VeriSign/NSI Proposes Domain Name Wait Listing Service

David Harris writes: "Newsbytes and the folks over at DotcomScoop.com have good stories about VeriSign's proposal to start a "Wait Listing Service" (WLS) that would allow consumers to buy domain names before they expire. As with anything that has to do with VeriSign/Network Solutions the "WLS" ain't all it cracked up to be and there is opposition from the ICANN community. I'm not sure I like the idea of auctioning off domains before they expire either." CD: To quote Don Marti: "DNS is a consensus reality."

Re:What we really need

[Lionfire]

There are plenty of alternatives, but that's half the problem. Without a single, focussed effort, we'll never make a dent in the established system.

If you're still interested, try:

http://www.opennic.unrated.net/
http://www.open-rsc.org/
http://www.alternic.org/
http://www.tinc-org.com/
http://www.name-space.com/

Re:They do not even handle it well AFTER expiratio

[httptech]

Verisign tells my friend he should ask the previous owner to use the transfer documents to transfer the domain to my friend

That's funny, considering that Verisign won't let you transfer domains after they expire. I suspect if the original owner tried to, they would tell him he needs to renew with them first, so they can get an extra $70 for doing nothing. They tried to do it to me, but I said fsck that. Now my previous domain is owned by a porn site operator who re-registered it with another registrar before I could. That's where the domain your friend wants will probably end up too.

Frauds bad enough as it is!

[The Mutant]

I've got several domains (you-suck.com and lots of other classy names), and over the years have experienced multiple attempts to steal them.

Now the jokers will have a real incentive, having paid cash for something they haven't gotten!

This will only escalate fraud!

ICANNWatch links

[Anonymous Coward]

There's a good discussion of the issue at ICANNWatch.org, in particular: http://www.icannwatch.org/article.php?sid=511&mode =&order=0" [icannwatch.org]

Surely this is what Snapnames do?

[Dynamoo]

Making a wild stab in the dark, NSI/Verisign are doing this in response to the similar service offered by Snapnames.

If you don't know about Snapnames, read about it here [dynamoo.com], but essentially it's a back-ordering service.

NSI are actually a Snapnames affiliate, so they get $7 per back-ordered name through their site. I guess they want the rest of the money too.

The Current Situation

[spooge21]

I would like to offer a bit of perspective on why Verisign is doing this. First it is important to note that it is Verisign GRS [verisign-grs.com] (the registry) which is considering this and not Network Solutions [networksolutions.com] (the Verisign Registrar). Currently when a name expires it is up to each registrar to determine what happens to that name. When a domain expires it is actually automatically renewed by the registry. It is then up to the registrar to decide if the name should be deleted permanently. The registrar has up to 45 days to make that decision before the 1 year renewal fee is permanent.

Now, Verisign the Registrar releases a lot of domains to the public right now after a certain period of time. At this time the names are released and numerous registrars attempt to snag those names when they are dropped. This practice has caused headaches to no end at Verisign the Registry. It essentially acts as a denial of service attack as all the different registrars pound the registry trying to snatch those dropped names. Were talking hundreds of thousands of queries every minute.

This new propsed system is a response to this situation. It is designed to end the constant pounding of the registry. Granted it may not be the best solution but it is only the first draft and it must be okayed by ICANN first, thus there is a strong possibility that it will not be implemented. However something is needed in order to make the domain deletion process less system intensive as the registry cannot continue to support the amount of traffic caused by these domains dropping.