|
Bookmark
£.com, or our text-based counterpart, poundsymbol.com
If the British government decide that the UK should adopt the euro then a referendum will be needed so its citizens can have their say and decide whether or not to reject it. In the event of the UK population being asked once more to decide on this issue, they can rely on £.com to voice their many views and discover what the euro/European Union will really mean for them. Britain adopting the euro has far reaching consequences for everyone in the UK (and Europe generally) and so £.com will represent this issue on many different levels, so everyone will want to make their views known and have their say; even if they currently feel this is just a matter of economics and doesn't concern them. How will people have their say? One of the ideas we are currently considering is giving people their own page on the £.com site, where they can find out exactly what effect the euro/EU will have on them, their loved one's, and the UK generally. There will be many important issues to talk about but this will be a fun and engaging site, where members can interact with others and connect with those who have similar backgrounds, interests or views (or those with an opposing view!).
EU law represents the largest body of rulings and legislation in the world. Collectively, these laws have an impact on everyone in Europe and effect every aspect of human interest and life. £.com will try to make members aware of as much of this legislation as possible, as it effects individuals and businesses. Of course, members will also be able to make others aware of EU legislation and points of view they are interested in, and there will be lots of easy ways to help them do that. EU legislation?! Won't that be heavy reading? A
good deal of EU legislation may initially be thought of as fairly
'heavy' reading, and sometimes confusing in nature. Because of this,
discussion forums will have This will, primarily, be done via legal and other expert opinion, real life member experiences and advice, glossaries and other commentary. We hope to attract lawyers from all over Europe to the site, and they will be encouraged to post their legal opinions on what some of the legislation means for you, your family, and the rest of us. (...and
if a site moderator catches two or more of them arguing about a legal
meaning or implication they will post Their motivation for participating in the site, giving free advice, will be that they are being seen to be helpful to a large number of people on a vitally important issue. They are also getting their name out there, and no doubt will attract some paying clients along the way (lawyers will, ideally, contribute to the site under their corporate name but in any event they must be seen to have a credible legal background). Members can also be judged to be an 'expert' by their peers, in particular subjects and at different levels... This will add to the community feel of the site, and reward those who have shown expertise and extended knowledge in a certain area. Another worthwhile feature of the site may include an easy-to-use template, where people can contact internet sites, tv and radio shows (and networks) and print media directly. This will likely be done through email, telephone, and postal mail. Lots of important issues but this will be a fun site... We anticipate there will be many thousands of important issues, and sub-issues, that members will wish to talk about under classifications such as: Health, Politics, the Environment, Policing, the Economy, Pensions and so on... An equally important aspect of £.com, however, is that issues will seamlessly link to one another and the whole site will be very user-friendly and fun to use. There will be UK & European video and audio that you can download and share, and you'll be able to do things like a 1 minute questionnaire on your life and interests that will give you some easy answers on how the euro/EU may effect you. There will be plenty of lively discussion and chat on the site, and some members may become friends and want to meet. Relevant and interactive Games, Challenges and Competitions will also be a part of £.com. Some of the features of www.£.com may include:
How the site might look
[£.com - a fun and friendly site for everyone] The idea will be similar in some respects to the popular social-networking concept, with the underlying premise being that the site will act 'virally'. Users will be able to interact with one another easily and be entertained, learn, and, above all, voice their opinion on this very important issue; an issue that will, particularly, effect the lives of every man, woman and child in the UK. Movies of the pound through the ages, and more...
Will www.£.com just be for UK citizens? No. There are an estimated half a billion people in Europe and most of them have already been directly effected by the euro/European Union and will doubtless have an opinion on it. £.com, wants to hear their views too (good or bad)... How has the euro/EU effected them and their families?.. What has it done for 'law and order' and jobs where they live?.. Money and taxation?.. Healthcare and communities?.. and so on. Perhaps to a lesser degree, people outside Europe may also want to make themselves heard.
