Lat week Ram Mohan stated: The unanswered larger issue is the inability of current mail systems to handle local scripts to the left of the "@" symbol. Much work is going on in the IETF to build a protocol that aids this. So - at this time, you can't really do <localscript>@<localscript>.IDN and expect it to work seamlessly all over the web. This statement makes it clear to me that not all necessary technical elements are in place yet (unless you're prepared to accept an IDN domain without fully functional email communication -- and that doesn't strike me as being in the users' best overall interest). Neither do I see the present WHOIS system as capable of rendering registrant contact details in a native script. I also recognize that one of ICANN's Core Values is: "To the extent feasible and appropriate, delegating coordination functions to or recognizing the policy role of other responsible entities that reflect the interests of affected parties". In this matter I view ISO as having a coordinative function; it will be up to the board to decide whether it is feasible and appropriate for ISO to engage in the IDN work. Roberto apparently doesn't view it as feasible. OK. That's his view. But we should hear from the full board on this score and likely we should request a consultation with the ISO. --- Roberto Gaetano <roberto@icann.org> wrote:
I think Siavash has already argumented well, but let me add that I do not believe that ISO, or whoever else, will *ever* come up with an authoritative list of IDN Country Codes, for the simple reason that there is no businedd case for it. In simple words, to develop a standard costs money, and if there is no interest it is simply not going to be done. So, to wait for a globally recognized standard means to wait forever.
If, on the other hand, we are talking about technical standards, Danny is completely right, but I believe that we do have them already.
Cheers, Roberto
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