From:	Matthew Zook <zook@socrates.Berkeley.EDU>

Date:	9/30/00 10:43AM

Subject:	Re: .Web Registration Projections

The time is nigh for adding new TLDs to the root servers. As of this

writing, the most popular TLD, .com, has in excess of 18 million domain

names registered, encompassing many of the easiest to use domain names

(e.g. readily identifiable words or composed of less than five characters).

The point is further demonstrated by the fact that other TLDs such as .net

and .uk are increasingly popular choices for registrants unable to secure a

recognizable .com domain name.

It is my opinion that the proposed .web top level domain has the potential

to become a major generic TLD, on par with and possibly exceeding the

popularity of .org and .net. In fact, since the .web registry will be open

and not associated with a particular type of activity (e.g. non-profits or

network providers), it could become the primary alternative, capable of

obtaining a market share of approxiamately 15% of all registered domain

names.

There are a couple of reasons for my opinion. First, it stays with the

three letter format tha the .com TLD has firmly established in many

consumers' minds. Although this is not a technical requirement, I suspect

that many people will be more comfortable with a three letter TLD than a

longer extension. Furthermore, the .web TLD is an easily recognizeable

term that all users associate with the Internet and should face relatively

low barriers to acceptance. While it is unlikely that any new TLD will be

able to capture the same market share as .com, I think that .web has the

best shot of becoming a widely accepted generic TLD, particuarly for people

who have been unable to register their domain name of choice in the .com

registry.