Backend Registries don't speak French

One might be surprised by such title but as a person involved in creating and promoting dotBrands and other generic new gTLDs, there are a few things that I see...and one that is now obvious is that Backend Registries don't speak French (but a very few).

Creating a new domain name extension requires to think upfront about a strategy but also...about service providers. The Backend Registry is a mandatory service provider when creating a new Top-Level Domain but unfortunately, the offer is limited in France because of our language: Backend Registries don't offer French as a language.

No French? You don't exist

There is a demand in France and interested parties in creating their domain name extension usually proceed through their accredited Registrar, sometimes their Law Firm and sometimes...directly through the Backend Registry provider. I usually talk to the Backend Registry first and fortunately for me, I speak, write and read English.

I like to go straight to the point and just like everyone in business, I like to limit the number of subcontractors. In more simple word, if I had the project to create a new gTLD, I would talk directly to the appropriate service provider and to me, that provider is the Backend Registry: the better when he  has a presence in your country or speaks your language.

I will speak french for you

There are coming Backend Registries (preparing their offer for the next round) and existing Backends; but from my Top10 list, one website offers French only and I believe that this is potential lost business for the others because addressing to one in his language breaks the first barrier to business. 

As a new gTLD Consultant based in Paris, I will offer that service to introduce your Backend Registry offer to French, contact me and will explain how.

Interview: Ten Years Between New gTLD Applications Is Too Long

This is an interview from David Goldstein: Domain Pulse Q&A With Jovenet Consulting’s Jean Guillon. If interested in new gTLDs, I strongly suggest that section from Domain Pulse entitled "New gTLDs"

Dismay at the time it’s taking for ICANN to launch a new round of new gTLD applications is an underlying theme for Jovenet Consulting’s Jean Guillon in today’s Domain Pulse Q&A, as well as it’s the insiders who are framing the new applicant guidebook and the larger companies are the ones with the resources to put into submitting applications from an anticipated overly complicated applicant guidebook. But it’s not all dismay as Jean is excited about the future of new gTLDs, the .BEST registry, and he has a French city waiting to apply for its own gTLD and he believes he’s worked out what works and doesn’t.

Questions asked by Domain Pulse:

1. What were the highlights, lowlights and challenges of 2019 in the domain name industry, both for you and/or the industry in general?
2. What are you looking forward to in 2020?
3. What challenges and opportunities do you see for the year ahead?
4. How have new gTLDs fared in 2019?
5. What progress do you see on a new round of applications for new gTLDs in 2020?
6. What one thing would you like to see addressed or changed in the domain name industry?

Read the full interview here.

UPDATED - Real Estate new gTLDs: 2019 in Review

One thing is for sure is that it takes time to adopt new gTLDs and the Real Estate industry clearly demonstrates that: the .CASA Top-Level Domain is a good example to look at (see below). As a reminder for a better understanding of these reports:

• When no color from a month to the other = new gTLD registration volumes increase;
• When in red, the volume of domain name registered decreased from the previous month;
• When in blue, the increase in domain name registrations is noticeable from previous the month.

This is what I noticed in regard to 12 month of domain name registrations for extensions which string is a Real Estate keyword:

