Is Japan saying good-bye to .com and co.jp domains?

Tokyo April 4--Japan Registry starts accepting applications for the
new JP domains.

After 5 years of heavy criticism, Japan Network Information Center (JPNIC)
which handles Japan's domains has finally buckled under public pressure to
provide simple and easy-to-obtain domains names by unveiling its new JP
domain extension (ex. "business.jp"). The co.jp and .com domains could very
well be left by the wayside as the simplicity of buying and using JP domains
comes to bear.

The JP pessimists are taking a beating.
It took Japan over 9 long years to register just over 200,000 domains, but
in just 4 short weeks there have already been nearly 200,000 new JP
registrations in the restricted priority pre-registration period last month.
Officially accredited JP registrar Japan Registry
(http://www.japanregistry.com) has taken a key role in assisting companies
and individuals go through the JP registration process completely in
English. When the new registry opens its floodgates on April 2nd with
priority pre-registration, then again on May 7th with open registration, a
registration frenzy is being predicted. Official predictions from the new
JPNIC-backed Japanese registry expect to see over 1 million new JP names
registered in the following months. Many feel even this could be a low
estimate considering the incredible demand for domains in Japan and the rate
at which Japan's Internet market is growing.

Rules and regulations for the new .JP extensions are nearly identical to
.com: anyone can register, no limit to the number of domains any single
company/person can register, transfers are allowed and domains can be
registered in both English and Japanese.(Find complete details at:
(http://www.japanregistry.com/jpdomains.php)

Japan Registry is also the first Accredited JP registrar to offer a JP
reseller program for anyone wishing to offer the new JP domains through
their own site (find out more at http://www.japanregistry.com/partner.php).
This unique system allows companies and/or individuals to sell .JP domains
to their own customers under their own brand.

About Japan Registry
Japan Registry, a leading accredited Japanese domain registrar, helps its
Japanese and English-speaking clients claim their stake in the Japanese
internet space. Founded in 1999, Japan Registry has made a name for itself
helping everyone from the end user to Global 500 company establish an internet
presence in Japan and protect their product and service names. More information
about Japan Registry can be found at: http://www.japanregistry.com or
contact@japanregistry.com

Japan Registry is a servicemark of Nippon Solutions KK. All other product, service
and company names are trademarks or servicemarks of their respective owners.