GoDaddy to Offer .CA Domains
July 10, 2008 · Print This Article
As most people know, Godaddy is the most popular registrar in the world, thanks largely to their aggressive marketing and reasonable pricing. Unfortunately, one of their shortcomings is that while they offer ccTLDs from around the world, they did not offer .ca registrations. This is about to change in the near future – Godaddy has announced that they have become a Canadian registrar. They hope to be able to offer .ca registrations in one month.
This is sure to shake up the Canadian registrar industry significantly – Godaddy states that they have 5.5 million Canadian customers. Considering that there are only slighly more than 1 million .ca domains registered, it would seem to me that Godaddy already has the market well covered. (I find the figure somewhat astonishing – that means almost all Canadian domain holders don’t own .ca domains).
Godaddy is, of course, launching their entry into the Canadian market with a splash – by being the official broadcast sponsor of the NASCAR Napa Auto Parts 200 on TSN, Canada’s leading 24-hour all-sports network Aug. 2 in Montreal.
Exciting times ahead for the .ca world!
Written by admin · Filed Under Canadian Domains
Big news, I use Godaddy for most of my non-.ca regs, and another registrar for my .ca domains. Got to wonder how many people will start using Godaddy and abandon their existing .ca registrars.
It will be good for the .ca aftermarket though, because having .ca prominent on the Godaddy will just increase awareness and the number of .ca registrations, I think.
I agree completely robb. All it takes is for them to put a targeted upsell for all Canadian customers who are buying non-.ca domains that they should also buy the .ca version. Their reach in Canada is somewhat incredible.
as a long-time canadian godaddy customer, i can tell you that it is good news for domain owners and bad news for canadian registrars. when the industry gorilla moves into our market, there are bound to be massive impacts on all those involved.
im not sure your statement…
“that means almost all Canadian domain holders DON’T own .ca domains.”
…is accurate though. i would venture a guess that most of those 5.5 million godaddy customers are much like myself – in that they are canadian and own both .com and .ca domains. plus its important to remember the canadian presence requirements for owning canadian domains. this is a serious limitation preventing the growth of this market. any form of protectionism inhibits investment and keeps prices unnaturally low.
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Thanks Jamie – good to hear from you! Things are good, just very busy!
That customer number you mentioned is the base worldwide — not their Canada customer base!
Actually Tom, according to this Press Release it seems 5.5 million DOES refer to their Canadian customer base, not their worldwide base.
https://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/news/release_view.asp?news_item_id=177&app_hdr=
Smells like Canadian Bacon in here!
Unfortunately, CanadianBacon.ca is long gone…
Chad, its written in such a way as to make it feel they have a huge Canadian presence. The key word is “some”
The press release says
” While Go Daddy already counts some of its more than … customers in Canada, it’s working to serve even more by introducing .CA to its line-up…
Its good to see more registrars in Canada.