The home stretch is always a long stretch.
It’s been a while since I’ve moved, but in the late 90s/early 00s I moved from dorm to dorm to several apartments. There’s one thing (other than a sore back) that I remember from all of these moves: the last 10% is the hardest.
Just when I thought I was 90% done moving my stuff, I’d find that the last 10% remaining in my apartment was actually a lot more than I thought. Maybe I left some of the difficult stuff for last, but it also seemed that all the small things really added up to a lot.
I think we’ll experience the same thing with new top level domain names. Although it seems we’re close to the finish line, there is still a lot that needs to be worked out. It’s going to take more time than many people think.
Other than the last 10%, there’s one more thing that could seriously derail new TLD plans: If .xxx isn’t approved this week, I think you can push the timeline for new TLDs back at least 6 months.
gpmgroup says
The whole process is mired with flaws.
Lets look at the issues with just .brands
How can you have a system which allows .ibm and .dell but .hp isn’t possible
Proctor & Gamble is worse not only can they not have .pg they have over 80 product brands
To put those costs in context, a single company like Proctor and Gamble with over 80 brands will need to spend over $15,000,000 if they wish to apply for all their brands as new gTLDs and pay ICANN a further $2,000,000 every year going forward compared with the existing system cost of $800 p.a.
Once the other companies move much of the DNS branding advantage is lost but the year on year costs remain. Great for ICANN and their contracted parties, but ultimately that cost has to be borne by consumers.
Joe says
@Andrew
So do you think new TLDs will be delayed?
Andrew Allemann says
@ Joe – delayed? I don’t think we necessarily have an end point yet.
page howe says
once they do and listen to a real study they’ll see we dont “need” new tlds, and if people want new niche tlds let them solve the problems and then apply and be considered…..let the applicants do the work of satifying the tm lobby..
what is it NOW, 90% of names are available in .net, 90%%%%%%%%%%- 9 out of very ten people can get an alternative to .COM right now!!!
90% of com is available in .org
49 out of 50 registrants who think they are shut out of .com can get a .biz or .info
theres nothing about the new TLDs that will be better than .net or org.
throw in .tv, and .pro, and .co and .la and the other ccctlds (commercialized country code tlds) and we have enough.
Derek Pater says
What do you guys think of
.web and .shop ?