This week a decision was made which will change the Internet as we know it. Up until now there have only been 22 of what are called Top Level Domains, but in the future there will be unlimited choice only restricted by affordability.
A Top Level Domain is the last part of a URL, like “.com”, “.net” and “.org”. ICAAN, the body which coordinates the Internet’s naming system, has voted to allow anyone to set up their own Top Level Domain. All you need is enough cash and to demonstrate that you have the finances and technical infrastructure to run your part of the Internet.
Costs start at $185,000 just to apply for a name when they go on sale in 2012. That’s just the start though, any questions about your application will set you back at least another $50,000 and if someone else wants the same domain then it could go to auction where the sky’s the limit on costs.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see eBay buy the “.eBay” domain though, they have the finances and they have the technical infrastructure. In the future eBay microsites could be hosted on their own domain so for example instead of “https://www.eBay.co.uk/charity” we could simply type in “charity.eBay“.
Of course eBay would probably have to buy “.bay” as well to prevent companies setting up “www.e.bay” and a host of similar sites. Once the number of domains are limitless it introduces an infinite number of variations and companies are likely to want to protect their trademarks.
Which Top Level Domains would you like to see and would you buy a new URL for your website if it became available?
9 Responses
You have to prove you own the rights to the name, so only eBay could register .ebay & personally I wouldn’t bother.
.auctions might prove interesting to somebody though
http://www.tesco.auctions for example
The real consideration is whether a top level domain is marketable or not in such a way that the owner considers that there will be a return for the investment which is after all considerable.
I’m not convinced that a .auctions or even a .ebay would be that attractive in this context.
Who would actually want a .ebay top level domain other than eBay?
I can just see it now….
http://www.amazon.ebay (there is a redirect so clearly Amazon have thought that this will be entered into browsers!!!)
Locations maybe but brands?
Not to be outdone the brains trust at eBay have provided a redirect on:-
http://www.ebay.amazon
And guess where http://www.tesco.ebay takes you?
eBay will probably fight Amazon .commerce. Then they can have x.commerce like they were planning all along.
Apple and Google will probably fight each other for .apps or .app.
Who gets the money?
And how are they allowed to ‘deploy’ it?
Seems a bit stupid, if companies only use their unique domain it could get very confusing trying to actually find them. I’d also be interested to know where the money goes, it’ll be a fortune when the bug un’s get bidding.
So, Ebay started selling domains too. What is next?