Conceptualist.com, By Sahar Sarid

Readings for April 17th, 2008

Published on 2008-04-17 15:12:20 0 Comment Edit
URL: http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/myopenid_for_your_domai...

OpenID, a technology that allows users to sign in to new supporting websites through a single trusted ID provider of their choice, is notoriously hard for non-developers to implement and in many cases use. One of the biggest challenges may have been eliminated, however, by the recent release of a new service called MyOpenID for Domains.
The service makes it remarkably easy for anyone to create OpenID accounts through their own domain, using the MyOpenID authentication service.

For example, my new OpenID is http://openid.marshallk.com/marshallk, based on my personal site marshallk.com. It was really easy to set up and now I can offer other users of my site their own marshallk.com OpenID as well. (Hi Mom!)

Source: RWW

NameBio: Tucows Admits to Warehousing Domains

Published on 2008-04-17 14:21:10 2 Comments Edit
URL: http://namebio.com/NameBioBlog/2008/04/17/tucows-admits-to-w...

If you ever wondered if registrars keep some of the expiring domain names, there is no question anymore. Tucow's General Manager Bill Sweetman admitted on DotWeekly.com that Tucows does in fact hold back some of their expiring domain names, for Tucow's portfolio.

"Not all of the expired names end up in the Tucows auction. Some names are renewed by the original registrant before they reach the auction, and some of the names are retained by Tucows for our own portfolio (although we still allow the orginal registrant to reinstate the domain name if they want to). In other words, we go out of our way to protect the rights of the orginal registrant."? - General Manager of Tucow's Auction; Bill Sweetman

This brings up another interesting question. How long will Tucow's allow the original registrant to renew the domain name for? and at what cost? Clearly this registrar has a conflict of interest. At one point it registers domain names on behalf of its clients and then instead of releasing them to the general pool, or selling them at their own auction, they hold them for their own portfolio. Does being a registrar give you the right to keep domains that its customers fail to renew?

Quite honestly, I don't feel comfortable using a registrar that openly practices this kind of policy. I think Tucows should decide if its a registrar or a portfolio holder, and act properly in that regards.

Justin

Source: NameBio