iEstates.com

According to a email we just received, the brand protection domain registrar MarkMonitor.com will be releasing a “New gTLD Application Database” which allow users to quickly search all data provided by ICANN (after the Big Reveal) (using wildcards):

gTLD String

Mission and Purpose

Applicant Name

Registry Website

Primary and Secondary Contact Names and Email Addresses

Application Type (Community, Standard, IDN, Geographic)

Purpose of Community TLD (if applicable)

The database will also provide access to additional analysis, including:

Brief Description of gTLD

Infrastructure Provider

Category (Generic, City, Region, Brand, Non-Profit, Cultural, Apparel, Pharma, Financial, Sports, etc.)

Similarity to Other Applications

Overall Risk Posed to Brand Owners

“Within a matter of minutes, existing MarkMonitor clients will be able to easily export results to Excel to share with others.”

“MarkMonitor will be providing access to this data at no-cost and expects it to be made available shortly after ICANN has released the list of applicants.”

“For more information about the MarkMonitor New gTLD Application Database or to speak with one of our New gTLD Experts, please contact NewgTLDs@markmonitor.com.”…

Are you confused about what is going on with ICANN, the TAS system and the whole new gTLD process?

You’re not the only one.

The Wall Street Journal just published a post entitled “7 Friday Must Reads” and number 1 on the list, is on the new gTLD program which WSJ.com says:

“”Small businesses are facing a big choice when it comes to their Web presence.”

“The application window for brands to bid for the domain name suffix of their choosing (such as .shop) closes today.”"

No it’s doesn’t.

We don’t know when the window is going to close because despite several “updates” this week from ICANN, they still haven’t said when the TAS system will re-open.

ICANN has already stated the TAS system will re-open for three days but hasn’t re-opened it yet.

Despite shooting for a Friday restart ICANN, did not re-open the system today, nor has it announced exactly when it will re-open it.

ICANN also hasn’t updated its previously announced date of April 29th for the “Big Reveal” last saying they were still shooting for that date but clearly with 3 days of TAS in the hopper and today being the 20th its pretty hard to see how the “Big Reveal” date hasn’t been officially pushed back.

 …

We have been running a poll at TheDomains.com for 20 days asking “How Many New gTLD Applications Will Be Submitted?”

To date there have been almost 470 responses with 60% of the  respondents picking over 5,000 application as their answer.

The next most selected answer is 2,500-3,000 which has 15% of the votes.

There are 8 other choices in the poll as low as 750-1,000.

The poll is unscientific and is opened to anyone to vote, once.

The poll will remain opened until the before the Big Reveal” which is currently still scheduled for around April 29th, but since the TAS system hasn’t been re-opened nor has a firm date for the re-opening been announced the “Big Reveal” date is very much up in the air.

If you would like to vote in the poll it is on the main page down the right hand side of TheDomains.com.

You can also leave an exact number guess for bragging rights here.

 …

According to a press release this morning, BRS Media Inc. has filed an application for the .RADIO TLD as part of ICANN’s New gTLD program.

BRS Media is behind the ccTLD’s of .FM & .AM

George T. Bundy, Chairman & CEO of BRS Media Inc is quoted as saying

“We look forward to moving ahead into the next phase of .RADIO. We are ecstatic and thrilled to have the opportunity to establish a new Top-Level-Domain, and envision great possibilities in creativity and innovation in the .RADIO namespace”

“Our depth of experience and understanding in the market demonstrates our commitment to administer the .RADIO top-level domain in a professional, reliable, secure and all-inclusive way, while at the same time encouraging innovation and openness in the .RADIO domain space. Our current registrant list includes some of the most recognizable and innovative brands in streaming media and social entertainment today. Our comprehensive portfolio of clientele represents both the on-air and online media community.”

Minds & Machines, is the back end provider for  .RADIO.…

Well finally we have a statement from ICANN as to what happened to the TAS system that is  used to accept applications for the new gTLD

“We have learned of a possible glitch in the TLD application system software that has allowed a limited number of users to view some other users’ file names and user names in certain scenarios.” said Akram Atallah Chief Operating Officer of ICANN

“Out of an abundance of caution, we took the system offline to protect applicant data. We are examining how this issue occurred and considering appropriate steps forward.”

“We apologize for any concern this may have caused and will communicate on a regular basis on our website, which can be found at http://newgtlds.icann.org

If your left with that high and dry feeling from the statement you not alone.

Yesterday all ICANN said was that:

“Recently, we received a report of unusual behavior with the operation of the TAS system. We then identified a technical issue with the TAS system software.

“ICANN is taking the most conservative approach possible to protect all applicants and allow adequate time to resolve the issue. Therefore, TAS will be shut down until Tuesday at 23:59 UTC – unless otherwise notified before that time.”

“In order to ensure all applicants have sufficient time to complete their applications during the disruption, the application window will remain open until 23:59 UTC on Friday, 20 April 2012.”

“We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.”

“If you have any questions, please contact the gTLD Customer Service Center (CSC) via the CSC portal.”

For those who made application and spend $185K just in application fees, PLUS locking up three years of operating capital, PLUS the costs of getting the applications filed PLUS a ton of other costs and fees, well lets just say they deserved better.

All through this process ICANN has rejected the idea of even giving out a total number of applications received, so now that they is this security issue where those who had access to the TAS system may have been able to see what applications others filed and what extensions others filed for, well lets just say its a .FAIL of epic proportions.

