ThaRum

An email announcement to Global Voices Author list from Rebecca MacKinnon, Global Voices Online co-founder and Assistant Professor at University of Hong Kong:

I’ve been informed by Edmon Chung, who runs a new top-level domain, “.asia,” that they are launching an innovative new program to ensure that great domain names go to people in Asia who have the greatest ideas, not necessarily the most money. Edmon writes:

“Check out: www.think.asia

Allow me also to advertise a little… .Asia Pioneer Domains Program is a rather innovative program to launch the new .ASIA top level domain. Instead of the passive first-come-first-served process, we are soliciting proposals for the best names, like music.asia or invest.asia, and based on the merits of the ideas and proposal, we will allocate the first names. This allows us to ensure good usage of the best domains.

If anyone of you are interested, I encourage you to check it out and maybe get a .Asia domain!”

I immediately thought of our Asia-based members who might be working on great ideas for online communities, citizen media, and exciting new nonprofit orgs - but who are at a loss to find a good domain name that hasn’t already been grabbed.

Just wanted to make sure you are all aware. DotAsia will be accepting proposals until August 31st.