What people will pay for a top level domain

Most will be aware that over the last couple of years companies can apply to be the registry for new top level domains. The application fee is around US$250,000, which provides a minimum level that applicants will think they are worth.

A couple of dozen strings have competing applicants, and if they can’t agree between themselves on who gets the string, then ICANN auctions it off. We have the results of 10 auctions to date, which provides an interesting insight into how valuable different TLDs are seen to be. The winning auction bids were:

1. .app $25,001,000
2. .tech $6,760,000
3. .realty $5,588,888
4. .salon $5,100,575
5. .buy $4,588,888
6. .mls $3,359,000
7. .baby $3,088,888
8. .vip $3,000,888
9. .spot $2,200,000
10. .dot $700,000

I can see .app doing very well. Not so sure about some of the others.

For those wondering .mls stands for multiple listing service, a common term in the US real estate industry.