To the extent any applicant can prove that someone who viewed the “user names and files” meaning the extension they filed for already and in response filed a competing application; well yes ICANN has a problem.…

According to one report ICANN will re-open the TAS system and start accepting new gTLD applications on Tueday.

According to the Guardian.co.uk, ICANN will re-open the TAS system to accept applications for new gTLD’s at “23.59 GMT on Tuesday for three days, and finally close on Friday 20 April at 23.59 GMT. ”

GMT is the same time as UTC.

Although I haven’t read or heard any “official” word on what happened to the TAS system or what the current status is, this report makes sense.

The question has been asked why the system which crashed with a few hours to go, had to be extended for 8 days.

This seems to be a valid answer.

Of course it would all be a lot easier if ICANN would make some announcements.

It appears ICANN is taking a few days off to get its system back up and then will accept application only for three days.

You can read the whole story here.

 …

ICANN just announced  that the TAS system which is the mechanism by which companies file their application for new gTLD’s crashed and therefore was extending the time to make application from April 12th until April 20th, 2012.

The official new closing time to make application is 23:59 UTC on Friday, 20 April 2012.

The next big questions to be answered is will be if the “big reveal”, the day on which ICANN will announce who applied for what extension, will be pushed back from its scheduled date of April 29th.

ICANN has said all along that the information would be released approximately two weeks after the application period closed.

So the big reveal might be pushed back a week to May 5-7.

No further information was given on the crash, the number of application trying to be submitted to the TAS when the system crashed or how long it was or is down for.…

According to a press release out this morning Top Level Domain Holdings Limited (AIM:TLDH.L), a wholly-owned subsidiary Minds and Machines Limited,  which in turn is a wholly-owned subsidiary of London & Partners Limited (“London & Partners”), been exclusively appointed by Dot London Domains Limited (“DLDL”),  to (i) assist with DLDL’s application to the Internet’s governing body, ICANN, for DLDL to be appointed registry operator of a new gTLD for London (“dot London”) and, (ii) if the application is successful, provide registry services for the dot London domain to DLDL and on its behalf (the “Contract”).

The Contract, won by Minds and Machines Limited through a competitive tender process, is for a seven year period (the “Term”), with a three year renewal period which is subject to certain conditions.

Gordon Innes, CEO at London & Partners, said:

“We are delighted to be working with Minds and Machines on the dot London Application and are confident that the initiative will bring important additional revenue and jobs to the capital. The dot London domain provides a tremendous opportunity to extend the global presence of London across the Internet, and likewise position it as a centre of digital innovation. We believe we are now excellently placed to benefit from the unprecedented opportunities provided by the de-regulation of the Internet naming system.”

ICANN’s application window for domain registrants closes on 12 April 2012.  It is expected that ICANN will take up to 7 months to review applications with the first new gTLDs anticipated to come online in late 2012.

Peter Dengate Thrush, Chairman of TLDH, commented:

“We are proud to be partnering with one of the greatest cities in the world. We are committed to working with London & Partners and DLDL to ensure that dot London becomes a central part of the city’s promotion and a resource that is of real value to the people, businesses and communities of London. We are honored to have won this contract in the Olympic year which places London at the centre of a global audience.”

The Board expects that ICANN will publish those applications which ICANN considers complete and ready for evaluation by ICANN on or around 30 April, following which the Board will provide further information on those applications submitted by the Company on its own and clients’ behalf which have been approved for evaluation.
“…

On the same day that AT&T sold a majority stake in the Yellow Pages for $950 Million dollars, Techworld.com.au, is reporting that a Melbourne based company is going to apply for the new gTLD of .yellow.

“The startup plans to offer brand oriented listing pages for small to medium businesses (SMBs) who may not have an online presence.”

“It aims to target SMBs who are dissatisfied with traditional directory style listings and provides the transition to an online presence. The service is to go live in 2013.”

“”Computerworld Australia spoke with Perera about DotYellow and what he wants to do with the TLD if approved:

What does DotYellow do?

In the same way .com and .net websites are intended for commercial use, and .org is intended for organisations, .yellow websites will deliver brand oriented listing pages known as brand websites. These are intended for small businesses where the majority of the focus is on the customer’s brand.

Why are you launching this online brand listing service?

We’ve been doing a lot of research and found that the business listings industry is doing quite poorly in Australia. A lot of businesses that we talk to feel there is a growing disparity between how much they pay for the Yellow Pages listings and how much return on investment they get back. Research from Google indicates that 85 per cent of all business searches are done online so less people are picking up the yellow book and searching for companies.

How did you get started?

We only began working on this idea in January 2012 after we heard the ICANN announcement that applications for top level domain names were open. We put together this concept and talked to people in the industry including consultants. They thought it was a great idea.

What are the origins of DotYellow?

We have three directors: Myself, a former NEC IT manager and an angel investor, Robert Bell. He provided our initial capital and we’re happy to have someone so experienced on board.

With selecting this domain name, were you concerned that people might confuse DotYellow with the Yellow Pages?

We considered that but there are other Australian companies with yellow in the title such as Yellow Taxis. What we are aiming to do is not just offer a business listing but branded websites. Our concept is if a company comes up with a great line of shoes, a great way to launch is by using one of our website packages.…