It is often said that a well-directed question contains power, as it directs and formulates our thinking in a very clear specific way. Asking the question 'Do you want the euro or the pound?' is not, however, a fair question to be asking the British public at present, as they are largely un-informed about the many issues relating to it. This is the final question, and it can only be answered when the public are fully aware of all the issues pertaining to the euro and the European Union. Clearly, at present, that is not the case and that is why the British public must first of all be allowed to become informed before being pressed to answer that final question. For most people there will be many questions that need to be answered first; questions about things that are important to them, and not a bunch of politicians. What are the other questions, and how can I decide? On
£.com there will be many The list of questions is truly in to the thousands; some of them will strike an immediate emotional 'chord' with you, and others won't, but you'll find that the site is so easy and user-orientated you may well find yourself in discussions and showing strong opinion about things you've never even thought of before! ...and on a pro-active level, ask yourself what issues concern you now, personally, emotionally?...for you can be sure the euro/European Union will have an effect on them in some way. So, another option will be to simply do a search on £.com on the subjects that matter to you most... and read the EU legislation, along with the comments of others and start to make your decision from there. £.com may be your best chance to find out what all the issues are, and what they really mean. You will be able to do this in an easy plain-speaking way, a way that is balanced and fair, that offers you good solid information so you can make an informed choice (without the politician involvement). The site will be user-friendly and engaging and will hope to make it fun and interesting to join in, and learn more about how the euro/EU will effect you, your loved ones, and how it has already effected most of Europe. Within the next few years, Britain may have to decide whether it will accept the euro and lose the pound, a currency it has had for nearly 450 years. Britain will most likely be the last country in Europe to make a decision on this, but will the UK signal the 'end of the road' for the euro, or will they accept it? The site will aim to become one of the largest member-based websites in Europe, and host the largest discussion forum of its type. Some discussions may become very heated, but this will be your chance to have your say on this historic issue - don't miss out!
Unless you have a good working knowledge of Unicode, or IDN (International Domain Names) you will very likely never have seen a symbol-based domain before, and would have no reason to suppose they even exist. Lets consider this another way... Verisign, the '.com' registrar, stated in their December '07 Domain Name Industry Brief ' that at the end of the 3rd quarter 2007, 146 million domain names had been registered worldwide and that around half of those were the internet hallmark '.com'. Out of those 146 million domains (and the figure will likely be higher now), there are only 16 single-symbol '.com' domains that can be typed in on the world's computer keyboards, and that number can not be increased. That is to say, 16 domains that comprise a single-symbol, .e.g. £.com (and not e.g. £¢.com; that's 2, or e.g. £¢£.com; that's 3, etc..) and can be typed in directly from the keyboard. ...with those kind of stats, and the fact that 'symbol' names can not reasonably be promoted until IE7 (Internet Explorer 7 browser) fully 'beds down', it's not surprising that you haven't seen a domain like £.com before!
Out of those 16 domains there are 9 that have no obvious meaning, such as ¬.com or ¦.com (the symbols of which are on as many as 8 country keyboards) and there are 4 that have some meaning e.g. §.com (the 'section' symbol, which is well known in legal circles). The remaining 3 single-symbol domains, however, are very well known and are famous throughout the world. They are: ¢.com (American cent symbol), €.com (European euro symbol), £.com (British pound symbol).
¢.com, €.com, £.com - a breakdown ¢.com - The ¢.com domain is most famously associated with the USA and represents their (junior) unit of currency, the cent. Although several countries have the cent (¢) symbol on their keyboards, the USA does not and so ¢.com may (currently) be considered on the same basis as an 'untypeable' domain, in terms of perception. That said, the ¢ symbol is on the US International keyboard and if this ever replaces the standard US keyboard, or users start to enhance their existing keyboard settings (to International), then ¢.com will become a very usable domain in that country. €.com - The €.com domain represents the European euro (€) and, as you might expect of this popular currency, the € symbol can be found on many European country keyboards. There is a problem, however, when typing this symbol in on a keyboard, especially for UK users. The problem arises in the fact that you need to type 'AltGr+4' to generate the euro symbol and, apart from journalists and others in-the-know, most people don't know how to do it. £.com - ...to type in the pound symbol (£), on the other hand, is common knowledge among all age groups in the UK and everyone knows how to type it (Shift +3). It is also worth noting that the pound symbol (£) has always been on UK keyboards (incl. mobile devices) and typewriters since the 'early days'... and whether it is a 2007 UK keyboard or a 1957 UK typewriter, it has always been (Shift +whatever) to type the symbol in. The £.com domain represents the British pound.
