Internet domain names in Asian languagesKihei 26 September 2000 Domain name registrar 1stDomain.Net, based in Hawaii's supercomputer center on Maui, allowing for fast connections between the US and Asia, will process multilingual domain names in the Japanese, Chinese and Korean languages.
Forrester Research has found that, at the moment, only 50 percent of Internet
users speak English, and by 2005, it is estimated that only a third of the
Internet users will use English for online communication.
about $4 billion in 1999 to $693 billion in 2003, according to a recent report
from Andersen Consulting. By the end of 2000, South Korean e-commerce is
expected to surpass $1 billion, up from $88 Million in 1998. Forrester Research
states that businesses that present their websites in English only are actually
reducing their revenue base.
Analysts of the multilingual domain name market expect it to grow rapidly, as it
will simplify Web navigation by allowing surfers to use their native language.
The new system will broaden the Internet usage to those who are not familiar
with English and English keyboards. This optimism is supported by a recent
survey in Korea. Gallup Korea and BESTCite unveiled the result of their joint
polls, finding that nine out of ten respondents expressed their willingness to
use Korean-language domain names.
Ad Emmen |
 |