AusRegistry International Wins Another Middle East Internet Contract

AusRegistry International logoAusRegistry International announced this month it has won a lucrative contract with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the Sultanate of Oman to operate software services for the .OM Omani country code Top Level Domain

AusRegistry International logoAusRegistry International announced this month it has won a lucrative contract with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the Sultanate of Oman to operate software services for the .OM Omani country code Top Level Domain.

AusRegistry International is particularly pleased with the new Oman contract as it puts them in the position as a market leader in the region and complements similar projects currently underway in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. This is in addition to its consulting work for South Africa’s .ZA ccTLD, the largest in Africa. AusRegistry is also the appointed operator of the .AU domain in Australia.

The Oman contract will encompass both the existing .om domain and the planned .عمان (.OMAN) Arabic script domain. This will be the first time Omanis will be able to access the Internet using their native language.

For more information, see the AusRegistry International news release below:

AusRegistry International wins lucrative Middle East Internet contracts [news release]
Navigating the Internet for people from non-English speaking backgrounds has just become a lot easier thanks to the ingenuity and expertise of Melbourne based domain name registry services provider AusRegistry International, who has just signed its third Middle Eastern contract to provide software to drive critical Internet infrastructure in the region.

AusRegistry International announced this month it has won a lucrative contract with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the Sultanate of Oman to operate software services for the .om Omani country code domain.

The new Oman contract cements AusRegistry International’s position as a market leader in the region and complements similar projects currently underway in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. This is in addition to its consulting work for South Africa’s .za country-code domain, the largest in Africa. AusRegistry is also the appointed operator of the .au domain in Australia.

The Oman contract will encompass both the existing .om domain and the planned عمان. (.oman) Arabic script domain. This will be the first time Omanis will be able to access the Internet using their native language.

The introduction of non-Latin scripts for the Domain Name System is one of the most significant advancements in the history of the Internet because it allows people from non-Latin based languages to navigate using website addresses in their own language. For instance, without scripts, an Arabic language website would require an English website address. In this scenario it’s almost impossible to navigate to the website without an understanding of the English language.

“We were the first company in the world to provide the technology that enables Arabic script domain names and now we are at the absolute forefront of an Internet revolution that will ensure the continued improvement of Internet accessibility across all language groups. I am extremely proud to say that our Australian made technology will now be supporting three Arabic script domains, in addition to five traditional country domains from around the world,” AusRegistry International’s CEO Adrian Kinderis said.

“Approximately 60 percent of the world’s population are from regions where the Latin alphabet is not part of their native language, so you can see why domains with non-Latin scripts are an extremely important part of the Internet’s future.” Mr Kinderis said it’s an exciting time for AusRegistry International because the company is going through a massive growth period.

“In the last year we doubled our workforce to handle the influx of new business opportunities. We’ve also expanded our operations by opening a new office in the United States and we are looking to open a new office in the Middle East.”

Mr Kinderis said AusRegistry International is now well positioned to take advantage of the revolutionary changes set to take place across the Internet later this year, with the introduction of the new top level domain program. Likely to commence in mid 2011, the program will allow for companies, entrepreneurs and governments to own and operate a slice of Internet real estate, just like .com.

“So far, interest has been shown by major brands like Canon (.canon), for geographic locations like .sydney or .paris, and generic words like .web or .shop. Although new top level domains will likely cost more than $500,000 in application fees and operating costs, this unique prospect to secure a piece of Internet real estate is the most compelling opportunity for innovation the Internet has seen since its creation,” Mr Kinderis said.

The opportunity presented by the new top level domain program combined with the introduction of non-Latin script domains represents a major shift in the domain name industry, and bodes well for continued growth for AusRegistry International, Mr Kinderis said.
About AusRegistry International

AusRegistry International is a leading global Domain Name Registry Services provider that has dedicated almost a decade to innovation and the expansion of the Internet through the delivery of registry technologies and sophisticated consulting methodologies.

AusRegistry International is the appointed Domain Name Registry Services partner for the .ae (United Arab Emirates) Country Code Top Level Domain (ccTLD), the .qa (Qatar) ccTLD, the .om (Oman) ccTLD, the recently introduced .emarat (امارات.) Internationalised Domain Name (IDN) ccTLD, the soon to be launched .qatar (قطر) IDN ccTLD and the planned .oman (عمان.) IDN ccTLD.

