Never in memory of (young) specialist domain name, an announcement had aroused so much attention on and off the market.

It all started a interview given today to the newspaper Les Echos by Paul Twomey, President of ICANN, which is discussed the controversial issue of the proliferation of extensions.

And what interview! We learn that ICANN has set a "key issue" of the 32nd international conference currently being held in Paris the "liberalization of generic extensions on the Internet". Nothing really new at first glance, simply a way to recall snorting that the introduction of new TLDs is one of the main levers of development of the namespace globally.

Except that Paul Twomey goes further in its thinking and continues: "From the first quarter of 2009, the 1.3 billion Internet users can acquire generic addresses by lodging common words such as. Love. Or hatred. City or even proper names, like. bbc, for example. "

The tone is set. The news had the effect of a Trafalgar and soon to spread across the canvas like a bushfire. Le Monde, L'Express, La Tribune, L'Expansion and many more to go their article. And as I write, the small screen has probably taken over.

True or false? If you can not hide the fact "publicity stunt" desired by Paul Twomey (and Les Echos, which did not escape Jean-Marie Leray) at a time when the punters arrive at naming Méridien Montparnasse, one can not take the news lightly. A wind of revolution would blow it on the market for domain names and Internet in general? I let everyone make his own mind, the bedside reading of not failing.

But what about the impact of such an announcement - if ICANN would go through with its announced ambitions - on the secondary market? I must say that ever in 5 years of experience in the middle no one had asked my opinion as much as today. The news thus at least the merit of the effect a kick in the anthill.

My first response would be "calm". The media brouhaha raging this morning had the primary effect of arousing the senses of the famous 1.3 billion internet Twomey evoked in his speech. Loïc Damilaville rightly points out in an interview given today that 01net it should happen a few months (years) between words and action potential: "The definition of the requirements for participation will be finalized in late 2008 or early 2009. An appeal stage should take place next year, with a validation of the first records to fall. But do not expect the launch of the first sites with these new extensions before the first quarter of 2010. "Almost two years, in other words an eternity in the ecosystem of domain names.

Let us imagine a wild and rampant proliferation of new extensions:. Love. And glory. Beauty in its star.wars. What effect on the secondary market? I see several:

• Short-term confusion and certainly a general decline in prices. The effect dressing will believe anyone who missed the train. Com (or even. Fr, en France) as an original mapetite.entreprise give them the key fields. The domainers have therefore more difficult to preach to their parish today.

• medium and long term, increased popularity, credibility and therefore the value. com: I am no sociologist but I believe that when a community (ie, the Internet) is disoriented -- and as many say it would be helpful to lose the North - it clings to the fundamentals. In my eyes. Com has everything to represent the Big Dipper in the mash of stars generated by the Big Bang said. Other extensions like. Even the net. Org might also hold their own game

• a fatal blow to the extensions already under artificial respiration for some time. A few examples among many others. Biz,. Was,. Dj.

• Departures even more sluggish than usual for new extensions to the coup would have had every chance under the old regime. The. This does not already paid mine in this Monday, June 23, 2008, but what will happen when it will drown in the mass. Telephone,. Mobile. Laptop in 2019? Spaced? ICANN here!

• bushfires speculative short-lived. To understand, repeat history. Eu decal and then hundreds of extensions: the less experienced domainers jump for joy when they see the cours.bourse, billet.avion and other attrape.nigauds free of any marking . And forget the same two principles: that they will redeem their chips if the extension is not used instinctively by the Internet and even though it would be a minimum, why buy cours.bourse when bourse.cours is free?

• direct result of the greed of some, an increase of cybersquatting and related practices. The Domaining notice is reasonable, but at the price of domain names are sold, the surfer Peter or Paul did not reflect twice when he sees one sncf.voyages twinkle in his eyes amazed. And companies tearing their hair. And the lawyers rubbing their hands.

• A monster mayhem in "flow fields. Understand by this that finding a buyer is one thing, but transferring a domain is another. When I see that some extensions give so much of trouble later transfer to platforms that are specialized to reject outright, I say to change hands a cadeau.empoisonné be hell.

• So ultimately, distrust and skepticism of widespread secondary market players

In short, a sacred mic mac in perspective, summing up with an application for recovery of extensions of the adage "the rich becoming richer (. Com and others), the poor get poorer (. Museum. Coop,. Thingamagig and Company) "

And if we wanted to focus on the possible consequences on the entire value chain of the Internet, there would be enough to write sandwiches.

What's more exciting few hours of my departure for Paris?

On this, bonne.nuit!

When y'en more, still y'en:

• The proliferation of TLDs
• Come with me, I live with a girlfriend!
• Take advantage of generic domain names!
• 2008 report of perception. Com
• Discovering Virtual Real Estate