On computer keyboards you enter the symbol in just the same way.
Letters, numbers and symbols are an integral part of a computer keyboard no matter where you are in the world. Combined, they allow us to express ourselves fully, whether it be virtually (e.g. internet chat) or in print form, on paper. Letter and number domains vs. symbol domains
Letter and number-based (.com) names are one side of the coin, symbols are the other. Another, perhaps more relevant (newspaper) metaphor, would be to say that letters and numbers represent 'Classified' ads while symbols, which comprise of a graphic, are the 'Display' ad. Both have their advantages but, to date, the public have only ever seen the Classified ad... When IE7 has 'bedded down', and IDN has become fully accepted world-wide they'll get to see the Display ad, courtesy of £.com and other symbol identities. A detailed study of single letter/number/symbol.com names Single-symbol (.com) domains, like £.com, are held at the Verisign registry just like any other '.com' name. Obviously, they are also as short as any single-letter or number '.com' domain (e.g. n.com, or 4.com) ...however the similarity ends there. Most of the single-letter or number '.com' domain names (with a few notable exceptions) are, to date, unavailable for registration. This situation may change in the future, however, should ICANN (the internet governing body) decide to release the rest for registration - click here for a CBS news article on this issue. Everyone it seems, from psychologists to internet marketers, say that the shortest '.com' domain is the best because it can be remembered much more easily. Single-letter or number names are as short as you can ever get, but in the absence of a brand association (or building a new brand based on the name) do these domains actually mean anything? ...and, if not, will you remember the name? For example, if you saw a product or service advertised somewhere using e.g. n.com or 4.com would you remember that domain and what the site was about?... or would you just recall the fact that it was a very short name? A single-symbol (.com) domain, however, is very different as it is, by its very description, symbolic. It is also a graphic-based name and as such has the power to visually represent and show what the site is about before the user has even received any kind of promotional message - lets repeat that, for the benefit of those who know about the risk and costs associated with building a global business and brand from scratch, because this will be the most exciting comment they have read in a very long time.
To repeat then, a symbol-based name has the power to show and tell your visitors what your site is all about before they have been exposed to any kind of promotional or marketing message, thereby significantly increasing brand awareness and visitor retention to the site. The other great business benefit in a having a single-symbol (.com) name is that you are perceived to be doing things differently and are 'running the show', you own that particular industry online. For example, in the case of £.com (a symbol that represents the UK's unit of currency, the British pound) every person in the UK, and a great part of Europe, will know (upon seeing the domain name alone) that the site is UK pound/finance related in some way. However, text and number-based names are not able to put their message across in this instant and powerful way, however descriptive they may be... In comparison, these domains lack passion and identity. They are all, to varying degrees, ambiguous statements (even 'business.com'!) that need further qualification, and none of these names can ever compete with the breath-taking impact and brevity of a symbol. Technically, £.com is a domain name. However, in every practical sense £.com is a business builder, a marketing tool, and the marketing advantages it offers are quite unique and very great. Throughout history, businesses have attempted to offer their products and services in the most efficient and cost effective way possible. Within the last 100 years or so, the marketing industry has evolved tremendously and it is now recognised as the largest industry in the world, the ultimate industry; the force that drives every business. Out of all marketing media, the internet has, over the last 15 years or so, proven itself to be the most efficient way of reaching people and this is becoming more true every day. The way people access the internet, of course, is via domain names. Domains are 'locations' on the net then, much like residential or commercial real estate in the real world. They are also the most efficient marketing statements possible, as never before in business history has it been possible to make one 'statement' (i.e. state your domain name) and have the whole world know where to find your place of business - quickly and easily. Domain names, as marketing statements, have no equal and in the last 5 years it has become possible to have symbols (or graphics) in a domain. Symbol-based domain names have, as we have already discussed, the potential to be far more potent and descriptive than text-based names (e.g. amazon.com) because they actually show and describe to us what a site is about before we've even visited it or seen any kind of marketing message. But that's not all, because they are symbols they can do all of this in the shortest space possible.. one character.. a symbol.. thereby creating the shortest possible domain name along with all the practical benefits that brings.
