|> -----Original Message-----
|> From: dns-bounces+dassa=dhs.org§dotau.org 
|> [mailto:dns-bounces+dassa=dhs.org§dotau.org] On Behalf Of Larry Bloch
|> Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2006 5:59 PM
|> To: '.au DNS Discussion List'
|> Subject: Re: [DNS] france ditches magic number requirement 
|> Re: Domaindisputeheats up
|> 
<SNIP>
|> Australia has 1.2m non AU domain names. Double the number of 
|> .AU names. A far higher ratio than the three countries 
|> mentioned. Many may say 'so what'.
|> I think it's a scandal that our regulatory regime drives 
|> Australian businesses to register .com's over .AU's. 
|> Regardless of the relative merits, it is auDA's job to 
|> SUPPORT uptake of .AU for Australian's, no RETARD that 
|> uptake as it does.

I don't see the policy or rules from AuDA as having much of an impact for a
business deciding to go with .com rather than under .au, the biggest incentive
I see and hear about is the price.  Same for hosting in Australia as opposed
to hosting overseas, it is price that drives the market more than anything.

If the Australian market had $5 or free domain names under .au I'm sure it
would leap ahead in bounds.  Would you like to start running loss leaders and
see if this isn't true?  It is what a lot of companies are doing in other
namespaces to build up the numbers.

I deal with a fair number of businesses and people, the majority of them don't
really understand the differences with the TLD's or how the namespaces
operate.  Getting more people investing in the .au namespace isn't about
changing the rules, it is about getting the consultants, the web designers,
the hosting companies and everyone else who advises business to recognise the
importance of the .au branding.  The policies and rules in place support that
branding.  What you advocate dilutes the brand.

Think of .au as a trademark if you wish.  Those who invest in sharing the use
of the trademark appreciate it as it is.  Those who don't already invest just
don't realise the potential as yet.  

Darryl (Dassa) Lynch