ICANN Finally Releases APNIC Report on New gTLDs UA Problems

Universal Acceptance (UA) screenshot from ICANN Quarterly Stakeholder Call August 20, 2015

"What data or metrics is ICANN capturing or measuring about new gTLDs Universal Acceptance issues, i.e., new gTLD domain names “failing to work as expected on the internet” and reportedly “breaking stuff”? Is this data being captured on an on-going basis? Will the data or metrics be published so the global Internet community and domain name registrants may be advised of “defect” issues relating to ICANN’s new gTLDs domain names?" -- Question asked by John Poole, editor of Domain Mondo at ICANN Quarterly Stakeholder Call, August 20, 2015

When the above question was asked on August 20, 2015, Fadi Chehade, ICANN CEO, referred it to Global Domains Division President, Akram Atallah, who basically indicated there were no such metrics or data being captured on an ongoing basis and did not mention the APNIC report. Then ICANN CTO Dave Conrad answered and indicated the "APNIC" Report had been published on the ICANN website and he would provide the URL before the stakeholder call concluded. At the conclusion of the stakeholder call, Conrad entered the following into the chat window:

David Conrad: My apologies, it seems that the report on the study on Universal Acceptance we developed with APNIC has not yet been released -- we wanted to look at the data a bit more.  We anticipate a release of the report very soon.

The referenced APNIC report (pdf) was finally released September 14, 2015. It is of limited scope and use, however the biggest takeaway was stated by David Conrad:

"There will need to be changes to systems and software to fully leverage the global opportunities these new TLDs enable."

The transcript of the Quarterly (FY15 Q4) stakeholder call on August 20, 2015, is still not available as of September 16th (3pm ET), but the recordings and presentation may be accessed here.

For more information about Universal Acceptance "problems" with ICANN's new gTLDs (new generic top-level domains) see Domain Mondo posts:

• Security Firm Recommends Blocking ICANN's "Shadiest" New gTLDs 01 September 2015
• Why New gTLD Domain Names Fail To Work Across the Internet 06 January 2015
• ICANN, New gTLD Domain Names, Universal Acceptance Another #FAIL 14 October 2014
• ICANN 52, Universal Acceptance, New gTLD Domain Names "break stuff" 09 February 2015

and
ICANN website on Universal Acceptance
and maillist: http://mm.icann.org/pipermail/ua-discuss/

Maillist posting of September 16, 2015, by ICANN Board Member Ram Mohan (and Chair, UASG):

"BlueCoat <https://www.bluecoat.com/company-overview>, a security vendor used by most of the Fortune 500, released a report on the Web’s shadiest TLDs <https://www.bluecoat.com/company/press-releases/blue-coat-reveals-webs-shadiest-neighborhoods> on Sep 1, 2015. They recommend to their 15,000+ customers to block all listed TLDs (report attached). Most of these are new gTLDs. There are implications for universal acceptance. This will result in some discussion at the upcoming UA Coordination Summit in Horsham tomorrow and Friday. The summit will have a conference bridge for anyone interesting in participating. Don Hollander will provide details."    -Ram Chair, UASG [BlueCoat report (pdf)] (emphasis added)
and
http://mm.icann.org/pipermail/ua-discuss/2015-September/000399.html
"BlueCoat’s methodology is discussed in some security group mailing lists. My understanding is that in the case of .zip, there were instances of <file>.pdf.zip which allowed for drive-bys, malware etc. regardless of the state of name registration. -ram"

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DISCLAIMER

Neustar Buys Bombora and ARI Registry Services for US$87 Million

News: Neustar Acquires Leading Domain Name Registry Provider @BomboraTech http://t.co/NcmosXuY7A #domaining #TLD pic.twitter.com/pcYdXlkdaW

— Neustar (@Neustar) July 30, 2015

Neustar, Inc. (NYSE:NSR), announced Thursday it had acquired Bombora Technologies Pty Ltd (Bombora), based in Australia, for AUD $118.5 million, or approximately USD $86.9 million. Bombora and its subsidiaries, which include ARI Registry Services, provide registry services for a number of top-level domains (TLDs) including .au, .melbourne, .sydney, and over 100 new TLDs. The acquisition expands Neustar's registry services, which operates the .biz, .us, and .co TLDs, in addition to over 300 new TLDs.

