Ian Johnston wrote:
] Effective competition is far more important from a consumer
] perspective.

This is why we will soon have real competition between registrars
(rather than monopoly registrars) in open 2LDs.

] Competition between 2LDs - particularly monopoly registry operators in
] each 2LD - that leads to greater industry efficiency, innovation,
] lower domain name licence prices, enhanced service quality, will best
] serve the interests of consumers.

I am intrigued by this concept you have of "competition between 2LDs".
Perhaps you could help us to understand better how such an idea might work.

Could you talk some more about switching costs for businesses (I assume
that is your main interest, and it is the vast majority of the market)
who are not happy with pricing in one 2LD and want to switch to another
2LD, including things like printing new business cards, sending letters
to clients about the change, advertising their new address, and whether
they are likely to keep the old address for a few years in case of
confusion in their client base or people seeking to pass off.

Are you also suggesting that there should be some prohibition on
AusRegistry being considered as a potential registry for any new 2LDs?

__________________________________________________________________________
 David Keegel <djk&#167;cyber.com.au>  URL: http://www.cyber.com.au/users/djk/
Cybersource P/L: Unix Systems Administration and TCP/IP network management