From: Jim Vellios
Sent: Tuesday, 11 March 2003 12:20 PM
To: jo.lim@auda.org.au
Subject: Regrading the 2nd level domain proposal offered by Australian Retailers 
Association

Importance: High

Dear Jo Lim,

I have read the proposal sent to you by the Australian Retailers Association.

I reject their proposal on 4 counts.

My experience is in the Web development and research sector.
I develop, host , maintain websites.
I also look at new and evolving technologies related to the internet.

The points for my rejection of the ARA proposal is as follows:

1. It will create confusion.

As you are aware too many new 2nd level domains have appeared and some have wasted 
away also. 
Take for the example of the big push for the au.com domain space.

2. People are now starting to recognise the branding of the .com.au domain.

In Australia, people are more conservative, and dont like to be pushed.
Now that the australian people are starting to accept the validity of the .com.au 
domain, 
the next thing they dont need on their minds is to be pushed into recognising another 
domain type business or
recreational puposes.
Take another example, search engines always seem to show the .com.au or .com domains 
appearing almost all the time in
the top search engine results listings.
This is one indicator that has planted into peoples minds the brand of the .com.au or 
.com domain.

3. .com.au domain is recognised as both service and retail categories.

Proof of this example is telstra and major industry players not just covering the 
technology sector , but also the retail environment.
 As a result of this, people see this as another confidence choice of using the .com.au 
domain to obtain goods or services.

4. The relaxation of the .com.au legal policy.

Since the .com.au registration has allowed for generic name purchasing and more than 
one domain name purchase option per business, this gives the retailer a better chance 
to grab the domain that would suit their business.

If you are considering the ARA Proposal I suggest to consider the following:

I am a typical web surfer, and learned in this industry.
Whenever I visit a website, I always think of using the .com.au domain.
I admit I dont purchase goods on the internet, but I always visit those sites that have 
the product or service I am seeking, should
they have an ecommerce facility or not.
Whenever I do a search on the web, I always see .com's or .com.au listings appearing 
on the top listing of search engines.
In all my time in web surfing I must have only used the .biz domain 1 or 2 times out of 
the thousands of domains I have used in the
last 3 years.
If the latter does not give reasons to doubt ARA's proposal, I suggest you perform a 
consumer survey outlining their thoughts or
ideas regarding the 2nd level domains proposed by ARA.

Your reply to this email would be appreciated.

Sincerely

Jim.