Jothan Frakes

Jothan was at DOMAINfest Global last week where I asked him to fill me on details for the .NXT event. "In just a few months, anyone will be able to apply for whatever new Internet extension they wish," Frakes said. "Registries and Registrars, which used to be separate, can now be a single entity. These changes to the way domain names can be registered and sold, the opportunities for new dot-coms are breathtaking."

"The conference will start with a bang - led off with the CEO of ICANN, Rod Beckstrom, in the very first keynote, followed by panel after panel of specific subject experts who can answer tough questions about new TLDs and the whole process," Frakes said.

"Attendees will also hear from Juan Calle, the CEO of the company that has just launched the immensely successful .CO top level domain.  

And that is only the start.  The roster of speakers and subject matter is very impressive, reading like a whos-who of executives and companies. No less than 17 thought-leading CEOs covering every aspect of the industry from those that run Internet extensions to those that sell domains to the public."

"Attendees can expect to meet and hear from executives and senior managers from GoDaddy, Afilias, VeriSign, Network Solutions, Tucows, Oversee, Neustar and other important companies," Frakes noted. "There will be applicants at the conference who are applying for TLDs for their brands, communities, and generic categories. There will be leaders from the domaining world, and a big crowd of internet pioneers. AND they've just added Gary Kremen of Sex.com and Match.com fame to the roster of amazing speakers."

You have to admit, the show's organizers have put together a very impressive line up for a debut conference. San Francisco will also be the site of the next ICANN meeting (March 13-18) when the topic of new gTLDs is again expected to occupy center stage. 

One other note today - we want to wish Sedo and all of their team members a very happy 10th Anniversary. Sedo had a humble beginning with three college students launching the business from their basement (we wrote about the company's beginnings in a 2004 Cover Story). Since then they have blossomed into a wildly successful company with more than a million members around the globe and more than 17 million domains listed for sale in more than 20 languages!