ICANN vs New.Net

[quantass]

I've just discovered New.net which offers "unofficial" top level domains such as .XXX and .SHOP, and, according to the organization, has amassed over 75 million registrants @ $14/yr a pop. My questions:

1. If New.net's business is legal why haven't there been more companies like them popping up and offerring the same service, even the same unofficial top level domains like .XXX and .SHOP be it here or overseas? At the moment i only see ICANN and New.Net. 75 Million registrants at $14/yr is a pretty hefty business, to me even better than yet-another-social-network-site.

2. I've heard of other non-ICANN organizations such as AlterNic, PacificRoot, and NameSpace but some of them have closed shop. Why have they withered away whereas New.net has thrived? What is New.net doing differently?

3. New.net has partnered with Earthlink, Netzero, and other ISP middle-weights to more seamlessly integrate their unofficial TLDs into the internet. Why havent they partnered with Microsoft, Opera, and Apple to get their diminutive, boot-sector-sized browser plugin packaged with the world's most popular browsers? This seems like a better approach than just Ma & Pa ISP alliances.

4. Now please correct me if I'm wrong but from the way New.net has their technology structured it doesnt sound all that difficult to set up. I figure $100/mon for server/bandwidth and 2 weeks tops to make the startup (coding, business details, etc). Though i have to be ready for future scalability but with such activity i'm sure I would have a robust userbase of paying registrants. Is this accurate, and if so it again begs the question why such few competitors ?

[cat5e]

ICCAN is the roof organization and they have Official Registrars.

Some of the Official Registrars subcontract to other organizations.

The "Unofficial" subcontractors registrars do not appear on ICCAN list.

If you buy only few domains the saving per year by using the unofficial amount to few $$$.

IMHO it does not worth while to go this way. Some of these people might lose their agreement with the official Registrar, some just disappear, and you can end up without a service for a long period of time.

If you buy a Domain make sure that it is actually yours, and that you can host the domain on any server of your choice. I.e. some inexpensive domain vendors make their income from insisting that your server has to be on their fee for service Hosting system.

Quote from: http://www.ezlan.net/myip.html

Do not buy a Domain that does not provide you with On Line Domain Controller. If there is No online Domain Controller you are at the merci of the support practice of the Domain Vendor.

What is a Domain Controller?

It is a link to a page in the site of your Domain Vendor that allows you (with an adequate password) to control on line all the aspects involving your domain
Including, Ownership, Hosting DNS, etc.
Since it is available Online you do not need to contact the vendor's support system to make changes to your domain settings.

:t

[quantass]

Thanks a lot!