RE: [wg-c] There is no "consensus"

[Ivan Pope <ivan@netnames.com>]

Siegfried wrote:
> With all respect, I would warn from a system in which 
> registry sells to 
> registrar and end-user. That would cause a lot of 
> implications (marketing, 
> service). We have (at the moment) such a system in germany 
> (not exactly but in 
> general).
> I would consider that not a stable and robuste system, the 
> registry in 
> competition with his costumers the registrars....
> 

I would agree with this. In the UK you can go direct to Nominet, but it is
highly discouraged and is more expensive. We regard Nominet as a 'registry
of last resort', but many members would like to end this practice.
Nominet now has over 1000 members (registrars). 80% of these members
register an average of 2 (two) names per month. It costs UK£500 to join
Nominet and UK£100 per year after that. There are no onerous technical or
administrative or regulatory controls on joining (ICANN, please note). So it
is easy and financially worthwhile for anyone who does registrations to
join. Thus the market is catered for and the Registry does not compete with
the members (Registrars).

> > Incidentally, isn't the annual cost for a domain name 
> registration in dot UK, a
> > shared registry, MORE than NSI's evil, monopolistic $35 per 
> year? I look forward to
> > your spin on that one, Kent.

Actually, Nominet will reduce the annual fee from September 1 to UK£2.50
(around US$4). And that from a Registry that has much, much less volume than
NSI. It is also generally agreed that this price is still too high and will
have to be reduced again within the next year, as Nominet is non-profit and
has to aim to break even. Pricing is an inexact science in this arena, but
we believe we are heading in the right direction.

Ivan (a founder and elected Director of Nominet)