• 32 extensions were selected for my report, one was withdrawn (.HOME), 6 are dotBrands (.BRANDs) Top-Level Domains for Trademarks, one exists in two versions, the singular and the plural one:
• .PROPERTY
• .PROPERTIES
• No TLDs have more than 100,000 registrations but 9 had more than 10,000
• One would expect all extensions to have more registrations in December than in January but it is not the case: on the 31 TLDs listed, it is the case for 14 of them so half of them (note that some extensions from this list stagnated during 12 months so "half of the list" is not entire true.
• 7 extensions (.BRANDs mainly) had the exact same number of registrations in January and in December. Surprisingly, two are not Trademarks:
• .MLS and
• .LOFT 
• 2 extensions, the .CASA and .HOMES Top-Level Domains - listed in blue - showed an interesting learning curve during the entire year. The first one tripled its registrations, the second multiplied them by 5.
• The strange .CASA new gTLD figures:
• In 2016: it ended the month of December 2016 with 18,077 domain name registrations
• In 2017: 
• it ended the month of January 2017 with 18,072 registrations,
• and ended December 2017 with 6.262
• In 2018:
• it ended the month of January 2018 with 6,386 registrations,
• and ended December 2018 with 5,682
• In 2019:
• it ended the month of January 2019 with 6,081 registrations,
• and ended December 2019 with 19,602
• The .REALTOR new gTLD, number one of this list, is for Realtors and lost nearly 7,000 registrations from January to December 2019.
• The .REALESTATE - one of the most interesting Real Estate new gTLD to me - has almost the same umber of registrations in December (19,588) than what it had in January (19,547). Stagnation concerns other TLDs in  2019:
• .HOUSE
• .IMMO
• .PROPERTIES
• .RENTALS
• .RENT
• .APARTMENTS
• .LEASE
• .MAISON

UPDATE on .HOMES new gTLD

The Registry for .HOMES domain names was kind enough to answer our questions on the success of his extension and here is what he said:

"Until 14 Jan 2019, .Homes was a restricted TLD. On that date we removed all restrictions so that anyone could purchase .Homes domain names. As a result of that change, DUMs have increased from 800 at the end 2018 to 12,339 at the end of 2019; an increase of more than 15 times. A large percentage of registered names are geographic places - i.e., cities, towns, states, provinces, neighborhoods, and postal codes - as well as geo names with an additional key word (e.g. BuySeattle.Homes, MyDubai.Homes, The303.Homes). We are seeing agents buy their names and companies in the real estate industry purchasing company names - ranging from brokerages to home builders to mortgage providers to agent teams. For more background on name categories, see https://get.homes/domains/homes-domains-categorized/. Because the names are now open to everyone, we're seeing domain investors getting involved as well".

Thank you Jim ;-)

Read the full report here.

Coming: "Single vs Plural new gTLDs: 2019 in Review"

New gTLDs : Looking For a Position

My dear new gTLD Network,

With the next round of the ICANN new gTLD program coming, I look for a position at an existing Registry, a Backend Registry, a future new gTLD applicant, a Multiple Registry, a Registrar (Corporate or Retail), a Law Firm or a Web/Communication Agency.

What I will do for you:

• I will create your .BRAND (also called "dotBrand") new gTLD project, considering potential objections;
• I will find the perfect price and deal for your mandatory Backend Registry provider;
• I will submit your new gTLD application to the ICANN until it is delegated;
• For a project dedicated to selling domain names through the network of accredited Registrars; I will operate and promote your TLD with the appropriate team;
• For new gTLD innovation on a $50 Million ROI project, I will need an hour of your time to explain how your application can change how consumers search on Internet.
• I will also be able to operate and monitor large domain name portfolios on both the Registrar or the Registrant's side (as a Registrar's client).

I have the experience from the first round of the ICANN new gTLD program and also worked for major Registrars (retail and Corporate) and Registries. I am based in Paris, France.

My details are available here.

New gTLD reports for February 2019

It is the end of February 2019 and I spent a big part of my day updating these reports "one by one". I suggest to have a closer look at the report on Singular and Plural new gTLDs (and push to reading the list of similar new gTLDs).

