More professionals to be allowed .pro domains

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The organisation behind .pro has received approval to make the top-level domain available to a wider range of users.

On Tuesday, RegistryPro, the exclusive operator of the top-level domain (TLD), said it had achieved ICANN approval for its plan to make .pro available to "any professional or professional entity holding credentials from a certifying governmental authority anywhere in the world". The TLD has until now only been available to accountants, engineers, lawyers and medical professionals in Canada, Germany, the UK and the US.

"This is a significant milestone for .pro," said RegistryPro general manager Catherine Sigmar. "By approving these changes, ICANN has given us the opportunity to open up .pro to tens of millions of licensed and credentialed professionals and entities across the globe."

RegistryPro has also changed its registration process for .pro domains. Whereas applicants previously had to submit written documentation of their credentials, they now only need to say what type of certification they hold, who they work for and what their licence number is. The organisation will monitor new and renewed registrations, and registrants will need to annually reaffirm that they are "using the registration for the professional purpose as intended".

ReigstryPro plans to officially "relaunch" the .pro TLD on 14 July.

Talkback

But sadly thats all there is to it, unless the holder is using it to prove their credentials, i don't see much value in a .pro domain. Infact it might put you at a disadvantage; whenever you give people your url you'd have to emphasise the ".pro" otherwise they end up typing .com.
take .tv for example, you'd think its a fairly easier extention to remember and makes sense for any TV station, but somehow TV stations still favour .com!

harpless 14 May, 2008 22:23
Reply

I think Harpless is right on the money.

.pro has a nice ring to it, but at the same time it's redolent of those sad individuals that bother putting Dr. on their business card just because they had enough time, money and patience to sit through a Phd doctorate.

Cheesy business card fodder at best. Get over it.

Adrian Bridgwater
BA (Hons) II ii Economics, Wolverhampton Polytechnic
(A-levels and O-levels and CSE French too and everything)

Adrian Bridgwater 15 May, 2008 02:52
Reply

We are allowed to apply for a license plate, which indicates the driver is handicapped, to allow us to park in designated spaces, close to the entrance. Putting .pro on your domain would give you bragging rights and little else. I think I would like a better parking space.

ator1940 15 May, 2008 13:44
Reply

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