Unlimited New gTLDs, .Com Dominance and Domain Name Relevance, Importance and the Domain Aftermarket

Will Unlimited New Specialty TLDs (sTLDs) Change the Game? Why? How?

[Webwork]

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System: The following 3 messages were cut out of thread at: http://www.webmasterworld.com/domain_names/4456510.htm [webmasterworld.com] by webwork - 7:28 am on Jun 13, 2012 (utc -5)

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So, the domainer world is abuzz with the imminent release of information regarding who applied for what new gTLDs. Tens of millions of dollars, many times over, has been invested or set aside just for the chance to lay claim to the new gTLD possibilities.

With real estate it's often said that an element of real estate's inherent value is "they ain't making anymore of it". Setting aside dredging or underwater reclamation projects, the truism offers some insight into real estate's value. I once read that the introduction of new gTLDs, such as .info and .biz, would erode the inherent value of .com domains. I haven't seen that happen.

However, what happens when virtual real estate is allowed to expand exponentially?

If there wasn't a .info or .biz or .eu would the aftermarket value of .com domains be just a bit higher? In other words, if the only alternative was a total nonsense domain would the more sensical domains - in the absence of any alternative - have gone up even more?

Will infinite choice exert a slight downward pressure - both on aftermarket domains AND the renewal fees for .com domains?

How much of the bogus hype for thousands of new gTLDs will the world be able to bear? (Remember the hype surrounding .mobi? "Everyone will use it because . . . ". Yeah, right.)

Folks, reality is about to enter the world of speculation like a bull that enters a china/glassware shop.

Lay your bets.

Me? I'm keeping my money off the table. You can have 'em.

Well, maybe just for fun I'll throw a few coins in the slots . . but I've learned my lesson. Guess it will be time for everyone else to go to school and/or get schooled.

Interesting times, once again.

[bill]

If this doesn't drop the bottom out of the market I don't know what will. This is like IPv6 for the domain market. I'd expect that soon they will be worth nothing.

[Webwork]

I'd expect that soon they will be worth nothing.

Would "they" be all gTLDs or the .com gTLD?

In theory, limitless choice AND "availability" may become a market force that drives down or limits any/all gTLD registration/renewal fees.

IF the emergence of .info, .biz, .mobi, .eu, .asia, .travel, etc. didn't make .com a "so, what else you got" gTLD what about the newly added TLDs will?

I'm also thinking that the new TLDs really aren't "g"(generic)TLDs. They're more aptly "s"(specialty)TLDs, brought to us by people pandering . . marketing . . the idea that "keyword+sTLD" can help you corner/capture the market.

Just like .mobi did for mobile commerce and .travel did for the travel and tourism industry. :-/

[rocker]

I hope I'm wrong but, I think within a few years it is going to hurt the price of .com's

One of the best assests of owning .com is that it gets traffic from other TLD's. By that, I mean if you have example.net a lot of people will type in example.com. With all the new TLD's coming out I believe people are not going to automaticly type in .com nearly as much.

Also, owning the .com made a site appear to be the authority site. With all the "s"(specialty)TLDs that may not hold.

PS: Webwork, I like your "s"(specialty)TLDs :)

[bill]

The .com gTLD will certainly hold its value for a while along with proper ccTLDs. I was thinking more about the new sTLDs (I like that one). I can't see an endless supply of sTLD being dumped on the market as any way to drive the domain market.

The people in my company's trademark protection group have already indicated that they will probably reduce outlays for domains under this system.

ICANN has not created a new goose that lays golden eggs with this move, rather they have likely killed the one they already had.

[Leosghost]

This was purely ICAAN greed in action, bolstered by their friends and colleagues at the plex, if there are "unlimited TLDs" someone has to index them, search what is on them, and serve up the results as serps to the searcher..otherwise the sheeple might never leave facebook..( or whatever the next social tarpit might be, hint..it won't be G+ )..so Google had to lobby behind the scenes for this idea, and then push it as hard as they could ..

I don't believe that any of those who pushed for it, care if it is successful or not, or if it affects existent TLDs or not, they'll just count the money, and rest secure that the need for search engines ( and the dominant one in particular ) has been cemented..and the fact that ( apparently incidentally ;-) the control of the information posted on the web has been put back into the hands of the mega rich corps, ( who are the only ones to be able to afford these TLDs ) is a planned for "bonus effect"..

[System]

The following message was cut out to new thread by engine. New thread at: domain_names/4464930.htm [webmasterworld.com]
2:44 pm on Jun 13, 2012 (utc +1)