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Domain registry reaps $9m
JULY 03, 2003
THE new Australian internet domain name regime has paid handsomely for the company which now runs the .au internet name database, with registrations for the first year of its operation far higher than forecast.
Privately-owned Melbourne-based company AusRegistry won a four-year contract to run the .au nameservers and domain name registration databases from the industry self-regulatory body, AuDA, last year.
AusRegistry managing director Adrian Kinderis said the company had earned about $9 million from the 52,640 new Australian domain names registered in the first 12 months of the contract from July 2002 - dramatically exceeding its prediction of $6.5 million.
The contract was part of a complete overhaul of Australia's domain name industry, which began in the late 1990s and was filled with controversy, mostly surrounding regulation of domain name sales and the transfer of the .au delegation from the original registrant, University of Melbourne staff member Robert Elz, to AuDA. The transfer was carried out by global internet names body ICANN against Mr Elz's wishes in late 2001.
Similarly to other domain name markets, the Australian industry has been plagued with rogue operators trawling for business by sending solicitations for domain registrations and renewals disguised as invoices.
Details at: http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,6693906%5E15306%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html
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