[The world’s strongest major currency + the world’s most famous brand = £.com] With this in mind, we would suggest that single-symbol (typeable) '.com' domain names (remember, there are only 16 world-wide) are, for many reasons, the most potent/evolved undeveloped marketing statements in the world today.
Throughout history, and in every culture, symbols have been used to identify beliefs, emotions, affiliations and entities. Symbols can be very powerful, and unlike letters and numbers they are able to convey meaning and identity - instantly. As human beings we are naturally drawn to symbols, our brains process them in an instinctive and emotional way. As a form of communication, symbols pre-date modern language (letters and numbers) and are especially impactful today when we consider the barrage of advertising each of us face that is sure to lower our attention span. Today, symbolism can be found pretty much everywhere, from corporate branding to family Coat of Arms.
Yes, it is a real domain just like any other and has the same rights of ownership and use, etc.. To date, the internet has only ever allowed letter (e.g. amazon.com) or number-based domains (e.g. 888.com) or else a mixture of the two (e.g. news24.com). However, thanks to recent advances in internet technology (specifically the advent of IDN; International Domain Names) that has changed, and symbol-based domains such as £.com are now a reality.
To access this domain you need to be in one of the 18 countries that have the £ symbol on their keyboards. For easy access, it is also necessary to use a recent IDN-enabled browser such as Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) or a current version of Firefox or Opera. You may ask, 'Why would I want to install a specific browser just so I can view £.com?! (or a domain like it)'. Installing an IDN-enabled browser just so you can visit an IDN domain, like £.com, is quite impractical and unnecessary. Recent browsers, however, such as IE7, do offer some great advantages over previous browsers... Like the ability to view sites without errors occurring, advanced security, better and more convenient features & add-on's, pop-up ad killers, and so on... And so, over time, internet users will want and need to download & install a recent browser. The internet is not a stagnant media, and users around the world realise they need to keep up with important internet developments and security, and using a new (or new-ish) browser is all part of that.
Many companies around the world make use of business slogans to further identify who they are or what they can do. For example, the Honda company use "the power of dreams", Circuit City are "we're with you" and Wal-Mart stores have "always low prices"... and so on. Most slogans, however, are at best 'aspirational', i.e. they are describing themselves in a way they would like you to see them, and no doubt the slogan is one they would wish to live up to or aspire to; a kind of mission statement, if you will. But how many of these slogans are actually true? How many of them are not unsubstantiated references that require you to use your imagination? It is an interesting example in Wal-Mart's case, because as the world's largest retailer they are in the unique position of being able to pretty much guarantee "low prices" all of the time, and in to the future, and so currently their slogan is justifiable and it makes sense. Via the internet, the UK tea council claim to be "the home of tea" (tea.co.uk), the National Tourism Board for Scotland are "the home of golf" on their site: golf.visitscotland.com, and the well-known publication Horse and Hound (horseandhound.co.uk) are saying they are the "Home of Equestrianism"... and so it goes on. There is nothing wrong with such grandiose comments, so long as they are not taken too seriously and people are not being misled.
If, however, you understand a little about the internet (and IDN) and consider our slogan from every angle, you will appreciate that (in terms of perception) only £.com could ever claim to be "the pounds home on the net".
IDN-enabled browsers are very new, and it may take a little while before they achieve massive saturation throughout the world. When this happens, and everyone has the ability to use IDN then we will develop £.com. We are hoping, however, to have a good-to-strong search engine presence from early/mid 2009 and we will make full use of our internet identity in 'online' and 'offline' promotional activity. This will especially include search engine positioning, email and viral marketing, and outdoor promotion - all of the areas in which a (typeable) 'symbol' domain, like £.com, has unique strengths and advantages.
