>
> The only time I saw it discussed at all recently, was when I made note of the
> open sourced third level domain registry package I am getting very
> close to releasing, which has those services bundled into it. Other
> than that, just the always present newcomers asking if anyone has a
> way to provide those services for them.
>
> I for one would be greatly disturbed if OpenSRS started offering those
> services. That's an issue for the RSPs to handle on their own, and is
> encroaching on the services of the RSPs.
We are actively engaged in developing a number of what we refer to as
"APS" - Ancillary Products and Services.
Our prime motivation with releasing these APS is in providing additional
potential revenue streams to our RSPs and business partners. Specific
examples that we may or may not release might include email services,
usenet, storage space etc. However, the underlying mechanisms behind
provision of these services almost identically resemble what we are
currently doing with .com etc.
I completely understand what you are saying William, but I think that the
fallacy in your logic may lie within the fact that we would be potentially
providing these services directly to your end users. In fact, the this
couldn't be further from the truth.
About 4 months ago, we embarked upon a process to expand the breadth and
depth of the wholesale products and services available from us for resell
to end users by our RSPs. Nothing that we are looking at will ever be
so directly to end users by Tucows, with the exception of what we are
already doing with Domain Direct.
The decision to offer these APS is very much left to the individual RSP.
We perceive a number of benefits for our RSPs in this model, primarily the
fact that you can deal with a single source provider for a number of
essential services. One technical support contact, one account balance
etc.
I'd love to talk more about this, feel free to keep the convo going. I
mainly wanted to make sure that everyone involved was distinctly aware
that in no way were we contemplating a business model similar to NSI,
Register.com, Bulk etc. where we would be competing directly with you for
your end customers cash...
-rwr
Ross Wm. Rader
Director Product Management,
Channel Platform Group
Tucows Inc.
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
t. 416.535.0123 x335
f. 416.531.5584
"Embrace the cow, love the cow.
And remember, Winsock means love."
