[registrars] .BIZ Queue - some interesting observations

["Bhavin Turakhia" <bhavin.t@directi.com>]

We are still investigating various models possible in the .BIZ Queue and
have come up with some intertesting observations -

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Parameters
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Fixed queue length
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This refers to Registrars who will fix their queue length as opposed to
having a variable queue size. A fixed queue length lends confidence to the
applicant about the chances of his getting a particular name.

Issues:
* A short fixed queue length may not be possible for larger registrars who
have a large number of customers

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Variable queue length
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This refers to Registrars who have a variable queue size.

Issues:
* A variable queue length does not lend confidence to the customers and does
not give them an idea on their chances.

* For smaller registrars who are anyways unable to sell more than a certain
number of spots it maybe better to fix the number of spots from the
beginning in order to allow customers to make an informed decision

* A variable queue length cannot be used with success-based charging as
discussed below.


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Success based charging
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This refers to Registrars who will collect money from all applicants, but
refund money of those applicants who do not get their names. In .BIZ
Neulevel themselves advise for a success-based pricing model only (though it
remains to be seen if Registrars are willing to bear the entire cost of
accepting and refunding money to a large customer base)

Issues:
* If a large number of Registrars choose this model, then all applicants
will apply for their domain names with ALL these registrars considering that
they have to ONLY BEAR A COST if the domain name gets registered. Therefore
if they apply with 10 Registrars, they would get a refund from 9 of them
eventually.

* All Registrars who opt for this ONLY success based model will most
probably end up getting all 39000 applications (unless they have a fixed
queue length). Just to give an example, if all 75 Registrars subscribe to
this model, then all applicants will apply to all 75 Registrars. Each
Registrar will have 39000 appliations in their queue. Each Registrar will
manage to register 520 names and will have to refund money taken for 38480
applications.

* Infact if I see other registrars working on this model, I will myself go
and apply for names in my queue in their queue too as an insurance, since I
would have to pay them only if my domain got registered thru them and would
get a refund if it did not. Registrars who are intelligent will realise that
they themselves can put their customers names across several of these queues
and offer a higher success rate at a zero cost

* This model would not work with the MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS parameter as
discussed below

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Non-success based pricing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This refers to Registrars who will collect money from all applicants
irrespective of whether the, domain name of the applicant gets registered or
not.

Issues:
* Neulevel currently advises against it (though a large number of Registrars
did follow this model in the .INFO Landrush without any complications then)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Multiple applications in same queue
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This refers to Registrars who will allow multiple applications for the same
name in their queue

Issues:
* This model canot work if the Registrar is following a Success based
charging model. For instance I am wondering with this model how a Registrar
would prevent multiple applciations from the same registrant. For instance
if A wants to register a domain abcd.biz. A would register this domain name
with a registrar and pay for 1000 applications for it under different names
thus increasing his chances by 999, at a ZERO cost since he would obtain a
refund for 999 applications if one of them goes thru.

* each multiple application reduces the chances of the registrar getting
another domain in the queue by 75 domains (since 75 other domains will get
processed before this registrars turn comes again)

* Customers are not comfrotable with multiple applications considering that
they apply for a domain name with a Registrar and another applciant applies
for the same domain name with the same Registrar and therefore creates
internal competition

Based on the above parameters I believe the best model would be to charge
irrespective of success. This would allow larger Registrars to have a
variable queue with multiple applications. Smaller Registrars meanwhile can
have short fixed queues at a higher value to end customers.

Best Regards
Bhavin Turakhia
CEO
Directi
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Tel: 91-22-6370256 (4 lines)
Fax: 91-22-6370255
http://www.directi.com
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