2. Tucows / OpenSRS
• World’s largest domain wholesale provider
• One of the world’s largest resellers of SSL
certificates, Sitelock, email, GoMOBI
• 12,000+ resellers globally
• Offices in Canada (HQ), USA, Singapore,
Germany, Netherlands
3. 2012: Beginning of a
Domain Revolution?
• New generic topleveldomains (gTLDs)
• April: applications deadline
• November: applications approved
and included in root zone
• 2013: live
4. So what’s the big deal?
• Many new extensions since 2000
– gTLDs:
• .INFO, .BIZ, .MUSEUM
• .COOP, .AERO, .PRO - .ASIA, .CAT, .JOBS, .MOBI, .TEL, TRAVEL
• .XXX
– ccTLDs:
• .EU
• Liberalization / commercialization /
automization, e.g. .DE, .CO, .FR
• 280 TLDs delegated in root zone, notably:
– 20 gTLDs
– 248 ccTLDs
5. The Problem: Limited Space
• Concentration on top TLDs
– gTLDs: around 80% .COM
– ccTLDs: top 10 make up 60% of registrations
• gTLDs are practically meaningless or unknown
• IDNs limited
• Influences on registration behavior: struggle for
second-level names
– mycompanyinamsterdam.com
– Secondary domain market / premium names
6. Enter New gTLDs
• The “Right of the Dot” gets a meaning
– Brand TLDs, e.g. .MICROSOFT, .UNICEF, .GOOGLE,
.FACEBOOK
– Internationalized TLDs, e.g. (.ARAB)
– Geo-TLDs:, e.g. .BERLIN, .MELBOURNE
– Community and generic TLDs, e.g.:
.SEARCH, .WEB, .CLOUD, .ECO, .GAY
• The explosion:
– 254 applicants so far (March 12)
– 500 new TLDs? 2,000? 10,000?
7. Variety = Confusion?
• The Google Factor
– “Just google me” /
“Use keyword…”
– “Just QR-code me”?
• The Facebook Fear
– “My Website?
http://www.facebook.com/opensrs”
9. Selection of Domain Names
in the Future
• First choice: TLD
– Generics? (.WEB, .COM)
– Industry/market/community?
(.HOTEL)
– Geographic? (ccTLD, IDN, Geo-TLD)
• Less compromise on the SLD
10. Your Customer and nTLDs
• Serve your target group’s demands (TLD
selection)
• Opportunities for the end user are your
opportunities
– Customized business websites – now with
customized domain names
– Give customers what they need rather than what’s
free
11. Challenges and Chances for
Your Hosting Business
• Educate customers and prospects, adapt your
order processes
• Explore new sales areas
– Geographically: Go International? (IDN, Geo-TLDs)
– Industries: find niches (.BASKETBALL?)
• But remain focused
– Do you really need to offer all TLDs?
– Choose your TLDs and and your vendor (various
registries? One wholesale provider?
12. The Future of
Domains in Hosting
• Domains are here to stay
• But the market will change drastically
– Starts in 2013
– Full effects will not be immediate
• Get ready for the challenge and make it an
opportunity!
Remember 2000?CNO onlyand a few complicated, restricted ccTLDs
Background: bikes in AmsterdamFor us: name spaceTop TLDsNew introductions: only .INFO/.BIZ made an input but still <5% of overall TLD marketMeaninglesswho knows what .COM actually stands for? .MUSEUM: who of your friends have heard of it and would use it in their browser?IDNCharacter limitationsNo TLDs (e.g. Asia?)Leads to Behavior (extra notes) Name suggestion tools TM protection: registration under all relevant TLDs
MeaningDistinguish .BRAND: the big guys, closed user community IDN: locals can actually understand the TLDExplosion254 applicants, 50 poss each What does that mean for the end user, what are the consequences?
Will people abandon domains all together?Marketing/GoogleDanger is there Keywords?Original, works for promos onlyNo marketeer will want to give up the name to their site (and use IP or subdomain instead) - Domain is key to internetFacebook(also twitter) MonopolyPoliciesLimitations real website Total Combined promotions: QR-codes, Facebook, twitterWhy not combine? Offer for hostingProof:Domain numbers
Still, tremendous growth We can also see here the missing impact of the “new” TLDs (although incl .EU)
Long term - .COM / secondary market will stay for a while!Shift from second to top level - users will still order SOME TLDs, maybe even moreTM protection much lessOn a TLD note: Success of TLD space will not be determined by size anymore People will pay for a better name (see premium names)
Serve Which industries are my customers fromWhich locations are interesting?Which interests/hobbies? Customized business websites Fits in nicely with a slow but steady shift how to sell hosing: Old way: hosting package features – with whatever SLD is availableNew: give the customer what he actually needs see 1&1 Business Website
EducateTell them about the options and opportunities Exciting to see the first changes of the classical order box
Here to stayDistribution will look differently But my theory: will still grow tremendously ChangeWill develop over years (see cloud hosting) And maybe .COM will even remain as big in proportion OpportunityHope I showed how you can adapt and use the change to your advantage