| Just a few months ago, the domain market seemed | | | | people's heads as the one of choice when typing in a |
| like it was headed in a direction it has been since the | | | | url. With the possibility of thousands of new |
| internet was founded by Al Gore in the 1980's (The | | | | extensions, the internet may become even more |
| Al Gore part is a joke). Just a few days ago though, | | | | confusing to those who don't spend 8 hours a day |
| ICANN, which is the non profit organization | | | | on it like myself. |
| responsible for overseeing domain names as well as | | | | What Happens to the Value of Domain names? |
| their registration, voted on and passed a new | | | | In the past it seemed that domains would be |
| document which will direct the domain industry in a | | | | relatively limited to a handful of extentions, however |
| new, more exciting, but also possibly confusing | | | | this has all changed. Will the values decline since the |
| direction. Until now domain owners only had a handful | | | | supply of names will increase dramatically? This is a |
| of extensions to choose from. .com, .net, .org, .biz, | | | | tough question, but in my opinion I would venture to |
| .bz, .mobi, etc. But now ICANN will allow companies to | | | | say that the .com domain sector will continue on a |
| claim their own Top level domain extensions. For | | | | path of double digit percentage gains for quite some |
| instance Google could buy the .goog extension, and | | | | time. Why? Because with more confusion among |
| instead of people registering domains like, Brian dot | | | | web surfers, more people will simply goto the .com |
| com, they could now register Brian dot goog. | | | | version of a domain if they are unsure of an address. |
| Problems: | | | | I also feel that .net, and .org's will hold their values, |
| Although this is great for people who want to | | | | and the country code TLD's that are popular such as |
| register domains but find most of the ones pertaining | | | | .co.uk, and .de will also continue a steady upward |
| to their idea, company, or website to be taken, most | | | | trend. Extensions that will decrease in value possibly, |
| internet surfers will become confused. If you see a | | | | or at least not make significant investment |
| commercial for Coca Cola that says, "visit our | | | | opportunities are those such as .bz, .travel, .biz, .asia, |
| website at my.coke, most people will likely instead | | | | and a few others which really are no better off then |
| goto mycoke dot com, or my dot coke dot com. | | | | the new extensions which will soon be offered. |
| The .com extension seems to eternally be stuck in | | | | |