1. New gTLDs related to POLITICS (.gop - .vote - .republican - .democrat - etc...)
2. New gTLDs related to LUXURY (.rich - .yachts - .chanel - etc...)
3. New gTLDs related to the MUSIC community (.music - .band - .hiphop - etc...)
4. Multiple Registries : group of Registries operating five (5) and more domain name extensions
5. Singular VS Plural versions of a new gTLD : these are domain name extensions which exist in their singular and plural version (ie: .gift and .gifts)
6. New gTLDs related to CATERING and CULINARY (.restaurant - .kitchen - .bar - etc...)
7. New gTLDs related to PHOTOGRAPHY (.photo - .film - .gallery - etc...)
8. New gTLDs related to CITIES : these are city names only (.paris - .london - .tokyo - etc...)
9. New gTLDs related to COMPANIES : new domain name extensions that we believe a company should keep its eyes on
10. New gTLDs related to the LAW and LEGAL matters (.legal - .attorney - .lawyer - etc...)
11. New gTLDs related to FINANCE (.credit - .capital - .finance - etc...)
12. New gTLDs related to a COLOR (.orange - .pink - .green - etc...)
13. New gTLDs related to SPORTS (.hockey - .basketball - .ski - etc...)
14. New gTLDs related to ALCOHOL (.beer - .wine - .vodka - etc...)
15. New gTLDs related to REAL ESTATE (.realestate - .realtor - .villas - etc...)
16. FRENCH new gTLD applications : these are applications submitted by French companies only
17. New gTLDs related to RELIGION (.catholic - .bible - .church - etc...)
18. New gTLDs related to CARS (.taxi - .auto - .car - etc...)
19. New gTLDs related to HEALTH (.health - .doctor - .hospital - etc...)
20. New gTLDs related to ADULTS.

To be added in these reports, contact me.

Registered in 1998: Guillon.com is 20 years old

I registered guillon.com in 1998-06-02: that was 20 years ago.

It is my oldest domain name and at the time, I had no idea that I would use it for the rest of my life.

I now use the same ending in ".email"...for Email.

Ten Fold Engineering

Checking LinkedIn when I start my day is often something that I do first. I also do that exercise to double-check if one company which name has an ending in one of the new domain name extensions registered that new domain name.

Ten Fold Engineering belongs to these companies and has at least two domains:

1. Its ".com";
2. And its ".engineering".

Try this now:

• Hit on the ".com" above and get rid of the ".com" in the URL;
• Ad a "." right after the "d" and hit enter.

Isn't this shorter?

Which Registry will succeed in...

...selling domain names in supermarkets?
When it comes to paying in a supermarket, you're often offered to buy that “little thing more”: chewing-gums, sweets, alcohol, but it is now also possible to buy “online things” such as Apple and Google music: why not offer domain names too?

Domains names are no BtoC consumer products
Let’s be serious: can you imagine a Registry pushing a Registrar to “do the job”, trying to offer domain names in supermarkets? This just would not work for several reasons:

• Approaching a supermarket chain is a tough job that requires time and the job of a Registrar is to sell domain names and offer services dedicated to domain names;
• What about marketing and packaging: who pays? Certainly not the supermarket chain! Which Registrar has the capacity to pay for all this but one which has a close link to a supermarket chain?
• What about pricing? Is a Registrar ready to drop its price or accept to earn money in year two, when the domain name is renewed?
• What about support...

A blog offered with a domain name is BtoC

Many people want to have their blog: to post their holidays’ photos or just to write the story of their life but they won’t necessary search for this on Internet because it is so difficult to understand and there is so much info to provide, it can even become technical!

The truth is that very few people know what a domain name is so you can imagine when it comes to talking about a “Registrar” :-)

Added to more services, a supermarket has the capacity to address end users and evangelize the process of registering a domain name a complete different way, make things more simple and go straight to the point: deliver what is offered on the packaging and nothing more that what the price says. It does not work the same online when you can offer “options”, simply by clicking on a button. The more clicks...

A supermarket also has the capacity to offer “trust” in the purchase: the seller is already an authority, can Registrars says the same: nationwide?

Why not add the email to this package?

Another truth is that very few people know that an email can be different from gMail or Hotmail so offering the option to personalize an email with a domain name seriously adds to the quality of the offer.

Let’s be honest, what looks nicer: jguillon@hotmail.com or jean@guillon.email ? What about this one for "Jovenet Consulting": www.jovenetconsulting.com or www.jovenet.consulting ?

Added to the domain name, a personalized email is typically what Google and many other Registrars are trying to achieve in their offers but a supermarket could demonstrate that it is even a better place to bring consumers to buy such products: it is faster and does not require to read it all.

So what is the solution then?

