Speech by Group CEO, Mark Kumagai at the .shop party
Thank you for joining us tonight for the GMO Registry founding reception. Tonight we are here to get to know you and to share with you the GMO Registry vision for dot shop.
The GMO Internet Group, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan is a group of 57 companies with locations in Asia, Europe and the US. The group employs around 2,000 people. At the core of the group is GMO Internet, a company listed on the first tier of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. We first launched our Internet services business in 1995 and now offer one of the most comprehensive service line ups in the industry In Japan we hold the top share in the domain registration, web hosting, online payment processing, and ecommerce shopping cart markets. We are also number 2 in the domestic SSL security market.
GMO Internet operates Onamae.com the first registrar ever to be appointed by ICANN in the Asia Pacific region.
Onamae.com is currently ranked by Webhosting.info as the seventh fastest growing registrar business worldwide. GMO Internet Group domain registration services manage over one million domains. With a 90% share of the market we are the largest registrar in Japan.
In terms of financial scale, in fiscal 2009 we expect revenue to reach 430 million US dollars, and profits 50 million US dollars.
GMO Registry, the company hosting tonight’s event, was established in July this year as the fifty seventh company in the GMO Internet Group. GMO Registry will focus on new gTLD application and operation services as well as ccTLD registry operation services
Following the New gTLD Program session on Tuesday, it now seems that the new gTLD program will be delayed but when the application round opens, GMO Registry will submit its application for dot shop.
Dot shop makes a URL instantly recognizable as an ecommerce address.
Dot shop is instantly recognizable as an ecommerce TLD.
What do you guys think?
So why is GMO the right choice to operate a dot shop registry?
GMO Internet Group has a proven track record, extensive domain industry expertise and our own technology. We operate shopping cart, payment gateway, SSL security, and marketing solutions all the tools required by ecommerce. All of these services were developed in-house.
We will offer an ecommerce ready product at a competitive price.
The new TLD is an opportunity to develop and expand the ecommerce industry and provide new business opportunities your registrars.
We believe this initiative will change the Internet
This is why GMO Registry and the entire GMO Internet Group is committed to applying for the dot shop domain. We will be in Nairobi next year to take part in the ICANN meeting and introduce the products we can offer.
Together with other new gTLD applicants we can lead new innovation, and development of the Internet. We can change the Internet and change peoples lives.
We urge ICANN to introduce the new gTLD program..
Once again thank you for joining us tonight, we appreciate your support and please enjoy your evening. Thank you.
