.bit domains and namecoin

[MrPiggles]

A couple questions about the namecoin domains

1) is there a timeframe for when .bit domains will work as part of the normal internet?

2) there is no registrar who can suspend your domain on .bit correct?

[MrPiggles]

No one knows?

[wbaw]

1) they do already, there's no timeframe for when most people adopt it, but some work will be done towards that goal - since it's free, open source & a good idea, feel free to help.
2) that's correct

DNS is pretty broken, needs replacing with a better system & namecoin, or something like it might be that better system in future. Even ICANN has expressed some support for the idea recently, but namecoin isn't really all that it could be yet, it has potential to be a lot more useful with some more development. They recently added support for storing identity information too & I think there's more work planned too.

[MrPiggles]

Er, I mean when will they work like normal domains, 99.9% of people are not going to do the following to access a domain:

Use of the .bit domain requires a copy of the Namecoin blockchain, a supporting public DNS server, or a plug-in.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.bit

[wbaw]

There's a Firefox plugin & maybe more 3rd party DNS servers will support it too so you'll just need to change dns settings. It'll be many years before ICANN adopts it & most of the internet switches over, but it does at least look like a possibility now, I thought it was just a fantasy a few weeks ago. There are ways that you & everyone else can help to speed that process up by adopting it & supporting it.