Many of you may not be familiar with RealNames, a system created to simplify the address used to find a web site.

It does not replace your existing URL, it only points to it. You will still need a standard URL, whether it's a primary or secondary domain name doesn't matter, and neither does your T.L.D.

So your URL could be at a free hosting site like Geocities or you can have your own domain.

As an example, General Motors can have the RealName of Corvette, which would lead to a site about Corvettes. While this sounds great on the surface, for now it's a problem.

What's the problem you say? Simply put, this will only work with special browsers or sites that are RealNames enabled. If you type Corvette into your browser and it's not enabled, it won't work.

Let me ask you this. Is your browser enabled? Do you know anyone who has an enabled browser? Can you name me one site that has an enabled search for you to use? Now you know my problem with RealNames.

What good is it if the masses can't use it? And how does it simplify things if you now have to tell people your RealName AND your URL in case they aren't enabled?

And what about cost? It costs $100 per year per name, almost 3 times the cost of your own domain name. IMHO this is not a cost effective choice. At least not for now.

At some time in the future, if and when RealNames is much more well known and everyone's browser is enabled, I'll revisit this question and I might change my view. But for now, my personal opinion is PASS. $100 per year for what appears to me to be nothing more than a URL forwarding system just doesn't cut it.

So for business use stick with a good dot com for now, or try one of the new specialty TLD's.

Hope this helps.