.EU domains

[Newton]

Has anyone backordered any of these yet? There are loads of single words still available and just backordered about 50 or so.

eu citizens or companies in europe can order these through the sunrise period

Starting December 7, 2005, the new .eu top level domain (TLD) will be offered in a two-part Sunrise Period. The Sunrise Period allows those with prior rights (e.g. trademarks, businesses, etc.) to register their domains before .eu is offered to the public.

On April 7, 2006, .eu domain registration will be opened to anyone, who meets the general requirements.

Domains in all phases will be awarded on a first come, first served basis.

[TheEnforcer]

Hmmm.. I wonder how valueable those domains will be?

[Evil Chris]

there are way too many TLDs now...

[Robin]

Hmmm.. I wonder how valueable those domains will be?

The French and Germans will probably use these domains a lot - they don't like the US controlling .com etc - the rest of Europe probably won't care much about them.

I, for one, wouldn't bother with them.

[TheEnforcer]

I was thinking that maybe sites that are specifically centered on european culture, etc might be worth an investment.

[Robin]

I was thinking that maybe sites that are specifically centered on european culture, etc might be worth an investment.

Hmmm... I don't think so - there isn't really a European culture - the EU is a group of vastly different nations that spent the last few thousand years fighting each other. Unlike the US which may have differences state to state - but mostly culture is similar across the US.

I think .EU will be of interest to multinationals who wish to show an EU presence for very little cost. Also political organisations will want these domains. Maybe European exporters and a few others too...

... that's it - I've run out of ideas. I think .EU was a politically driven TLD which will fade into obscurity after it's initial honeymoon period.

[Newton]

I agree Robin that they may drift into obscurity but a lot have been registering the singular names and forgetting the plurals .. fundamental names as well :)

[Robin]

I agree Robin that they may drift into obscurity but a lot have been registering the singular names and forgetting the plurals .. fundamental names as well :)

I grant that domain speculators may turn a profit. Also people buying to get domain name keywords for search engine traffic may get results - but you can do the latter with any TLDs like .WS etc...

I doubt people will ever send type-in traffic to .EU domains though.

[Leon]

i think the EU domains is a very worthy investment :) got a few nice pre registered myself

[Nickatilynx]

Going by what Robin says the knack might be to get french and german one word domains...

[Newton]

Yep already on it and just regged another 5 lol

[Newton]

.EU SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED (UPDATE 20051208 12:00 CET)

Brussels, Belgium – 8 December 2005. Yesterday 7 December at 11:00,

EURid opened its systems to receive applications for .eu domain names. At that time, some 800 Registrars in 25 countries have begun sending in the applications they received from numerous candidate domain name holders all across the EU.

Totals and breakdown per type of Applicant Time : 8 December 2005 at 11:45 CET Total applications 110.083 Unique applications (only 1 application for the domain name) 83.082

Corresponding to geographical indications or denominations of origin 687 public bodies 8.591
national trade marks 77.450
community or international trade marks 23.356

Top 3 by time of reception
1. tickets.eu 11:00:01.699
2. job.eu 11:00:01.711
3. hotels.eu 11:00:01.712

Top 12 most requested domain names
Time : 8 December 2005 at 10:25 CET

1 sex.eu 2272
2 hotel.eu 1183
3 travel.eu 944
4 jobs.eu 915
5 hotels.eu 90
6 casino 80
7 poker 76
8 business 74
9 golf 72
10 music 69
11 shopping 67
12 porn 65