>On the other hand, if ICANN selected Neustar, .Web will be jeopardized because NeuStar,
Inc can be bought over by NSI/VeriSign. This is also the same for IODesign. I was
talking the other day with Bruce C., General Manager for VeriSign Global Registry
Services and he told me that NSI will try to buy over NeuStar or IOD if any one of
them gets .Web.<It wouldn't surprise me if something like this did happen. We're
already seeing it now with the consolidation at the registrar level, as a handful
or registrars account for the majority of .com, .net and .org registrations.
It's
not so far fetched to believe that consolidation would occur at the registry level
with the introduction of new TLDs. I'm sure Mr. Ambler would tell us that he wouldn't
sell out, but money talks. NSI has lots of money, and money is very convincing. And
we know that none of the applicants for general TLDs are in this for good karma.
At
least with Afilias, we won't have to worry about the likes of an NSI coming in and
buying a new monopoly, since each member can own a maximum of 11% of the company.
This ensures a competitive registry operation that allows the wealth to be spread
amongst a diverse group of member companies.