“With this acquisition, Neustar continues to gather momentum as a global leader in launching and operating TLDs.” said Lisa Hook, President and CEO of Neustar. “Managing a brand's digital presence through the creation of new TLDs has become a key component of the CMO's tool kit, which aligns with the services we offer in real-time authoritative identity. By combining Bombora’s strong team and market presence in Australia with Neustar’s industry leading organization and technical resources, we are positioned to expand our footprint to the Asia-Pacific region.”

According to Neustar, the Bombora acquisition is expected to contribute approximately USD $8 million in revenue, and about USD $1.1 million, of operating income in 2015, which reflects the adjustment for deferred revenue on a fair value basis in accordance with business combination accounting principles. Over the last two years, Bombora has grown revenue at a compounded annual growth rate of 12% to approximately USD $20.6 million, in 2014 with operating margins between 25% and 30%.

In 2014, Neustar reportedly acquired the registry operator of ccTLD .CO for US$109 million.

Neustar also released its Q2 2015 earnings Thursday which disclosed the following results for the second quarter 2015 compared to second quarter 2014:

• Revenue increased 8% to $256.8 million
• Marketing Services revenue increased 17% to $40.9 million
• Security Services revenue increased 18% to $40.5 million
• Net income increased 22% to $45.1 million
• Net income per share increased 31% to $0.80

Principal domain name of Neustar, Inc. - neustar.biz
Neustar Investor Relations:  http://www.neustar.biz/about-us/investor-relations

About Bombora Technologies:

• AusRegistry is the Registry operator for all Australian commercial domain names such as .com.au and .net.au, and non-commercial domain names like .gov.au and .edu.au.  
• ARI Registry Services provides services including Managed Registry Services for multiple global generic Top-Level Domain clients. ARI Registry Services also sells Licenced Registry Software to international Top-Level Domain clients and provides global anycast DNS services under the DiscoveryDNS brand.
• According to The Australian Financial Review | afr.com: "Bombora was founded 15 years ago by Adrian Kinderis and Simon Delzoppo with one computer, operating out of the front room of Mr Delzoppo's house. The acquisition means a handsome payday for the co-founders, who remain the majority shareholders in the company."

See related posts on Domain Mondo:

• What Does That July 29th Deadline Mean For .brand TLD Applicants?
• New gTLD Domains, the Walking Dead and Dying, ICANN FY15 Results
• ICANN CEO Fadi Chehadé panders to DNA at ICANN 52 (video)
• Blast from the Past: ICANN, New gTLD Domain Names, Conflicts of Interest (video)
• ICANN, Kurt Pritz, Conflict of Interest, new gTLD domain names program

See also: NeuStar's (NSR) CEO Lisa Hook on Q2 2015 Results - Earnings Call Transcript | Seeking Alpha and After losing its biggest contract, this Va. tech company is trying to go global - The Washington Post: "... in March the Federal Communications Commission said it would hand the contract for so-called number portability services to another firm. That work represents about half of Neustar’s business. Neustar has filed suit against the FCC to reverse the decision. But in the meantime, it is beginning to prepare for the transition and search for new ways to make up for the lost business...."


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New TLDs, Whimpers, Losers

So much for the "doom talk" about Dot Com domain names - the new TLDs look like LOSERS out of the gate -- Thank you ICANN! Hope you made a lot of money off the dumb, gullible, and greedy who bought your BS!

Read more at the link: New TLDs come out with a whimper | Domain Name Wire

Read closely the two comments at the link above made by none other than the Domain King, Rick Schwartz!

--John Poole, Domain Mondo, January 10, 2013

P.S. No, I won't be at NamesCon -- I have already heard enough about the new great ICANN Con, er, new gTLDs. If you are going, enjoy! (And congrats to Richard Lau et al for pulling it all together in such a short time frame!)

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