So what would turn the online world upside down in a fundamental way, be very simple and a cause a flurry of business and prospecting, goldmining and domain squatting?
Imagine if we were allowed to add a new non-alpha character to domain names. (You think the .me or .tv spaces got heated up?) So what if, starting in July 4, 2010, the powers that be at the domain services servers determined that we could start buying domains with * asterisks added within them? (Suspend for a moment the objection that the * is a programming symbol and would never be allowed as part of a domain name.)
So on day one, second one, I register about 1,000 *-enabled domains. (*nike.com, *coke.com, *dell.com, *microsoft.com) While those domains would eventually be legally transferred back to the rightful brands, domain squatting is not legal, many new domains would be legal and unique and immediately valuable. (*socialmedia.com, even social*media.com) The sports industry, porn idustry, branding and entertainment industries would have a nearly infinite number of new domain possibilities.
So the asterisk is probably not coming to a domain name near you anytime soon. We can still use "-" and "." in some circumstances, but a totally new character could generate millions in new revenue for the domain hosting companies, the design and branding companies who would come up with and design new brands and visual identities around the new use of the * symbol. I think it's a good idea.
@jmacofearth
permalink: http://bit.ly/bs-socialmedia