AusRegistry International is also assisting South Africa’s .za Domain Name Authority (ZADNA) with the Central Registry project for the.za ccTLD.

AusRegistry International’s parent company, AusRegistry Pty Ltd, is the appointed Domain Name Registry Operator for Australia’s .au ccTLD.

Visit AusRegistry International online at www.ausregistry.com

This AusRegistry International news release was sourced from:
www.ausregistry.com/news-lucrative-Middle-East-Internet-contracts.php

AusRegistry International and Crowell & Moring join forces to support new TLD applicants

AusRegistry International logoThe market for providing services for generic Top Level Domain applicants is growing ever more crowded. This week AusRegistry Internation announced the establishment of a strategic relationship with Crowell & Moring, a leading international law firm recognised for its expertise in a number of areas including the domain name industry, to offer a range of consulting and technical registry services to new Top-Level Domain applicants. Continue reading “AusRegistry International and Crowell & Moring join forces to support new TLD applicants”

AusRegistry International and Crowell & Moring join forces to support new TLD applicants

AusRegistry International logoThe market for providing services for generic Top Level Domain applicants is growing ever more crowded. This week AusRegistry Internation announced the establishment of a strategic relationship with Crowell & Moring, a leading international law firm recognised for its expertise in a number of areas including the domain name industry, to offer a range of consulting and technical registry services to new Top-Level Domain applicants

AusRegistry International logoThe market for providing services for generic Top Level Domain applicants is growing ever more crowded. This week AusRegistry Internation announced the establishment of a strategic relationship with Crowell & Moring, a leading international law firm recognised for its expertise in a number of areas including the domain name industry, to offer a range of consulting and technical registry services to new Top-Level Domain applicants.

For more information, see the news release below:

AusRegistry International and Crowell & Moring join forces to support new Top-Level Domain applicants

March 15th 2011

AusRegistry International, a leading provider of Domain Name Registry Services, today announced the establishment of a strategic relationship with Crowell & Moring, a leading international law firm recognised for its expertise in a number of areas including the domain name industry, to offer a range of consulting and technical registry services to new Top-Level Domain (TLD) applicants.

This relationship comes in response to the introduction of the new TLD program being launched by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names (ICANN) later this year which will allow companies, entrepreneurs and governments to apply for and operate their own Top-Level Domain, just like .com.

Under their Memorandum of Understanding, the expert legal and business consulting services of Crowell and Moring will be coupled with AusRegistry International’s industry leading domain name registry and consulting services in filing an application and ensuring successful ongoing technical operations for those looking to take advantage of the new TLD program and its enormous opportunity.

“AusRegistry International is focused on offering new TLD applicants a flexible and fully customised service to address all the complex requirements of ICANN’s new TLD process. Working together with Crowell & Moring perfectly complements our services within our new TLD offering and we are extremely proud to be working with such quality partners as we provide world class solutions to support this exciting Internet revolution,” AusRegistry International’s Chief Executive Officer Adrian Kinderis said.

“Over the last decade we have focused on creating solutions that are world class and provide reliable and secure platforms for the needs of our clients. Critical to the achievement of this strategy is the formation of strong relationships with the highest quality providers across the globe,” Mr Kinderis said.

Flip Petillion, partner of Crowell & Moring and co-head of its TLD and domain name practice, said he was proud to introduce AusRegistry International’s services and systems to potentail clients.

“Our clients in the domain name industry require flexible solutions that can be tailor made to fit their unique business requirements. We have spent many years gaining an understanding of the complex legal, policy and operational issues confronting TLD registries and have worked hard to provide results that help them achieve their goals. AusRegistry International shares our understanding about the importance of a flexible technical solution and a customer oriented service,” Mr Petillion said.

About AusRegistry International

AusRegistry International is a leading global Domain Name Registry Services provider that has dedicated almost a decade to innovation and the expansion of the Internet through the delivery of registry technologies and sophisticated consulting methodologies.

AusRegistry International is the appointed Domain Name Registry Services partner for the .ae (United Arab Emirates) Country Code Top Level Domain (ccTLD), the .qa (Qatar) ccTLD, the .om (Oman) ccTLD, the recently introduced .emarat (امارات.) Internationalised Domain Name (IDN) ccTLD, the soon to be launched .qatar (قطر.) IDN ccTLD and the planned .oman (عمان.) IDN ccTLD.