I studied various possibilities but I strongly believe that the best approach is with a Registry which operates its own Registrar. The reason for this? A better price and reduced costs to take care of all operations with a limited number of subsidiaries. Note that I will not explain about “a better price”.

A Registrar with the capacity to offer a complete solution and a dedicated path for such consumers:

1. The Blog (without ever mentioning the word “hosting”);
2. The Domain name;
3. The Email;
4. One yearly payment.

A coupon, such as the one offered to buy music, will offer:

• To pay for year one;
• A 3 lines explanation of what the consumer buys;
• A short URL where to:
• Create the domain name which will activate and point to the Blog;
• Create the email;
• Explain and point to the interface to Blog;
• Renew the domain name (renewing should be explained on the coupon).

The entire process should fit in one single page.

Who can do that?

Come on: don’t you see?

;-)

*BtoC stands for “Business to Consumer”, different from BtoB which stands for “Business to Business”

New gTLDs: how they incite innovation

We thought new gTLDs would bring innovation to the world of domain names, but has it been the case? Clearly not...and this for two reasons:

1. It took too long for many projects to be validated by the ICANN and launched;
2. It cost too much Registries to wait and money dedicated to innovation went to...you know...when you have to pay your staff while waiting, etc...                     :-)

We also thought that innovation would be sudden but it appears that it is taking longer.

Is innovation coming now?

Clearly yes.

I see new kind of projects coming which did not exist because of the non existence of new gTLDs. All use and/or focus on new domain names:

• Tools to operate large portfolios of domain names with a minimum number of clicks: some Trademarks now want to find a use for all of these new domains they have to secure*;
• Tools dedicated to the meaning of specific TLDs (.email - .club - ...);
• Directories dedicated to specific domain name extensions: the interesting thing about new gTLDs is that some extensions now clearly mean something and help identify the content of a website directly when reading the domain name;
• Search engines for specific TLD meanings: why not search an info about a Contractor in a search engine dedicated to ".contractors" domain names?
• "Gain sharing" focussing on specific TLDs: a method to help Registries Registrants generate an income from a specific domain name extension;
• Mad scientists projects**.

Some registries are still having a hard time to make their project profitable but this is what is driving creativity today. There are failures with, for example, attempts to flood the market creating new domain names with no content; but little by little, we see that registries are not necessary - as we imagined it - the one to deliver creativity: registrants and entrepreneurs are now the one to take the lead. 

Rebranding is innovation

According to Verisign, it appears that ".com" was originally created to represent the “commercial” intent of a website so now there is a ".search" domain name extension, does it mean that it is time for Google to change its extension to perfectly match with what it is really doing?
What about The Time: isn't it time to change to a ".news" or ".press" to clearly express what it is about, or does it have to stick to that old speech about ".com" domain names and SEO?
Some Trademarks are showing initiatives:

• Bentley announced its http://www.corporate.bentley
• Total developed its Wiki: http://wiki.total
• SNCF will soon change to oui.sncf
• etc...

By the way, what sounds best here: "innovation is branding" or "branding is innovation"? Don't both sound good thank to new gTLDs?

We are interested in talking about your new gTLD innovation, contact us if interested. 

* conceived by Jovenet Consulting

** some are clearly imagined at Jovenet Consulting ;-)

gTLD.club : WTF?

I frankly admit that I have no idea with what's going on at the moment at gTLD.club. Below is a copy-paste of the stats.

French students soon equipped with new domains

Some French business schools will soon equip their students with new domain names from the ICANN new gTLD program.

The idea is simple: have a email (or a website) that catches the eye of a recruiter on your résumé.

Article is available in French:

La majorité des étudiants ont déjà un email avant de commencer leurs études, c’est un email qu’ils garderont probablement...toute leur vie. Quand bien même leur employeur leur en fournira un pour travailler, des écoles de commerce prennent les devants pour préparer leurs étudiants en Finance à se différencier en abordant le marché du travail avec un email plus “pro”.

