ICANN to challenge domain name sampling
ICANN, the Internet’s key oversight agency, is taking a preliminary step toward combating domain name tasting – the online equivalent of buying expensive clothes on a charge card only to return them for a full refund after wearing them to a party.
People have taken advantage of the grace period to sample domain names, keeping the relative few that might generate advertising revenues and dropping the rest before paying.
The five-day period was meant to rectify legitimate mistakes, such as registrants mistyping the domain name they are about to buy.
The practice ties up millions of domain names at any given time, making it more difficult for legitimate individuals and businesses to get a desirable name.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers outlined proposals for a committee to study and come up with recommendations to address the concern.
A final report is due after a public comment period closes Jan. 28.
Comcast adds new video Web site
Not all the news during the International Consumer Electronics Show about Comcast Corp. was bad. The same day the FCC announced it would investigate citizen complaints about the company blocking or interfering with data, Comcast officials announced they’re adding a Web site to make it easier for customers to watch video and TV.
First, it launched a site to make it easier to find online video entertainment. The site, fancast.com, uses an online video player developed by Seattle tech firm thePlatform, which Comcast acquired in 2006.
At CES last week, Comcast executive Sam Schwartz searched for the show “CSI.” The system queried Comcast’s database of TV listings, DVD catalogs, online video content from sites such as the Fox-NBC collaboration Hulu and other sources. It returned a list of results including “CSI” DVD boxed sets, on-demand viewing options and a schedule of TV showings.
Later this year, Comcast plans to add other features to the site, including the ability for subscribers to manage their digital video recorder devices remotely through the site.
Fancast also lets users personalize their preferences for movies and entertainment. The site will recommend movies based on a user’s past downloads and viewing habits, and offer them the chance to purchase tickets through Fandango, an online ticket hub.
Offshoring your data?
A California startup is planning to build data centers on cargo container ships, which would be docked at piers in major Internet markets. The company, International Data Security, says it plans to use biodiesel to power its generators and use heat from equipment to manage temperature on board the ships, reducing their reliance on grid power. IDS is telling prospects that it hopes to eventually have more than 20 floating data centers docked at ports around the United States.