AusRegistry International is also assisting South Africa’s .za Domain Name Authority (ZADNA) with the Central Registry project for the.za ccTLD.

AusRegistry International’s parent company, AusRegistry Pty Ltd, is the appointed Domain Name Registry Operator for Australia’s .au ccTLD.

Visit AusRegistry International online at www.ausregistry.com

About Crowell & Moring

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with nearly 500 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory, and transactional matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity; Crowell & Moring’s TLD and domain name practice has extensive experience in assisting domain name registries, registrars and brand owners in a wide variety of matters, including advisory services, litigation and arbitration. The firm has offices in Washington, DC, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, Anchorage, London, and Brussels.

Visit Crowell & Moring online at www.crowell.com

AusRegistry International and Crowell & Moring join forces to support new TLD applicants

AusRegistry International logoThe market for providing services for generic Top Level Domain applicants is growing ever more crowded. This week AusRegistry Internation announced the establishment of a strategic relationship with Crowell & Moring, a leading international law firm recognised for its expertise in a number of areas including the domain name industry, to offer a range of consulting and technical registry services to new Top-Level Domain applicants. Continue reading “AusRegistry International and Crowell & Moring join forces to support new TLD applicants”

AusRegistry International Spreads Registry Wings To Include Oman

AusRegistry International logoAusRegistry International has spread its registry wings wider, having been contracted by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of Oman to provide registry software and supporting services for the establishment of a new Domain Name Registry System in the Sultanate

AusRegistry International logoAusRegistry International has spread its registry wings wider, having been contracted by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of Oman to provide registry software and supporting services for the establishment of a new Domain Name Registry System in the Sultanate.

The new registry software will be used for both the existing .OM ccTLD and the planned عمان. (.OMAN) Arabic script internationalised country-code Top-Level Domain (IDN ccTLD).

Existing AusRegistry International clients for registry services are the .AE ccTLD, the .QA ccTLD, the recently introduced .EMARAT (امارات.) IDN ccTLD and the soon to be launched .QATAR (قطر.) IDN ccTLD. It is also assisting South Africa’s .ZA Domain Name Authority (ZADNA) with the Central Registry project for the.ZA ccTLD.

More information is available in the AusRegistry International news release below.

AusRegistry International to support internet expansion in Oman [news release]
AusRegistry International, a leading provider of Domain Name Registry Services, was today contracted by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the Sultanate of Oman to provide Domain Name Registry Software and supporting services for the establishment of a new Domain Name Registry System.

The new Domain Name Registry System will encompass both the existing .om country-code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) and the planned عمان. (.oman) Arabic script Internationalised country-code Top-Level Domain (IDN ccTLD).

The TRA’s decision to select AusRegistry International for this critical national infrastructure project was made at the conclusion of a global open tender process and confirms AusRegistry International’s position as a global leader in the Domain Name Registry Software industry.

AusRegistry International’s best of breed Domain Name Registry Software will be customised to suit the Omani legal and cultural context and will enable industry best practice systems and processes for the Omani ccTLDs. This project will play a critical role in the development of Oman’s internet infrastructure at a crucial moment in the expansion of domain names to accommodate non-Latin language scripts including Arabic.

AusRegistry International CEO Adrian Kinderis said, “We are extremely excited to have been selected by the TRA to provide a customised Domain Name Registry System and supporting services for Oman’s country-code Top-Level Domains. This most recent project appointment has reinforced our leadership in the Domain Name Registry Services marketplace and has once again displayed our commitment to the advancement of the internet within the Middle East. We look forward to delivering another successful outcome for the TRA in Oman.”

“We have made a significant investment to ensure that our Domain Name Registry Software is fully compliant with the recently ratified IDNA2008 protocol to support Arabic and all other non-Latin scripts. We now are at the absolute forefront of an internet revolution that will ensure the continued improvement of internet accessibility across all language groups. I am extremely proud to say that our technology will now be supporting three Arabic script Internationalised (IDN) ccTLDs, in addition to five standard ccTLDs from around the world,” Mr Kinderis continued.

Eng. Mohammed Al-Kindi – Senior Manager of Technical Affairs Unit of the Omani TRA said, “AusRegistry International met the evaluation criteria and were the highest ranked respondents to the tender issued by the TRA for the provision of a new Domain Name Registry System for Oman. As such, the TRA has chosen to partner with AusRegistry International to establish a new Domain Name Registry System for Oman that will provide benefits to the Omani community for many years to come.”

About AusRegistry International
AusRegistry International is a leading Domain Name Registry Services provider that has dedicated almost a decade to innovation and the expansion of the internet through the delivery of feature-rich Domain Name Registry technologies and sophisticated consulting methodologies.

With millions of active domain names under management, many happy clients around the world and a track record of unparalleled Domain Name Registry performance, AusRegistry International is the ideal Domain Name Registry Services partner for ccTLD managers and new gTLD applications across the globe.

AusRegistry International is the appointed Domain Name Registry Services partner for the .ae ccTLD, the .qa ccTLD, the recently introduced .emarat (امارات.) IDN ccTLD and the soon to be launched .qatar (قطر.) IDN ccTLD. AusRegistry International is also assisting South Africa’s .za Domain Name Authority (ZADNA) with the Central Registry project for the.za ccTLD.

AusRegistry International’s parent company, AusRegistry Pty Ltd is the appointed Domain Name Registry Operator for Australia’s .au ccTLD.
ausregistry.com/news-omanexpansion.php

URL shorteners, domain hacks and quasi-gTLDs: what are ccTLDs really about?

AusRegistry International logoThe Twitterverse is awash with catchy URL shortening services, which allow what would otherwise be long URLs to fit within the strict character limit of individual Tweets. Before the Twitter phenomenon really took hold, tinyurl.com was one of the more popular services; now much shorter options are available, using various ccTLDs which have the significant advantage of being only two characters after the dot

AusRegistry International logoThe Twitterverse is awash with catchy URL shortening services, which allow what would otherwise be long URLs to fit within the strict character limit of individual Tweets. Before the Twitter phenomenon really took hold, tinyurl.com was one of the more popular services; now much shorter options are available, using various ccTLDs which have the significant advantage of being only two characters after the dot.

Some of the more high-profile recent examples include Twitter’s t.co, Google’s goo.gl, Facebook’s fb.me and US National Public Radio’s n.pr. For the ccTLDs concerned, these domain names represent invaluable exposure to a global audience and are probably one of the single most effective marketing initiatives they will undertake.

Similarly, the popularity of domain hacks, one form of which involves ignoring the dot to spell out a brand or word – examples include del.icio.us and blo.gs – offer another opportunity for showcasing a ccTLD to a potentially global audience.

The promotional opportunity is particularly attractive for smaller ccTLDs. Greenland’s .gl and South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands’ .gs are not ccTLDs that receive much, if any, attention from outsiders, except perhaps from the most diligent Trademark attorneys at some of the world’s largest corporations.

Chasing the promotional benefits of URL-shortening services and domain hacks is not without its risks however, as Libya has recently discovered. The bit.ly URL service is one of the most popular in use within the Twitterverse, and has given Libya’s .ly ccTLD a significant global profile. Other URL shortening services have followed bit.ly’s lead, including vb.ly, which was pitched with the following tag line:

The Internet’s first and only sex-positive link shortener service, meaning links are not filtered or groomed, and we’ll never pull your links because we decided to become “family friendly” .

It was rather naive to expect that a socially conservative country such as Libya would not have an issue with a website that portrays itself in these terms, and it was therefore unsurprising that NIC.LY last month revoked the vb.ly domain name, citing concerns that the service was not in keeping with Sharia Law. They have also revised the registration policy for .ly to restrict registrations of less than four characters to locally-registered entities, thereby effectively preventing any new URL shortening services from using the .ly ccTLD.

It is of course NIC.LY’s right to manage their ccTLD in a way that suits the specific legal and cultural realities of contemporary Libyan society, as it is for all other ccTLD Managers. Those that wish to take advantage of the combination of short domain names at relatively low cost for use with URL shorteners should therefore consider carefully which ccTLD they choose to utilise for this purpose.