Read my article on the Journal Du Net (in French)

New gTLDs: someone said "STOP"

The 2 of each month is a long day for me because I update new gTLD reports at Jovenet Consulting. These reports are a good monthly indicator on what's going on in the new gTLD industry. It also allows me to note when something is...strange.

Many already offered me to automate this but I like to do this manually so I can "see".

This morning, I "saw"
When I am done with updating a new gTLD report, I tweet about it so readers can click and check the report. Some reports are more interesting than others so, for example, I would tweet about the report on finance, but note about the report on alcohol.

The "Colors" new gTLD report is one I would not tweet the update about but this morning, while updating it I said: "Wow: someone must have said "stop" somewhere here".

Very early, I wondered why registration volumes were so high on domain names ending with a color name such as ".red", ".blue" and ".pink". Somewhere, I read that "red" was a special color in China and this explained these high registration volumes.

If you look at the ".red" domain name registrations' curve, you note that is has a hard time to maintain in 2016 and this evolves even hardly in early 2017. Then registrations drop significantly in a one month period of time (from April to May 2017) and for four TLDs in a row. Something happened.

I don't think that these TLDs, which belong to the same new gTLD applicant, lost domain name registrations because the registrant (the person to have bought the domain names) suddenly said "I am not renewing my domain names".

I think someone said - somewhere - that this strategy, which consists to increase the number of domains on the market for whatever reason, is too expensive and generates...nothing.

So...where was taken the decision to stop such strategy? At the registrant level...or at the registry?
;-)

New gTLDs for the Law

We listed 10 new gTLDs related to the law and only one of them is a dotBrand. Surprisingly, it is the only .BRAND new gTLD to be offering to submit new gTLD applications to the ICANN : shouldn't this be considered when thinking of a company to submit your new gTLD application in round two of the ICANN new gTLD program? We think so.

This month, one extension keeps diving into the red for the third month in a row but three others are gaining a significant number of registrations.

We recently added the .ESQ new gTLD which belongs to Google and the funny thing is that it's been launched a very long ago but...no one noticed it. Here is what the new gTLD application says about .ESQ: "The purpose of the proposed gTLD is to provide a forum for lawyers and law practices to offer content related to their profession. ʺEsq.ʺ is typically used to refer to an individual who has been sworn in or accepted into their stateʹs or countryʹs bar. The mission of the proposed gTLD is to provide a dedicated domain space in which verified legal professionals can enact unique second-level domains."

Congratulations to the .LEGAL new gTLD which passes the 10,000 domain name registrations.

Oh, and yes, we consider that the .BAR new gTLD should be added to the 2017 LAW new gTLD report :-)

The list of new gTLD concerned:

1. .LAWYER
2. .LEGAL
3. .ATTORNEY
4. .LAW
5. .PARTNERS
6. .BAR
7. .ASSOCIATES
8. .ABOGADO
9. .FAIRWINDS ®
10. .ESQ

The full report is available here and we welcome more .BRAND TLD suggestions to be added to this report.

New gTLDs related to Catering

This a series of 18 reports related to new domain name registration volumes. The first report is for domain names extensions related to Catering and Food. The extensions concerned are:

1. .PUB
2. .COFFEE
3. .CAFE
4. .MENU
5. .RESTAURANT
6. .KITCHEN
7. .BAR
8. .PIZZA
9. .CATERING
10. .RECIPES
11. .COOKING
12. .REST
13. .FAGE ® (see a case study here)
14. .食品 (food)
15. .EAT
16. .FOOD
17. .PAMPEREDCHEF ®
18. .FOODNETWORK ®
19. .COOKINGCHANNEL ®
20. .CITYEATS ®
21. .MCD ®
22. .MCDONALDS ®

Noticeable domain name registration increases are more in the 100 rather than the 1000. No domain name extension is in the red this month but the much awaited .MCDONALDS domain name extension still does not show one single registration...yet. The .MCDONALDS new gTLD is an important .BRAND since this trademark has the capacity to communicate worldwide: something that new gTLDs desperately need to install and demonstrate usage. Trademarks (.BRAND new gTLDs) were added a little ® sign to be recognized.

