New investment craze: Chinese companies 17.5 million yuan apply for new top-level domain

June 13, this will be destined to be the history of Internet domain names worth remembering days, this evening, ICANN (Internet name and digital address distribution agency) will hold a press conference, announced the application of new top-level domain name detailed list information. With more than 2000 top-level domain names appearing, this will have a huge impact on the internet, and it seems to have become a new investment boom. In the United States, a domain name registration company named Donuts received 100 million dollars in investment and spent 56.8 million on 307 new top-level domain names. In China, the investment boom has also been low-key, with a company called the Zodiac technology that has invested 20 million of billions of dollars and spent 17.5 million on 15 new top-level domain names. Ten years Waiting "for the new top-level domain open application, I have been waiting for almost 10 years." Zhongzhenhong said with a feeling. Zhongzhenhong is a dark-skinned Malaysian who speaks fluent Chinese and has a rather complex career experience. As early as 1993 years, he began to engage in the Internet, research and development of international Domain name (IDN), but also lead the IETF International Domain name standards, has served as ICANN and IETF IDN Working Group chairman, also served as PPLive CTO. Now, Zhongzhenhong is in charge of two companies--the world of video and the Zodiac Technology, and a series of angel investments. As a person familiar with the world's top-ranked domain and ICANN, Zhongzhenhong has been waiting for the opening of new top-level domain names until last June, when ICANN passed the new top-level domain name program, and he really saw the promise of investment. "It's a long process. 2000 years later, I was waiting for the new top-level domain to open, the result of 2004 only through more than 20 non-profit top-level domain names, and from 2004 to now has been 8 years, ICANN has officially opened the application of top-level domain names, this is a very rare opportunity. "Zhongzhenhong said. In fact, the ecliptic technology established by Zhongzhenhong was established 2008 years ago. He admits: "At that time I got the news is, the new top-level domain opening is about to begin, but who knows wait to wait to go no news, I can not always wait ah, so I went to pplive part-time." "In 2010, Zhongzhenhong left PPLive, waiting for the News of ICANN, to set up a video service dedicated to corporate clients." Now, Zhongzhenhong said: "I have been in the field of domain name internationalization efforts, the operation of international domain name has been my ideal." This is my chance. "Apply for 15 top-level domains not long ago, in the United States, a only one-year, named Donuts domain name registration company received 100 million U.S. dollars in investment, and spent 56.8 million to apply for 307 new top-level domain names. In China, the sensational news does not seem to be circulating, but Zhongzhenhong disclosed that, this time, he represents the ecliptic technology spent 17.5 million yuan to apply for 15 new top-level domain names. Although ICANN opens top-level domain registration to companies and institutions, high application feesand annual fees are enough to deter many companies. It is reported that the ICANN for each new top-level domain name applicants will be charged 5,000 U.S. dollars registration fee and 180,000 U.S. dollars application fee, the application will be a year after the successful payment of 25,000 U.S. dollars annual fee. and Zhongzhenhong can apply for 15 top-level domain name, also with its capital preparation inseparable. It is understood that since 2008, the Zodiac technology has been mainly from the Gobi investment of 20 million U.S. dollars investment, can be used to apply for and operate the new top-level domain. Zodiac Technology This application is the universal top-level domain name, include Wang,. website,. Shop,. Mall, Gossip,. Show, fashion,. Charity, group, Entertainment,. I love you and the top four geographical domains, including. "It took us a long time, almost 3 months, to finalize the list of names for the application," he said. "Zhongzhenhong said. and Zhongzhenhong most applications are Chinese generic top-level domain name is also because of its popularity of international domain names. The internationalized top-level domain name is the top-level domain name in other languages except English, and the Chinese top-level domain name is an important part of it. "I was the first effort to promote the internationalization of domain names, at the same time, I also think the Chinese top-level domain is more opportunities for development." Zhongzhenhong explained. According to Zhongzhenhong's disclosures, the initial estimate is that ICANN will announce more than 1900 new top-level domain applications, about 70% of which apply to companies and brands, such as. Google, YouTube, etc., the number of generic top-level domain names is about four hundred or five hundred, which, The number of internationalized global top-level domains is 60-70. Opportunity: Thresholds and markets in the view of investors like Zhongzhenhong, investing in the new generic top-level domain is a great opportunity for business, as it now seems to be a pretty high hurdle. "Do you know how to communicate with ICANN?" Do you know how to do this step-by-step procedure based on ICANN's complex English steps? Do you have the latest information? Can you handle the various filing requirements of the Ministry of the Department and the audit of all levels of government? Even if you go to the network to do agent application, you know how high the cost? A person in the industry, who declined to be named, said. All sorts of questions are a barrier to many corporate investors. And Zhongzhenhong is not denying its advantages, "I have been with ICANN for many years, I am familiar with the procedures, this is my advantage." "High costs are clearly a big barrier to investing in domain names, and few people are willing to risk a millions of dollar loss." This is also an opportunity for companies and institutions that apply for new top-level domain names. "For enterprises, the new top-level domain name is a brand new network trademarks and brands, the company's future brand communication will be more effective, it is easier to remember." The following text, such as, com,.cn. "Million network domain name product Division manager Wang Peng said." At the same time, Wang Peng believes that the new top-level domain has brought a lot of business opportunities, before,. com,. cn's better domain name may have been registered, but now, there are many new top-level domainsName, business and personal choice of more room, at the same time, in China, after all, there are many netizens are not familiar with English, therefore, there will be a lot of navigation station is very hot, and many new Chinese generic top-level domain name appears, netizens will be easier to remember, this is a big market opportunity. Risk side: Capital and operational capabilities as with all VC favored projects, the investment and operation of top-level generic domain names is also a high-risk and rewarding business. This is a test enterprise operation ability Game. First of all, this has higher requirements for the domain name application Enterprise funds. In addition to the 185,000 U.S. dollars required to apply for domain names and the annual fee of USD 25,000, if the domain name is hot to pay the auction fee, at the same time the enterprise must make the later related legal litigation dispute preparation, in addition, the enterprise also needs to pay a large operating costs, which include technology background costs, marketing costs and so on. "Applying for a domain name may be as long as 1 million, but it may take millions of to run a generic top-level domain." Wang Peng said. And Zhongzhenhong also admits that the operation is a later difficult work, "our technical system may use the North Dragon Network system, at the same time, we will expand enrollment, the company is expected next year staff will reach 30-40 people." At present, the Zodiac technology only employs about 10 people. In addition to capital requirements, the operating capacity of the enterprise and market acceptance is also the key to the final success. "Info, mobi and other top-level domain name finally did not make very good development, the investment of the general top-level domain name how to position, how to promote, the market can accept, this is the problem." Wang Peng said. At the same time, Wang Peng also believes that it would be better to bind the generic top-level domain name to a viable business model. Yesterday, the million-net disclosure, its submission. Xin the application of top-level domain, and million network also look forward to the good faith as a selling point to attract corporate registration, and may be with Alibaba many integrity certification system to combine. However, Zhongzhenhong does not seem to worry about its ability to operate, he said, the zodiac technology has done a good job in the market promotion and other aspects of preparation.