Uniregistry is set to launch the .Click new gTLD domain extension on November 25, and unlike most other new domain extensions, the only reserved domain names will be those on the ICANN APD block list. Aside from the nearly 8,000 strings prohibited from being registered by ICANN, everything will be available to the public on a first come, first served basis. I understand that the vast majority of the 8,000 registry reserve names have no commercial value, but are reserved for technical reasons, so there should be plenty of top keyword domain names available to register from the outset.
According to Uniregistry founder and CEO Frank Schilling, North Sound Domains will not be competing with other domain registrants for .Click domain names when they become available to purchase. He did tell me that “about 4 weeks after launch we have a large list of premiums that we may or may not register as registry assets for the future.” Since .Click domain names will be available to the first registrants to buy them, there will not be registry / registrar auctions for .Click domain names.
Uniregistry is banking on the descriptive nature of this domain extension to generate sales. I asked for some insight about the extension, and Frank believes “It is just a low price generic, completely open ending; that will always be managed with low price, consistent predictable availability, strong anti-abuse rule of law, and hands off governance.” I believe this is similar to Uniregistry’s .Link domain names. According to nTLDStats, there are nearly 50,000 registered .Link domain names less than a year after launch.
The Uniregistry retail price for .Click domain names will debut at $6.88, which is lower than the $9.88 retail price of .Link domain names (although .Link domain names are currently on sale for $5.88 during the month of November). I understand that .Click domain names may eventually be promoted for less than $3/year, but I presume many of the most valuable keyword domain names may be gone by then.
I don’t think many other extensions had open availability like this, so it will be interesting to observe the registration trends, especially given the generic nature of .Click.