The domain £.com is a symbol-based IDN, and poundsymbol.com is a letter-based name. They are individual domains that are literal translations of one another, one as a 'symbol', the other a textual description of the symbol. The domain name poundsymbol.com is important as it will allow £.com to pass the all-important 'radio/verbal test', when the premise is developed in the future.
To explain very briefly, when the internet was first developed a method of accessing content was needed and so the Domain Name System (DNS) was created. The domain names it used, however, were entirely based on the English language and so only allowed people to register and access English (Latin-based) domain names. This was all fine for the people who understood English, but not so good for those who didn't.
The majority of internet users (and people in the world generally) do not speak or understand English at all, and so over the course of several years it was decided that domain names should now reflect the many languages of the world, and so IDN (International Domain Names) was created. This will enable non-English speakers, around the world, identify more with the internet and it will help fuel the growth of global e-commerce. IDN is without doubt the most important development to the internet since its (commercial) creation in the early 1990's.
Absolutely not. It is possible, however, to obtain novelty and radical-looking domain names on the internet. For example, domains like 'sports.chat' and 'hi.tech'. These are domain names that are, primarily, offered by a company called New.net. Unfortunately, in order to view these domains users usually have to install the company's plug-in software on their computer. Furthermore, the domain extensions (.chat, .tech, etc..), promoted by New.net, have not been sanctioned or authorised by ICANN, the internet governing body. IDN names, on the other hand, will need no 'plug in' software (only a new browser) and have been fully endorsed and authorised by ICANN. New.net domains are not officially recognised as domain names, and that is reflected in the fact there is comparatively little demand or aftermarket for them. IDN domains, however, are recognised and have legal standing just like English letter or number-based domains. The only difference is that they are Domain Names 2.0, the next generation of domain, and they allow companies and individuals to express themselves more creatively online and in their own language.
Well, yes and no. Yes, in the sense that Microsoft (due to its overwhelming market position) is the only company that could conceivably 'introduce' IDN to the world, through its browser software, and that is now happening. No, in that Microsoft and its browser versions will no longer be essential to the future of IDN once it has had a little time to become implemented around the world. It is interesting to note that Microsoft currently have around 80% of the world's browser market. It would be ridiculous then to suggest that they are not a very important player in the introduction of IDN, as they most certainly are... However, where IDN is concerned, Microsoft may be thought of as the 'gatekeeper' or introducer, and now that they have released the IDN genie (courtesy of the final public version of IE7, released on 18/10/06) there is no way that it will ever go back in the bottle...
It is important to realise that every country in the world wants IDN (and so IDN-enabled browsers) including the UK. It is fundamental common-sense, the next obvious advancement of the internet if you will, as it will allow its citizens to use domain names in their own language and this will be a tremendous growth factor in the development of the internet. But, even if Microsoft (as a virtual browser monopoly) suddenly decide not to support IDN in its future browsers then this will not be a problem as other companies will simply rush to support the demand for IDN and, doubtless, take effective control of the browser market. IDN is not some 'niche' interest that can be ignored, as every country in the world has been demanding IDN-enabled browsers for years, and now the biggest browser company (Microsoft) has finally decided to 'play ball' with their release of IE7. It should be noted that every other browser manufacturer controls a very small share of the browser market, and so they are literally forced in to providing what the public want right away (i.e. IDN) or else they won't hold market share for long.
The final public version of IE7 was released by Microsoft on 18/10/06. To visit Microsoft's IE7 download page, click here.
Have you considered what may happen to the security and performance of your computer (and all the data it contains) if you continue to use an old or out-dated browser?...
