ICANN has sat up and taken notice when it comes to the shady practices of “domain tasting”. I hate to be one to call myself a profit, but back on podcast 138 I am pretty sure I said:

Where is ICANN with this type of practice? I say if they were all over RegisterFly for what they were doing then Network Solutions really should not be treated any differently.

ICANN Comes in to Save the Day!

I am happy to see ICANN has decided to stand up and do something about this money grubbing nonsense. Under current ICANN rules, anyone who registers a new domain name has a five-day grace period to back out and receive a total refund. The problem is people use this period to test how well the domain name does in the real world and also slap ads all over it to make a buck.

So what is the solution? ICANN is talking about charging the ICANN registration fee right from the start instead of waiting. That way companies and individuals would get less of a “freebie”. The cost would be picked up by the domain name register and hopefully this would end the practice of people testing to see how profitable a domain name is for free.

What About Front Runners?

This will also hurt companies like Network Solutions that have started “front running” domains (a fancy name for the same dirty tactics). This is where a domain name register will register your domain name searches and offer to resell them to you for a higher price.

The whole thing kinda reminds me of the mafia and being called in to “do a favor” for the godfather himself. Google is also getting a chance to get some positive press out of all of this. They said that they will no longer allow AdSense revenue to be collected on domains that are less than four days old. Now that will cost Google some big bucks but nice to see that they are doing the right thing. What they are losing in finances they are gaining in public trust in praise.

The hosting doctor is in and is ready to see you now. There are several sicknesses out there in the web hosting world that could bring you down.

I’ll inform you about those, and let you know of a few hyper-linked medications to check out too. The Web Hosting Show includes no side effects and an awesome orange-like flavor I’m sure you will enjoy.

Download the Web Hosting Show, Episode 140!
Running Time: 14 minutes | File Size: 6.23 MB

Here are just a few topics from this week’s episode of the Web Hosting Show.

• A Cool New Visual Trace Route Tool!
• Thing is Web Hosting That Make Me Angry!
• ICANN and Google Hopes to Stop Domain Tasters?
• Fighting Terrorists via Web Hosts and Data Centers?
• Advice on How to Get Your Name Out There!

I am your medical malpractice for the hosting world ready to happen and I welcome you into my offices yet again to talk about web hosting, web development, domains, terrorists and even a few things that make me angry. Don’t make me angry, you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry!

From time to time, I get a damned good e-mail that I have to share. This one from Phil asks a question that I thought was well worth looking into:

Hi Mitch, great podcast I try to download each show weekly. I was bitten by the RegisterFly.com problems a while back and today while browsing to their web site it looks like they are still in business? How can this be?

RegisterFly’s demise as an ICANN accredited register was one of the biggest hosting stories of last year. These days you don’t hear much about it though. Technically, yes - they are and can still be in business.

Look Back at the RegisterFly Mess

Back inn 2007, ICANN launched an investigation of RegisterFly since there were a lot of allegations they were sticking it to the customer. With other issues and lawsuits that followed, the RegisterFly co-owners Kevin Medina and John Naruszewicz had a breakup of their own. The road was rocky, the public was mad and then it was made known by an unsealed class action lawsuit that there were claims RegisterFly defrauded customers trying to register or renew domain names.

According to Wikipedia, one of the early lawsuits within RegisterFly was pretty hilarious.

Meanwhile RegisterFly filed suit against Kevin Medina, alleging he had stolen company funds for a $27,000 escort service, a $6,000 liposuction procedure, a $10,000/month penthouse apartment in Miami, Florida and a $6,000 chihuahua dog.

March 31, 2007 was the date that ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) removed RegisterFly’s ICANN accreditation and told them to take the ICANN logo off of their web site. Skipping ahead though the legal mumbo-jumbo they could no longer act as a domain name register themselves and had to give up the domain name registrations they had done to ICANN. GoDaddy and other companies stood up and offered the RegisterFly refugees a home for their domains and that pretty much catches us up to the present date and time.

So Why is RegisterFly Still Around?

Well, this message from Robert O’Neal, Chief Executive Officer for RegisterFly should give you a candy coated reason:

We are an authorized reseller of domain names, the same as we have been for 6 years prior, this has not changed. We are NOT OUT OF BUSINESS as the message may imply to some.

So they can’t act as a domain name register themselves, like a GoDaddy can but they can resell domain names to you, like many web hosts do out there though a reseller service. This is how they did business before becoming an accredited register. So technically they are no longer a domain name register, they are just reselling somebody else’s registration services to you.

