The whole alternate-root ${STATE}horse

Wed Jul 6 08:39:48 UTC 2005

> So, if you're a content provider, why would you use anything other than 
a 
> real ICANN-recognized domain? 

An example was given earlier of a site using xn-- encoding to
use a non-Latin script in the TLD and domain name. If you are
a business in a country which uses non-latin scripts then
it is perfectly understandable why you would want to use
your real name rather than some pidgin representation like
Yoonahytid Steyts uv Amerika.

It is common in the corporate world for new products or
improved products to be "launched" with a marketing effort
through a wide variety of media. One sure way to get lots
of free media coverage would be for a company to use a 
non-ICANN domain and send instructions to ISPs on how 
to "enable" their network for the big new launch. The very
fact that people will have difficulty getting to the site
can be leveraged in a marketing campaign.

And what are domain names after all, if not marketing?

> or when 
> something is rolled out to a large enough self-contained user community 
> that the lack of ability to communicate outside that region won't be a 
> significant barrier.

That's generally how new things get a foothold...

--Michael Dillon