Flagship project of the the Top Level Domains (TLDs), .SHOP is supported by a company listed on the Tokyo dung whose turnover can all ambitions. Interview with Hirokatsu Ohigashi, of GMO Registry.
Who is behind the .SHOP initiative? The GMO Internet Group. We are headquartered in Tokyo and we have 57 companies located in Asia, Europe and the US. The group employs around 2,000 people. At the core of the group is GMO Internet, a company listed on the first tier of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. In fact, 5 of our companies are listed and out of those 5, 2 are on the prestigious first tier.
We first launched our Internet services business in 1995. Today, on the Japanese market, we hold the top share in the domain registration, web hosting, online payment processing, and ecommerce shopping cart services. We are also number 2 in the domestic SSL security market. This means we have enough financial background to acquire and manage .SHOP.
We operate Onamae.com, Asia Pacific's first registrar to receive ICANN accreditation. We manage over one million domains. For the fiscal year 2009, we expect revenue to reach 430 million US dollars, and profits 50 million US dollars.
There is no one else behind .SHOP other than GMO Internet Group. GMO Registry is the actual company that will submit and manage the domain once acquired.
Where does the idea for .SHOP come from? The idea has been around for a while, given that at GMO Internet Group, we offer easy to set up cart solutions for those interested in ecommerce. .SHOP will be instantly recognizable as an ecommerce address. We will offer an ecommerce-ready product at a competitive price.
The new TLD is an opportunity to develop and expand the ecommerce industry. We believe this initiative will change the Internet. This is why GMO Registry and the entire GMO Internet Group is committed to applying for .SHOP. We will be in Nairobi next year to take part in the ICANN meeting and introduce the products we can offer.
Who is .SHOP made for? .SHOP is a domain for ecommerce. The idea is that although .COM was created for commercial use, it has grown too broad to the extent that it no longer serves its original purpose.
In order not to follow the same path, we plan to open .SHOP to anyone who is already a shop owner and anyone else who is interested in ecommerce
The comment of DomainesInfo
This TLD dedicated to e-commerce already raises questions: Who will be eligible to obtain one .SHOP? What are the conditions for allocating domain names? What will be the protection of trademarks players already in the ecommerce?
We should pay attention to this ambitious project whose the supporting company is already a length ahead. The term "shop" perfectly understandable in all languages, could easily compete with .COM for ecommerce.
If .SHOP becomes the hub of global e-commerce, it was well worth to register its own TLD.
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