Using a current browser helps to protect the security of your computer and enables you to enjoy useful features like e.g. 'multiple tabs' (where you can 'tab' between several websites on one page) advanced pop-up ad killers, and other new options and features. ...and lets not forget, browsers are free, you don't have to pay for them - ever. They also take just a few minutes to download (if you have broadband or are using a disc). The truth is that if you don't keep up to date with internet browsers then, as the net develops, you will be left behind somewhat and in a minority. Website developers around the world create their site content for specific browser versions, and they are now developing for IE7. If you're still surfing using IE5, lets say, then you can expect many websites to appear 'broken' and unprofessional, and not as the website developer had intended ...and, let us also be reminded of the lack of useful features and the inherent security risks in using an old browser. IDN news (20/03/06): Today, at the MIX '06 conference, Bill Gates (Microsoft Chairman) committed Microsoft to release IE browser upgrades more quickly than they ever have in the past. He was quoted as saying "We will be able to [release] a browser much faster than the typical major Windows release cycle. We're already working on the next two releases. And so you can expect to see us moving very, very rapidly there because we see great opportunities". It is worth noting that this accelerated program of browser development (and release) is a new and unprecedented move for Microsoft that will ensure IDN quickly becomes mainstream throughout the world. IDN news (11/07/06): Microsoft have today ended support for Windows 98, Windows Me, and Windows XP Service Pack 1. This means that for these systems there will be no more bug fixes, updates, technical support or indeed support of any kind. This is good news for IDN and means there will now be a direct shift (in emphasis) towards newer IDN-enabled systems and browsers, such as Windows XP, Vista, and IE7. IDN news (18/10/06): The final public version of IE7 has today been released for download, worldwide. Update 24/10: According to Tony Chor, IE Group Program Manager, the browser was downloaded over 3 million times in the first 4 days of release. In addition, Microsoft's competitor browser, Firefox 2 (another IDN-enabled browser), has today been released for download and it too will help to spread IDN useability to every part of the world. Update: 28/10: According to reports, Firefox 2 is (at peak times) being downloaded 30 times per second! IDN news (30/01/07): Microsoft have today released Vista, the latest version of their operating system. Vista includes IE7 as standard, and this will mean that most computers now sold (throughout the world) are IDN-enabled and will be able to access IDN's like €.com and £.com automatically. Advertising Age, have also reported that Microsoft are planning to spend $500mn (in 2007) on marketing Vista in 20 countries. IDN news (01/09/07): According to MarketShare, the service that tracks the % share of internet browsers, IDN-enabled browsers are now at between 51-54% saturation worldwide; all this in less than a year! (98-100% saturation is now expected within a 2-3 year time period). IDN news (21/09/07): Rob Pegoraro, columnist at the Washington Post, today explained (somewhat candidly) why users now need to disown IE6 and upgrade to a better, more recent browser. This is an interesting development and comments such as this will become more relevant and necessary as the weeks and months go by. IDN news (01/01/08): According to MarketShare, the service that tracks the % share of internet browsers, IDN-enabled browsers are now at between 60-63% saturation worldwide; IE7 is now the dominant browser on the internet, having overtaken IE6. IDN news (01/07/08): MarketShare now reports that IDN-enabled browsers are at between 70-74% saturation worldwide. This dramatic, and accelerating, take-up rate to IDN browsers worldwide indicates that our original 2-3 year (98-100% saturation) estimation made on 01/09/07 may have been conservative. * It is understood that our use of the Internet Explorer 7 registered logo (low resolution image) to identify and visually refer to the Internet Explorer 7 browser qualifies as 'fair use' under United States Copyright law. Use of this Microsoft registered logo is purely for illustration purposes and does not imply endorsement of poundsymbol.com (or £.com) by Microsoft, nor does it imply endorsement of Microsoft by poundsymbol.com (or £.com).
email: © poundsymbol.com, 2006-2008 |
sections where, particularly on legislation, members will be able
to quickly and easily 'get to the root' of what something means and
its implications.
on the discussion so people know there is an unresolved issue there!).
Email,
blogging, live video debates, see who has viewed your page.
sections that could give some ideas and help on what to decide. But,
if you are a UK citizen, ask yourself 'What issues are important to
you and your family?'...What aspects of Britain, your finances, or
your daily life would you want to improve or not want to change? How
will tax 'harmonisation' measures really effect you and your
finances?... Do you agree with the EU banning 'Punch and Judy' shows
on the grounds they may incite domestic violence?
