[ncdnhc-discuss] Fwd: DotCoop goes live today

[Chris Bailey]

>Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2002 16:33:08 -0000
>Subject: DotCoop goes live today
>To: "chrisbailey at gn.apc.org" <chrisbailey at gn.apc.org>
>From: "Malcolm Corbett" <malcolm.corbett at poptel.coop>
>List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:leave-coop-contacts-359D at halibut.int.poptel.net>
>Reply-To: "Malcolm Corbett" <malcolm.corbett at poptel.coop>
>
>Hi,
>The new .coop top level Internet domain registry goes live today at 12.00
>EST / 17.00 GMT / 18.00 CET. Exclusively for the use of the world's
>cooperative movement, .coop is a major step forward for 750,000
>value-based enterprises with 750 million members. One of just seven
>ICANN-approved new top level domains, creating .coop has been a tremendous
>undertaking for the main partners - the Washington-based National
>Cooperative Business Association, UK Internet cooperative Poptel and the
>International Cooperative Alliance in Geneva.
>
>High level endorsement for .coop has been obtained from both the United
>Nations and the European Union. Attached is the press release issued today
>by the DotCoop alliance.
>
>For more information about .coop please email support at communicate.coop or
>visit the website www.coop (after 17.00 GMT)
>
>With best wishes,
>Malcolm Corbett
>
>P O P T E L
>DotCoop Registry Operator
>Global Launch: 30th January 2002
>One Member. One Vote. One Domain
>T. +44 20 7284 6900
>M. +44 7770 896534
>W. http://www.poptel.coop - http://www.coop
>
>
>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>30th January 2002
>
>.COOP INTERNET DOMAIN GOES LIVE
>New domain will differentiate co-operatives in a sea of .coms
>
>.Coop, the brand new Top Level Domain (TLD) exclusively for use by the
>co-operative sector, will launch global operations today, making domain
>name registration available to all co-operatives worldwide. The new domain
>will enable co-operatives to differentiate themselves on the Internet and
>giveconsumers the opportunity to instantly recognise an online brand they
>can trust.
>
>In contrast to .com, many of whose users have famously sunk on a tide of
>hype, participants wishing to register a .coop domain must meet strict
>qualification criteria based on tried and trusted co-operative principles
>established over 150 years.  Applications will be independently verified
>to ensure that only co-operatives are using the domain.
>
>Before today's worldwide launch, only .coop Founders were eligible to
>register .coop names and over 4,000 names have already been reserved.
>However, from today onwards, all co-operatives will be able to claim a
>piece of prime online real estate for themselves.
>
>.Coop has received support from both the United Nations and the European
>Union. Mr Nitin Desai, Under Secretary General in the United Nation's
>Department of Economic and Social Affairs said, The launch of .coop marks
>an important new development for the world's co-operative movement.  This
>new domain will provide a unique and important opportunity to promote
>co-operative principles and values, and to demonstrate how these are
>reflected in their business ethics, their solidarity and their ability to
>promote economic and social development.
>
>The United Nations and its partners are working steadfastly towards
>bridging the digital divide between developing countries and the rest of
>the world, and .coop represents a positive step towards this goal. In this
>regard, the new United Nations Guidelines will encourage the creation of a
>supportive environment which can lead to a better understanding of
>co-operatives, promote their identity and strengthen the international
>co-operative movement, including support for new initiatives such as
>.coop.
>
>Support for .coop has also come from the European Union. Mr Erkki
>Liikanen, the EU Commissioner with responsibility for Enterprise and the
>Information Society commented, "The new .coop top-level domain name will
>be an important tool in differentiating co-operatives from other
>businesses in the e-economy. Not only will it provide greater visibility
>for co-operative enterprises and organisations, it will also contribute to
>bridging the digital divide through its "digital divide fund". I therefore
>wish it every success."
>
>
>Note to editors
>.Coop is a new top-level Internet domain (TLD), which is available for use
>only by co-operatives and co-operative support organisations across the
>globe.  It, and six other new TLDs, were approved by the Internet
>Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to join .com and .org
>on the Internet in order to relieve crowding in the .com space and add
>value to web site names.
>
>Co-operatives can use the domain names they purchase immediately. The new
>.coop domain is sponsored by National Co-operative Business Association
>(NCBA), with international marketing support provided by the International
>Co-operative Alliance (ICA), the global organisation representing
>co-operatives and technical registry services provided by Poptel, a
>UK-based Internet co-operative. For information about .coop names, or to
>register .coop names, please visit www.coop.  Technical advice is also
>available from this site.
>
>The .coop website will be be live from 1700 GMT (1800 CET) on January 30
>2002.
>
>A photograph featuring the original  co-operative Founders and the
>Founders of .coop taken at the birthplace of the co-operative movement in
>Rochdale, England is available at:
>http://www.pims.co.uk/pressreleases/persuaders/cooptext.jpg
>
>Contact details
>European Media:
>Persuaders PR
>Jez Verity
>+44 1423 779 329
>+44  0781 627 9048
>persuaders6 at hotmail.com
>
>United States
>DotCoop
>Jeannine Kenney
>Tel: 001 202 383 5456
>Mobile: 202 215 0489
>Email: jkenney at ncba.coop