Got a little ‘bit of something for everybody on today’s show. From a recap of RegisterFly’s mess to the price you pay for really cheap web hosting the shock and awe Web Hosting Show campaign starts right now. No caucus needed, but plenty of topics that should stir debate.

Download the Web Hosting Show, Episode 136!
Running Time: 15 minutes | File Size: 6.80 MB

Here are just a few topics from this week’s episode of the Web Hosting Show.

• How can RegisterFly keep registering domain names?
• Tip on how to use Google Calender to organize your hosting mess!
• Mitch’s web hosting new year resolutions!
• Learn how to create a static web site using WordPress!
• What is the price you pay for your cheap hosting plan?
• No midgets and/or fairies were harmed in the production of this podcast!

From coast to coast and over the seven seas the Web Hosting Show is back to broadcasting the feel good web hosting talk, tips and so much more. Little known fact - but in 2007 the show you are listening to right now was downloaded by people in 160 different countries!

Why is it that people from the dirty south get looked down upon in the web hosting world? You might not know it - but you too might even be getting your hosting from one of us good ol’ boys. Discrimination by location and tons more on this edition of the Web Hosting Show.

Download the Web Hosting Show, Episode 129!
Running Time: 13 minutes | File Size: 5.92 MB

Here are just a few topics from this week’s episode of the Web Hosting Show.

• Google PageRank Updates and Debate
• Discrimination Against Southerners in Hosting
• How to Backup Using cPanel
• Best of the Forum Scripts
• ICANN Investigates Insider Domain Registrations

Get your vienna sausages and oversized cup of coffee ready because I am going to deliver the dull and boring world of web hosting and web development in a way never before seen or heard. Here on the web hosting show we deliver you real hosting talk with none of the angry fan boys.

So what are the top three news stories in the Web hosting industry this week?

Ping! Zine Gets New Layout and Design

We have unveiled a brand new look here at pingzine.com with a number of great, new interactive features such as the Ping! Zine blogs and newsletter. Take a look around and don’t hesitate to send us your feedback.

It does look a heck of a lot more advanced than the old version. How will Ping! Zine’s blog compete with The WHIR’s blogging team? I’m on the outside on both accounts - so I’ll sit back with the rest of you and see who tops who with the most interesting and informative topics.

RegisterFly Terminated by ICANN

On Friday, ICANN officially terminated its Registration Accreditation Agreement (RAA) with RegisterFly. Paul Twomey, the president and CEO of ICANN, said “Terminating accreditation is the strongest measure ICANN is able to take against RegisterFly under its powers”.

I bet your asking, “Why doesn’t ICANN do more?” and you deserve an answer. The truth of the matter though is they can not do much more to fix this situation. This is the biggest fly swatter that ICANN has and it is nice to see they finally used it. I just wish there was faster way to resolve this whole RegisterFly mess.

1&1 Reveals Survey Results

Web hosting provider 1&1 Internet announced on Thursday it has conducted a survey that found that more than 30 percent of small business owners said they have opted to use a do-it-yourself package to create their organization’s Web site.

Let me conduct a little survey of my own. Everybody who thinks conducting a survey with obvious results is a lame excuse to spit out a press release raise your hand.

Related Podcast Link: Listen to Episode 100!

Here are some of the latest hosting headlines to catch my attention and eyeballs.

GoDaddy Launches Domain Club

It looks like last week the folks over at GoDaddy launched a new domain club for folks that purchase a lot of domains. Now if you find yourself in this boat - good news for you, they are offering a ton of services with this deal. For around $90 a year or so - you get:

• Cheap Domain Names! Yes, Very Cheap!
• Free Domain Parking - With Ads! (so you can rake in some of the green stuff)
• Free Membership to GoDaddy’s Domain Auction Service!
• Discounted Domain Buy Service - Stalk the domains you really want cheaper!

So is this a deal or steal? Well, I would have to say if you find yourself buying a lot of GoDaddy domains through the year, this service is for you. For those of you who maybe purchase one or two and that is it? This might not be your cup of domain name tea.

RegisterFly About to Get Swatted Down

Speaking of domain names, the folks at RegisterFly are about to get swatted down themselves. Here is some inside information I found at the DomainTools.com Blog.

RegisterFly is in chaos right now. We are hearing reports that private registration in the whois, which consumers thought protected them, may do the opposite. Private registrations shields the identity of who owns the domain, which means the only company that can help you if something goes wrong is your registrar.

With this on top of their recent issues with ICANN - can RegisterFly survive? I have a feeling they are heading straight for that big bug zapper in the sky, but I guess time will tell with this one. I just feel sorry for their customers who are the ones being hit hardest with the proverbial fly swatter.

Related Podcast Link: Listen to the Web Hosting Show, Episode 97!