Michael Egan and our remaining directors own a minority interest in Labigroup. Under the Agreement, Labigroup committed to purchase a predetermined minimum number of �.travel� domain names on a bulk basis from an accredited �.travel� registrar of its own choosing and to establish a predetermined minimum number of related �.travel� websites. As consideration for the �.travel� domain names to be purchased under the Agreement, Labigroup agreed to pay certain fixed fees and make other payments, including but not limited to, an ongoing royalty calculated as a % share of its Net Revenue, as defined in the Agreement, to Tralliance. The Agreement has an initial term which expires September 30, 2010, after which it may be renewed for successive periods of two and three years, respectively. Labigroup has paid Tralliance the sum of $262,500 under the Agreement to date.

This seems like an excellent marketing campaign, which should drum up interest and exposure of the new .TRAVEL TLD. However, there has been some controversy and speculation of insider trading.

As reported in this NamePros discussion, a registrant going by the name of “Labitrav” (assumed to be Labigroup’s Michael Egan) claimed the domain Tours.travel on December 20th, 1 day before the public registration launch. (See: WHOIS record for “Tours.travel”)

Updates will be posted as this story unfolds.

On December 21st the .TRAVEL top level domain was opened to the global public. The price of each registration starts at $99 per domain name per year.

Tralliance Corporation entered an agreement with ICANN to manage the .TRAVEL TLD in May of 2005. Tralliance Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of theglobe.com, Inc.

According to this report filed to the Securities & Exchange Commission, Labigroup (Who is owned by Michael Egan, CEO of .Travel) has agreed with theglobe.com, Inc. to buy 25,000 .TRAVEL domain names within the period of one year.

On December 20, 2007, the Company, through its subsidiary, Tralliance Corporation (�Tralliance�), entered into a Bulk Registration Co-Marketing Agreement (the �Agreement�) with Labigroup, under Tralliance�s Bulk Purchasing Program available to entities committing to a minimum purchase of 25,000 �.travel� domain names within one-year. Labigroup is controlled by the Company�s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Michael Egan and our remaining directors own a minority interest in Labigroup. Under the Agreement, Labigroup committed to purchase a predetermined minimum number of �.travel� domain names on a bulk basis from an accredited �.travel� registrar of its own choosing and to establish a predetermined minimum number of related �.travel� websites. As consideration for the �.travel� domain names to be purchased under the Agreement, Labigroup agreed to pay certain fixed fees and make other payments, including but not limited to, an ongoing royalty calculated as a % share of its Net Revenue, as defined in the Agreement, to Tralliance. The Agreement has an initial term which expires September 30, 2010, after which it may be renewed for successive periods of two and three years, respectively. Labigroup has paid Tralliance the sum of $262,500 under the Agreement to date.

This seems like an excellent marketing campaign, which should drum up interest and exposure of the new .TRAVEL TLD. However, there has been some controversy and speculation of insider trading.

As reported in this NamePros discussion, a registrant going by the name of “Labitrav” (assumed to be Labigroup’s Michael Egan) claimed the domain Tours.travel on December 20th, 1 day before the public registration launch. (See: WHOIS record for “Tours.travel”)

Updates will be posted as this story unfolds.

On December 21st the .TRAVEL top level domain was opened to the global public. The price of each registration starts at $99 per domain name per year.

Tralliance Corporation entered an agreement with ICANN to manage the .TRAVEL TLD in May of 2005. Tralliance Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of theglobe.com, Inc.

According to this report filed to the Securities & Exchange Commission, Labigroup (Who is owned by Michael Egan, CEO of .Travel) has agreed with theglobe.com, Inc. to buy 25,000 .TRAVEL domain names within the period of one year.

On December 20, 2007, the Company, through its subsidiary, Tralliance Corporation (“Tralliance”), entered into a Bulk Registration Co-Marketing Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Labigroup, under Tralliance’s Bulk Purchasing Program available to entities committing to a minimum purchase of 25,000 “.travel” domain names within one-year. Labigroup is controlled by the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Michael Egan and our remaining directors own a minority interest in Labigroup. Under the Agreement, Labigroup committed to purchase a predetermined minimum number of “.travel” domain names on a bulk basis from an accredited “.travel” registrar of its own choosing and to establish a predetermined minimum number of related “.travel” websites. As consideration for the “.travel” domain names to be purchased under the Agreement, Labigroup agreed to pay certain fixed fees and make other payments, including but not limited to, an ongoing royalty calculated as a % share of its Net Revenue, as defined in the Agreement, to Tralliance. The Agreement has an initial term which expires September 30, 2010, after which it may be renewed for successive periods of two and three years, respectively. Labigroup has paid Tralliance the sum of $262,500 under the Agreement to date.

This seems like an excellent marketing campaign, which should drum up interest and exposure of the new .TRAVEL TLD. However, there has been some controversy and speculation of insider trading.

As reported in this NamePros discussion, a registrant going by the name of “Labitrav” (assumed to be Labigroup’s Michael Egan) claimed the domain Tours.travel on December 20th, 1 day before the public registration launch. (See: WHOIS record for “Tours.travel”)

Updates will be posted as this story unfolds.