Nano Internet Concept
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
 

1. What is the basic concept?
2. What domain names were purchased?
3. What makes this different from other nanotechnology domain sales?
4. What are potential uses for the domains?
5. Isn't a domain name irrelevant given search engines and bookmarks? Can't the same thing be accomplished with only one website?
6. What was your intent in purchasing these names?
7. Will you transfer ownership of the entire domain portfolio? Will you sell individual domain names?

1. What is the basic concept?

ESH Sciences, Inc. has purchased a significant quantity of generic Internet domain names with a nano prefix (e.g., Nanomagnetism.com). Many of the .com names were also purchased in the .org and .net extensions (referred to below as a domain name set). The domains provide a method to direct the power of the Internet for nanotechnology development.

2. What domain names were purchased?

Key names are listed on the Domain Names page. Additional nano-prefixed domains that further encompass nanotechnology were also bought. A full listing of approximately 900 names will be provided at an appropriate time to interested parties.

3. What makes this different from other nanotechnology domain sales?

First, an attempt was made to purchase domain names that cover the "entire" nanotechnology field, given the constraint that this effort started in April 2003. Second, ownership of the .org. and .net extensions is unusual for domain name speculation.

4. What are potential uses for the domains?

Obvious uses include nanotechnology advocacy, collaboration, corporate marketing and branding, data/information transfer, e-commerce and education. Of course, Internet sites can be used in conjunction with other media such as advertisements, journals/magazines, television programs, etc.

One plausible scenario is to use the .com extension to generate funding (e.g., corporate sponsorship) for the non-profit .org site. A synergy could develop between the .com and .org sites if both were developed in a high quality fashion. The .net extension (i.e., network) enables additional uses.

Alternatively, the three domains in each domain name set could be distributed to different parties (e.g., professional societies, schools) for parallel development. Domains could be sold for fundraising (e.g., student scholarship) purposes. Domains could be used for grassroots collaboration, similar to the Linux model and Wikipedia.

5. Isn't a domain name irrelevant given search engines and bookmarks? Can't the same thing be accomplished with only one website?

The use of generic domain names is a proven strategy to attract Internet traffic. Targeted traffic can be generated either through direct navigation (typing the domain name into the browser bar) or high click-through rates on search engines if the domain name is clearly relevant to the user's search query. Benefits of multiple domains include the ability to direct traffic to other sites in the portfolio, and enabling decentralized management of multiple websites (e.g., content generation, legal liability). Generic domain names also offer a neutral publishing location when two or more organizations collaborate.

6. What was your intent in purchasing these names?

This appeared to be a unique opportunity offering significant benefits to the scientific community and the public. The concept (and its execution) remains quite fluid.

7. Will you transfer ownership of the entire domain portfolio? Will you sell individual domain names?

A major focus is to identify appropriate organizations who can develop the domains as world-class websites. ESH Sciences believes a portion of the portfolio should remain intact, with a non-profit organization executing the development strategy. Selected domain names are currently available for lease and/or co-development opportunities with ESH Sciences.

Please send e-mail with inquiries or comments to sobols@naknow.com

Thank you for considering this idea.
Steve Sobol
Version 1.1, September 2006


 
© 2006 ESH Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved.