PIR Auctions Short .ORG Domain Names via Go Daddy and eNom ...

Public Interest Registry has partnered with domain registrars Go Daddy and eNom to auction 94 previously reserved one and two character .org domains

Public Interest Registry, the non-profit operator of .org domains, announced on Wednesday it has partnered with domain registrars Go Daddy and eNom to auction 94 previously reserved one and two character .org domains through the two companies.

Dubbed ?Project94?, the partnership will allow organizations a chance to enhance their brand by bidding on 94 one and two character .org domains, including a.org, o.org, 7.org, and pj.org.

The partnership is a considerable win for both Go Daddy and eNom, giving them exclusive rights to auction the coveted domains. The two companies will divide the 94 domains, auctioning 42 domains a piece on behalf of PIR.

The domains are beneficial for organizations in that they offer a short and memorable domain name, which can be particularly crucial when it comes to attracting visitors to their respective websites.

Though these domain names were previously reserved to the public, they are now made available due to a recent registry amendment and plan that was approved by Internet governing body ICANN earlier this year.

?Domain names are, indeed, like ?21st century real estate,? more than just an address on the Web, they are an online identity,? said Go Daddy Director of Domain Name Aftermarkets Paul Nicks in the press release. ?As part of this historic opportunity we look forward to assisting our customers with integrating these very valuable names into their organization?s culture.?

?As a long-time partner of The Public Interest Registry, we are very pleased to be able to help make these .ORG domains available for the first time to consumers,? said Taryn Naidu, EVP, eNom/Demand Media in its own press release. ?These additions both reflect and reinforce the value of the .ORG brand, and will be a truly memorable event in the domain name space.?

The release of these .org domains is also unique in that they are being auctioned off to the highest bidders rather than forcing registrants to submit an application on how they plan to develop the domain, as in the case of other one and two character TLD?s that have been released.

However, auction winners will still have to meet a certain level of requirements before they will be handed the domain of their choice.
According to PIR?s submitted plans to ICANN, bidders will be required to be ?committed to building out the domain name with a sound marketing and branding strategy, including a strong focus on quality, creativity and the desire to launch the site in a timely manner.?

PIR proposes that it will reinvest the profits from the auctions into further promoting .org domains through various marketing and discount campaigns, as well as funding ?programs that enhance open development and Internet security, particularly in areas of the world where technology is lagging.?

A full list of the available .org names can be found at Go Daddy?s website.

This auction is announcement is a big win for Go Daddy. The company historically hasn?t been selected to run many specialty and premium auctions.

Talk back: Are you planning on bidding on these .org domain names? Do you think this partnership is a good idea and will give organizations a fair way to attain these domain names? Let us know in a comment.

About Justin Lee

Justin Lee has been a staff analyst with theWHIR since 2004. He writes about a range of web hosting and IT-related issues facing the industry on the WHIR website, as well the print version of the WHIR magazine. Follow him on Twitter @Justin_theWHIR.

Source: http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/pir-auctions-short-org-domain-names-via-go-daddy-and-enom

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