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It's pretty simple I think. The leading "catcher"
of expiring domains used to be Snapnames. They succeeded by using a fairly large
number of registrars to run scripts and snap desirable expiring names. Snapnames
got their cut and the Registrar got their cut. But they succeeded because
statistically if you have the largest number of registrars running scripts for
an expiring domain name, then you get the reputation as the best company to pay
into to get the name you wanted.
Then along came POOL.com. They had a better
business model than Snapnames because you didn't have to pay anything up front -
only if you got the name (provided you could outbid any other people who also
wanted the name). To succeed in this business, POOL needed to have more
registrars working for them than Snapnames had working for them.
Initially Namescout was used as a proactive
registrar and "holding warehouse" for these incoming names. POOL realised they
needed more registrars to run their scripts for expiring names, so what you got
was a proliferation of new registrars who were set up with the intention of
running scripts for expiring domains. The more registrars, the more chances of
getting names, so just create scores of new registrars for your
company!
In short, I imagine most of these new "Registrars"
are just the same registrar, operating under a different name, but getting extra
privileges and extra access to expiring domains.
ICANN seems to have merrily accredited all these
"registrars". But then, other registrars have operated very similarly before,
like Domain Bank which seemed to set up Domain Pro as an extra "registrar" so
they could have a second "short list" to submit to the .info Landrush 2 and the
.biz launch. Both DomainBank and DomainPro operated from the same offices with
the same phone numbers and the same accounting outlet, but they "counted" as 2
registrars, so they got twice as many lists into these newly launched TLD round
robins when they launched. Just think what fun and games the 98 "Namescout/POOL"
registrars will have if there are more round-robins for .eu or .travel in the
future!
But then, what does ICANN-accreditation really mean
anyway?
Maybe we should set up a million new "registrars"
and see what happens...
Richard H
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