Article: "studying .BRAND New gTLDs"

Many participants in the latest ICANN meeting in Copenhagen asked that same question: "when is the next round of the ICANN new gTLD program?". If the question came from new gTLD service providers, I also noticed that it was different from "the first round": now the question focuses more on .BRANDs rather than Generic TLDs dedicated to selling domain names. The question also comes more from representatives of certain Trademarks who want to acquire a .BRAND domain name extension.

Read my article on CircleId

New gTLD reports for February 2017

New gTLD reports for the month of February 2017 have been published. These were published on a weekly basis in 2016 for the launching of most of the new generic Top-Level Domains. These publications focus on domain name registration volumes according to businesses and industries.

Industries and businesses
A list of “themes” was chosen to target specific business and activities: new gTLDs related to CATERING, PHOTOGRAPHY, CITIES, COMPANIES, The LAW, FINANCE, COLORS, SPORT, ALCOHOL, REAL ESTATE, Singular VS Plural versions of a new gTLD, FRENCH new gTLD applications, RELIGION, GENERIC TLDs, CARS, HEALTH, new gTLDs with a FRENCH connotation and ADULTS.

These themes offer registrants two possibilities:

1. “Learn” and get to know which domain name extensions exist in their core business so they can register corresponding domain names if they want to;
2. “Stay in touch” so they can keep an eye on the domain name expansion related to their activity.

Registration volumes
One could wonder why it matters to follow new domain name registration volumes.

If it first matters for a dentist to know that there is a domain name extension ending in “.dentist” which exists (instead of “.com”), a “.agency” for an agency or a “.football” for a football federation; it is also important to know that such identities can correspond to your core business and that they are available to anyone who wants to register one. No need for an authorization to buy one and have a perfectly identified presence on Internet.

Second, domain name registration volumes offer the option to keep an eye on trends: when domain name registration volumes increase in an activity, it means that professionals are buying these domain names and that the activity concerned is developing on Internet under a brand new name.

A good example to give are “.cloud” domain names. Let’s be honest: who cares about “clouds”? Well, you’d be surprised to see that this domain name extension is massively being adopted by professionals of the cloud business with almost 100,000 domain name registrations. 

February 2017
It if was difficult to compare figures from January 2017 with figures from the last week of December 2016, it makes more sense to compare domain name registration volumes from January 2017 and February 2017. These figures are, and will be, updated on the second day of each month. Note that figures in blue represent a noticeable increase of domain name registrations, in red when they decrease from a month to the other.

All updated reports are available here.

New gTLDs at Namescon

NamesCon is a conference dedicated to domaining: how to sell domain names, how to buy domain names...and of course, new domain names from the ICANN new gTLD program are a subject today. Let's not forget that the objective of registries, registrars and domain name investors is to sell domain names.

The interesting thing about this kind of conferences is that they tend to become more and more popular and the image domain name investors had in the past is changing today. Let's be honest: how were domainers considered before the launching of new gTLDs? ;-)

With the arrival of new gTLDs, I feel these conferences generate more interest. The example I like to use here is the presence of "institutions" from the new gTLD business in these conferences. Did you expect so see the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (the ICANN) to attend and talk at these conferences? It is a reality today.

Another sign that investing in domain names is becoming natural is the presence of major players from the industry: registries get to these conferences to promote strong added value domain names called "Premium" domains. Even backend registries attend to explain how to invest in new gTLDs. Did you notice: the speech is evolving from investing in domain names to...investing in new domain name extensions!

