Based on a recent report about what’s going on at ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), the opportunity to buy a vanity domain name like dot Coca Cola or dot Nike may not be that far away.
Not everyone is excited about this possibility, as opponents predict we will see a whole new round of nefarious activity with the new domains, including phishing and scams.
Here’s how I see it.
Human nature is human nature, so no matter what ICANN does or does not do, hackers and thieves and con artists will find ways to part unsuspecting folks from their money regardless of what word or phrase follows the dot in the domain name.
While the proposed price tag of a cool $185,000 will get only those with that kind of cash flow their vanity dot domain, I still think many of us outside that bracket will fantasize about having our own vanity domain name someday. Sure, the generic state issued license plates of ICANN — what the majority will always use — work just fine, isn’t it fun to imagine operating online with your very own dot something?
Dot Mary Lou has a nice ring to it. 🙂
Chances of that being available when either a. I have an extra $185K lying around in disposable income or b. the price drops into the affordability category are slim to none. And, if history teaches us anything, the price tag of vanity domain names will eventually drop as the initial round of buyers scoop up their choices. The pickings will be slimmer, but last I checked the creative spirit is alive and well, giving those with inspiration a chance to get something that makes us feel special and happy.
If you could have your own vanity domain name, what would it be?
