Amazon has won the rights to operate the .Free new gTLD.
Amazon beat Google, Donuts, Minds +Machines, and Uniregistry in a private auction to win the rights to .Free
.Free was scheduled to go to an ICANN Last Resort Auction later this month.
Amazon already won the rights to the .buy new gTLD which is pretty much the opposite of .free
It will be really interesting to see what Amazon plans to do with .free.
Other than sometimes .free shipping I’m not sure what Amazon offers for free, except for a receipt for all your purchases.
As a domainer I’m pretty happy Google didn’t win .free.
The last thing we need a another domain extension that is .Free and being promoted by Google and its new registrar.
Amazon application to ICANN for .free doesn’t give out much information as to what the company’s plan is for the extension but here you go:
“Founded in 1994, Amazon opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth’s Biggest Selection.
Amazon seeks to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices.
Amazon and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as Books; Movies, Music & Games; Digital Downloads; Electronics & Computers; Home & Garden; Toys, Kids & Baby; Grocery; Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry; Health & Beauty; Sports & Outdoors; and Tools, Auto & Industrial. Amazon Web Services provides Amazon’s developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon’s own back-end technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually any type of business.
Amazon goes on to say
The mission of the <.TLD> registry is:
To provide a unique and dedicated platform while simultaneously protecting the integrity of Amazon’s brand and reputation.
A <.TLD> registry will:• Offer a stable and secure foundation for online communication and interaction.• Provide a platform for innovation.
To the question “How do you expect that your proposed gTLD will benefit registrants, Internet users, and others?”
Amazon Answered regarding .free:
The <.TLD> registry will benefit registrants and internet users by offering a stable and secure foundation for online communication and interaction.
“What is the goal of your proposed gTLD in terms of areas of specialty, service levels or reputation?”
Amazon intends for its new <.TLD> gTLD to provide a unique and dedicated platform for stable and secure online communication and interaction. The <.TLD> registry will be run in line with current industry standards of good registry practice.
What do you anticipate your proposed gTLD will add to the current space in terms of competition, differentiation or innovation?
Amazon values the opportunity to be one of the first companies to own a gTLD.
A <.TLD> registry will:
• Offer a stable and secure foundation for online communication and interaction.
• Provide a platform for innovation.
What goals does your proposed gTLD have in terms of user experience?
Amazon intends for its new <.TLD> gTLD to provide a unique and dedicated platform for stable and secure online communication and interaction.