Conferences I would attend on the NamesCon 2017 Agenda:

1. Monday, January 23rd:
1. Investing in New TLDs - Making Money in the Short and Long Term, 2:00pm - 2:45pm.
   Join Rightside and a panel of industry experts to discuss strategies for investing in gTLDs and where they see the opportunities are going forward.
2. Tuesday, January 24th:
1. Five Facts that Will Change the Domain Game in 2017, 11:00am - 11:45am.
   24 days have already gone through in 2017 – but the new Domain year will bring five significant changes. In this session two true experts will explain what awaits you in 2017.
2. China Masterclass, 12:00pm - 12:45pm.
   No one can deny that China made a huge impact on the domain industry in the last two years. A panel of industry experts will discuss the latest changes to this enormous and complex market and help us understand the important differences between the Chinese and 'Western' world of domains.
3. HOT - Will Branded TLDs Impact the Marketplace in 2017 and Beyond? 2:00pm - 2:45pm.
   In 2016 we saw the initial roll out of the strategies for many of the world’s largest companies using their .brand Top Level Domains. Why are these companies doing this and what is the value proposition in moving away from the well-known .com digital footprints? Is this just a fad or are we witnessing a change to domain name branding for the future?
3. Wednesday, January 25th:
1. DNS Industry SWOT Analysis, 2017 Edition, 9:30am - 9:55am.
   Scaling the Internet’s TLD space from 22 top-level domains to hundreds, and one day potentially thousands is a game-changer on many levels. Akram Atallah, President of ICANN’s Global Domains Division, will sit with Christian Dawson, Executive Director of i2Coalition, to discuss developments within the evolving DNS industry including strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
2. India Masterclass, 11:00am - 11:45am.
   While India has a low internet penetration rate of 19% it is close to replacing the US as the 2nd largest market with almost 300 million internet users. With more than 50 million new users per year, India cannot be ignored. Find out what makes this unique nation tick.
3. A Look Ahead at New TLDs, 11:00am - 11:45am.
Look forward and anticipate the prosperity and growth of TLDs for existing and future launches. Utilizing experiences and insight from current cases into the next round and beyond.

What you missed in our previous Newsletters:

1. Just announced: the .VUELOS new gTLD. Check latest announcements from the TMCH;
2. INTA Impact Study on Costs of New gTLDs (Reserved to INTA corporate members);
3. 2017 the .RADIO launch year!
4. NewG talk #21: how are NewG domain names being developed into websites?
5. HOT - Regulating Online Content through the Internet Architecture: The Case of ICANN’s new gTLDs;
6. Most wanted new gTLD in 2017:
1. Instead of .com users will choose .web;
2. Spartans, what is your profession?
3. Countries, Cities & Places;
4. How it’s done.
7. The TMCH just announced:
1. The .ECO Sunrise Period;
2. The .BROADWAY Sunrise Period.
8. DotBrand thinking for 2017;
9. To Uniregistry: your thoughts on new gTLDs?
10. .BRAND new gTLDs: release of Country and Territory Names;
11. Analyzing new top level domain registrations by country (Part 2).

New gTLDs...since last Tuesday

COMING ARTICLES
I am working on two articles based on "facts" and I should post them soon. Your participation is welcome and I am happy if you drop me a line with your participation. The articles will probably be entitled:

1. "Confusing new gTLDs";
2. New business model for Round 2 (a new business model for Round two of the ICANN new gTLD program).

NEW gTLD PROJECT

I developed a project which innovation is based on a new domain name extension. It focuses on:

• Generating income and creating new sources of revenues;
• Establishing a worldwide "mega" brand;
• Giving worldwide visibility to  project owner;
• Bringing strong innovation to the Internet.

Since I cannot finance such a project, I am happy to talk to interested parties. Note that the project can be adapted to an existing - but not yet developed - new gTLD. I'd love to talk to Amazon, to Google, to Automattic, to Facebook, Vistaprint...

MILESTONE

The new gTLD group on LinkedIn has passed the 2,500 subscribers. As usual, you are welcome to post your news to the group as long as they are related to new gTLDs. We also send an announcement on Monday to subscribers so if you want to be read...this is the place have you content posted.

The .AUDI new gTLD
The AUDI Trademark creates more ".audi" domain names (see figures here). The registry has now up to 552 registrations and these start to be indexed in Google. There is an interesting https://gofor2025.audi/ that has been indexed recently. More to come?

