1. In the next year I predict a major media player ( here or from overseas) will buy a large .com.au portfolio and try to take on fairfax / omg
.... Might be
http://www.sevencorporate.com.au/ but my guess will be someone bigger like
http://www.newscorp.com .
Apparently they got a shock with the fairfax / omg deal and are scrambling to see how they can compete with the potential wipeout they could face against 30,000 fairfax / omg websites
Took some time for senior staff to see how it worked etc.. now they understand the internet and also domain names Im told
Im guessing there will be lots of new $ million sales for good names with good websites ( probably not stores but information... media companies dont want to run stores)
2. The 6 month rule before you can sell will be abolished
3. Auda might start their own drop service ( they made over $2 million in 2002 when they ran the generic auction so why not run it themselves and make more money? )
4. Retail shops and manufacturers will start selling online more ( Geoff Harvey will go into liqidation?). They might keep their brand names or start new online stores in conjunction with their retail outlets etc
5. Limitation on abns, trademarks, acn's will be abolished. The same rules as .com will apply here. Anyone can buy and sell ( free market)
6. DNtrade, Netfleet.com.au and drop.com.au will get HUGE and very popular !