There are of course many countries that have chosen to leverage their luck in the ccTLD lottery by re-purposing their ccTLD as quasi-gTLDs and offering them on an unrestricted basis to the global market. These include Tuvalu’s .tv, American Samoa’s .as (AS is an abbreviation of a common company type in some European countries), Niue’s .nu (Nu means ‘now’ in Dutch, Danish and Swedish), and more recently, Montenegro’s .me and Colombia’s .co.

The attractions of such a move are obvious for countries with a memorable ccTLD, a very small population and few other sources of income, as the re-purposing of their ccTLD represents an opportunity to earn valuable export income.

The number of ccTLDs that are in a position to follow suit is however very limited, particularly with the spectre of hundreds of new gTLDs on the horizon.

Somalia is about to launch their .so ccTLD to the global market, and while I expect that it will be moderately successful, it is unlikely to achieve the hundreds of thousands of registrations seen in some other re-purposed ccTLDs, at least for the foreseeable future. The publicity generated by the Libyan registry’s recent crackdown is also likely to give many potential registrants pause for thought about the longer-term prospects for a ccTLD governed by a country that suffers from endemic political instability.

Even one of the most successful re-purposed ccTLDs, Tuvalu’s .tv – operated by Verisign since 2000 under a long-term arrangement with the Tuvalu Government – is failing to live up to some expectations within Tuvalu, despite accounting for close to 10% of the Government’s total revenue (see the Australia Network’s article: Threat to Tuvalu’s proud domain).

Governments and national regulators that are considering the future of their ccTLDs should therefore be careful to avoid being dazzled by the windfall revenue gains that going after the global market may appear to offer. It is highly unlikely that we will again see a ccTLD achieve the success of the recent launch of second-level registrations under .co, which has reached over half a million names in a few short months. For the vast majority of ccTLDs, focusing on the needs of their local market will instead be the most appropriate course of action, particularly over the longer term.

The benefits to be gained from the development of local ccTLD infrastructure, and the skills and expertise required to operate it, will be significant in capacity-building terms and should form the basis for nurturing a sustainable local internet industry. A dynamic local internet industry will help to bridge the digital divide and promote the myriad of social and economic opportunities that the internet has to offer.

Similarly, implementing policies developed in conjunction with local stakeholders and appropriate to the local legal, cultural and economic situation, along with effective awareness campaigns and marketing activities should help to ensure that the local ccTLD becomes the TLD of choice for local businesses and organisations.

ICANN’s new gTLD program however has the potential to overwhelm many ccTLDs that are yet to establish themselves as the TLD of choice in their local market, with hundreds of new TLDs expected to be introduced, likely from around early 2012.

The already highly competitive global market is therefore about to become even more so. Those considering the future of their ccTLD should be mindful of this in their planning activities and should ensure they focus on sustainable, local outcomes.

This article by Jon Lawrence, Business Development Consultant, AusRegistry International, was republished with permission and sourced from www.ausregistry.com/blog/?p=575.

ICANN Tokyo meeting provides a little more clarity on the New gTLD Program by Tony Kirsch

ICANN logoAusRegistry International logoNew gTLDs continue to be a major topic of discussion within ICANN circles, and the regional meeting currently underway in Tokyo has revealed some interesting updates for potential applicants

ICANN logoAusRegistry International logoNew gTLDs continue to be a major topic of discussion within ICANN circles, and the regional meeting currently underway in Tokyo has revealed some interesting updates for potential applicants.

ICANN’s Chief gTLD Registry Liaison, Craig Schwartz, delivered a great presentation on the progress being made behind the scenes at ICANN and provided the attendees with an insight into a couple of key changes that are likely to be seen in the Final Applicant Guidebook. As many of our readers would be aware, we have been waiting in anticipation for the new gTLD Final Applicant Guidebook to be approved at a previously unconfirmed meeting of the ICANN Board. The date for is meeting was today announced as 23rd-24th September.

Like many others in the industry, we’ll be actively watching for the outcomes of this Board retreat where the focus will be on the new gTLD program’s remaining unresolved issues. In particular, the Board’s willingness to address the complicated Vertical Integration topic (given the inability of the VI Working Group to reach consensus) will be of interest to the many applicants likely to be affected by the outcome.

On another interesting note, one very important topic that has been flying under the radar is Registry Transition, namely the current requirement for new gTLD applicants to provide both a backup Registry Services organisation and a financial instrument sufficient to guarantee a minimum of three years of Registry operations in the event of the TLD owner being unable to operate it.

Obtaining a backup Registry Services provider is not particularly difficult. However, for many potential applicants (in particular smaller community-based applicants) the requirement to obtain a letter of credit from a financial organisation is an enormous burden and a significant additional cost.

Acknowledging this today and noting that the protection of the Registrant is paramount to this process, Schwartz said that ICANN had invested significant time and will further expand the recent concept of Emergency Backend Registry Operator (and yet another acronym, EBERO) whereby qualified applicants (i.e. Existing Registry Operators) could tender to ICANN to provide ‘temporary’ Registry Services in the event of critical failure of the Registry Operator to operate the gTLD.

This is a great initiative and should be welcomed by the community for two key reasons:
a) It has the potential to remove the requirement to name a pre-organised backup Registry Service.
b) It has the potential to reduce the level of financial guarantee to ICANN from applicants.

Other interesting points worthy of note from yesterday’s session:

  • Communications Plan – This is being worked on by ICANN currently but won’t be rolled out until the Final Applicant Guidebook is approved, almost guaranteeing that the earliest date for applications will be March or April 2011
  • DAGv4 Summary of Analysis – This won’t be released to the public until after the Board’s retreat, which is a surprise given that the public comment finished quite some time ago
  • IDN ccTLD Fast Track – ICANN have 33 applicants, representing 22 languages, currently under review as this program continues to drive the expansion of the internet provide across the globe.

All in all, these small yet important pieces of information represent yet another positive step forward in the new gTLD process. I for one can’t wait to see what the next few months will bring.

Click here to see the presentations from the Tokyo meeting as provided by ICANN.

This posting by Tony Kirsch, Senior Manager – International Business Development at AusRegistry International, was sourced from:
www.ausregistry.com/blog/?p=536

AusRegistry International Celebrates IDNA 2008 Protocol Approval for Internationalised Domain Names

AusRegistry International logo[news release] The body responsible for the development and promotion of Internet Standards (the Internet Engineering Task Force or IETF), has approved IDNA 2008 as the official Internet protocol for Internationalised Domain Names by publishing the Internet Drafts as official RFCs. 

AusRegistry International logo[news release] The body responsible for the development and promotion of Internet Standards (the Internet Engineering Task Force or IETF), has approved IDNA 2008 as the official Internet protocol for Internationalised Domain Names by publishing the Internet Drafts as official RFCs. 

This important milestone marks a significant step in the advancement of Internationalised Domain Names (IDNs) and will ensure the Internet continues to become more usable and accessible to non-Latin language communities.

AusRegistry International, a global provider of IDN-enabled Domain Name Registry Services that support the IDNA 2008 protocol, congratulates the IETF on this latest announcement.

“We would like to extend our congratulations to the IETF working group associated with the confirmation of IDNA 2008 protocol as the standard for Internationalised Domains Names. This is indeed a significant achievement and will no doubt play a vital role in dramatically improving accessibility and usability of the Internet for non-Latin language communities across the globe” said Adrian Kinderis, AusRegistry International CEO.

“AusRegistry International has long been a supporter of the Internationalised Domain Name program. We realised the potential of Internationalised Domain Names many years ago and as a consequence took a calculated risk when implementing IDNA 2008 protocol into our Domain Name Registry System before it was finalised. The announcement by the IETF this week has vindicated our decision and now positions our technology at the cutting edge of Domain Name Registry Systems. With IDNA 2008 already active within our Domain Name Registry System, we are now ideally suited to aid in the further expansion of the Internet into the world’s non-Latin language communities”.

“Further, with the Generic Top Level Domain program (new gTLDs) due for introduction in early 2011, we are certain this decision will substantially increase the number of IDNs seen at the conclusion of the new gTLD application period. This is an extremely positive move for the greater Domain Name industry as we plan for the requirements of generations to come” Mr. Kinderis continued.

AusRegistry International is the appointed Domain Name Registry Services partner for the active .emarat and soon to be launched .qatar IDN ccTLDs.

About AusRegistry International

AusRegistry International is a wholly owned subsidiary of AusRegistry Pty Ltd, the current Registry Operator for the .au ccTLD. The organisation was formed to leverage AusRegistry’s DNS expertise and infrastructure to provide a platform for the innovative use of this technology in the provision of ‘World’s Best Practice’ Domain Name Registry Services on a global basis. AusRegistry International is heavily involved in the Domain Name Industry in a consultative, advisory and technical capacity and is focused on providing superior Registry Services for new gTLD applicants and ccTLD Registry Operators.

This AusRegistry International news release was sourced from:
www.ausregistry.com/news-IDNAptotocol.php

By the way… Your IDN is live by Adrian Kinderis

Just when you think ICANN has got it right, it shoots itself in the foot as only ICANN can. Unfortunately it seems this is yet another case of one step forward and two steps back.

Just when you think ICANN has got it right, it shoots itself in the foot as only ICANN can.Unfortunately it seems this is yet another case of one step forward and two steps back.While we should be celebrating the fact that Internationalised Domain Names (IDN’s) have finally been entered into the Root Zone, we are instead left shaking our heads at the seemingly nonexistent process lines nor communication lines between ICANN and its technical off-shoot IANA.Before I delve into the embarrassing incompetency of IANA, let us not lose sight of the overall achievement. IDNs have been championed by many people both at a technical and administrative level – not the least of which is Tina Dam, Senior Director of IDNs at ICANN and her team. They are an excellent example of tireless dedication and professionalism and Tina herself has devoted a large part of her ICANN career to ensure that IDNs are successfully implemented. She and all those who have worked on this massive body of work should be proud of their efforts. It is a monumental achievement and will be an impressive legacy.The events of yesterday must have disappointed them greatly.So what has me (and many others) ticked off? Well read on…It is my understanding that the responsible IANA staff member failed to provide prior notification to the relevant ccTLD Managers that these names were about to be entered into the Root Zone. While that is a very significant concern in its own right, I was alarmed to discover that the relevant ccTLD Managers were only notified many hours after the fact, long after the same IANA staff member had broadcast the news on a personal Twitter account, and even, I believe, after posting an update on the ICANN blog.IANA staff seem to have viewed this as simply another technical update, which they were at liberty to publicise as they saw fit, without first having the courtesy to inform the most directly affected stakeholders.This was an inappropriate manner in which to announce an event of this importance. It displays a disturbing lack of understanding and a complete disregard of the cultural and political significance of this event within the Arabic world.I believe that IANA should take a more coordinated approach to all of its responsibilities, particularly to the addition of new TLDs to the Root Zone, to ensure that the requesting parties are given sufficient prior notice before changes are made. This is of particular importance in a case such as this where multiple TLDs are being added simultaneously. It is not clear, for example, whether IANA staff were even aware that this change took place during the middle of the weekend in one of the affected countries. Did they even care to check?With a further 18 IDN ccTLDs in progress towards delegation, and the prospect of hundreds of new gTLDs to be delegated when the new gTLD program comes to fruition, it is critical that IANA’s communication and coordination procedures be carefully planned and considerate of the needs of the affected TLD Managers.For me, the fact that certain IANA staff feel it is appropriate to put ‘I run the DNS root zone’ on their Twitter profile, says it all. Just because you run it doesn’t mean you own it. This cozy university mentality is simply not good enough for an organisation running the most critical component of the global communications network. Your technical function, like it or not, has much broader implications.Put simply, there is an attitude of arrogance at IANA that they will work to their timelines, and so must we. In this instance, the occasion was bigger than them. To the countries involved, countries with which we are working very closely, it was much more. This marks an historically significant achievement and advancement of the Internet in their communities.Instead of allowing them the opportunity to celebrate their achievement they have been left to scuttle around and attempt to pull together press releases and notify the appropriate representatives of their countries. Not giving them an appropriate “heads up” and therefore making them look underprepared is unforgiveable – especially when you had previously provided an indication of “up to a month” before these delegations would occur. IANA has shown little respect for their key stakeholders and it simply isn’t good enough.For what it is worth, congratulations to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates from the team at AusRegistry International. You can be sure that we respect your efforts and achievements as much more than a simple entry into the Root Zone. We wish you every success.This article by AusRegistry International’s Adrian Kinderis was sourced from:
www.ausregistry.com/blog/?p=391