.GDN : removed
The Top-Level Domain was removed from the Generic new gTLD report since the mission/purpose of the application still states: "Our mission is to commence a new generic top level domain name avenue for global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) industry and users, that enables and improve for commercial entities to illustrate, manage, market their products, services, education and experience, which enhance visibility and makes it easy for users to recognize GNSS activity on internet." What is written in the application is absolutely not what the front page of the registry says.

What you missed in our previous Newsletters:

1. Where do new gTLDs stand on trademark issue?
2. ICANN Call for volunteers (...allocate the New gTLD Auction Proceeds);
3. Interesting - Could this be the next tipping point for the new gTLDs?
4. Curious Statement About 2012 gTLD Round Name Collision Fears at IGF;
5. List of gTLDs available for UDRP (to date October 17, 2016);
6. How a Domain Name Could Transform Your Online Business;
7. Free .SHOP domains until Christmas;
8. Interesting - How memory recall is improved with new gTLDs;
9. The .ECO new gTLD: 48 hours left for nonprofits to apply for a .eco domain grant!
10. New gTLD .CAM Launched Today;
11. Google just launches a new .GOOGLE domain: https://environment.google;
12. 3 Sunrise Periods are ending on Saturday, 31 December, 2016 - 16:00:
1. .游戏 (game);
2. .企业 (enterprise);
3. .娱乐 (entertainment).
13. CentralNic plc Sell one domain name for $4.5million;
14. Release of Two-Character Labels;
15. Interesting - New gTLD numbers, more sources of information:
1. gTLDs – Daten & Trends;
2. TLD Summary Table.
16. The Luxury Watch Market and Trademark Infringement in New gTLDs;
17. Amazon updates its new top level domain website to prepare for launch;
18. Just delegated: the HOSPITAL new gTLD;
19. .SUCKS domain to drop its price 99% in January;
20. Registering New Top Level Domain Names in China;
21. Update: In which extension(s) should companies secure their domains?

Domain name registration volumes: 

• New gTLDs related to ALCOHOL; 
• New gTLDs related to REAL ESTATE (.RENT registrations to drop); 
• New gTLDs related to SPORT;
• Plural versions of new gTLDs (I added the .CAREER and .CAREERS new gTLDs);
• French new gTLD applications;
• New gTLDs related to RELIGION (a small increase in .CHRISTMAS domaine name registrations. Ie: creche.christmas);
• Generic new gTLDs (all new gTLDs (.COM looses 70,699 registrations in one week);
• New gTLDs related to CARS (552 domain name registrations for .AUDI);
• Good - New gTLDs related to HEALTH (all new gTLDs related to Health (but .HIV) have their domain name registration volumes to increase since last week).

Our reports are available here.

Recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Note to our readers: starting January 2017, the content of our Newsletter will be sent by email only. It will not be made available online anymore on www.newsletter.domains.

The new gTLD info for Friday, May 20th 2016

On the up-to-date report for registration volumes related to Cars, we have noticed that two .BRAND new gTLDs (the .AUDI and .BENTLEY) are creating more domain names: a sign that something is coming?

1. New gTLD reports:
1. New gTLDs related to CARS;
2. New gTLDs related to HEALTH
2. Retailers Take Notice: Will Customers .shop at Your .store?
3. groupe.schmidt is a new dot brand corporate website
4. SpamHaus now publishing better TLD abuse data
5. 17 Percent of Domains on Domain Auction Sites Have Link Spam Problems.

The Nameshield Group: Registry, Corporate and Retail Registrar

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

20+ Photography Related TLDs

A few days ago, Canon announced its move to a new domain name using its ".canon" extension, but did you know that there is a .NIKON new gTLD too? While the photography industry strengthens its presence online with these two major trademarks launching their dedicated top-level domains, there are a lot more generic extensions in the world of photography:

1. Branded New TLDs in Photography;
2. Generic New TLDs in Photography;
3. Registration Volumes.

Read the complete article on CircleID.

The Nameshield Group: Registry, Corporate and Retail Registrar

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements