Australian domain name resellers have thrown their support behind .au Domain Administration (auDA) in the wake of scathing criticism from Melbourne IT.

Melbourne IT has released a statement claiming that auDa is attempting to update technical specifications for the registration of .au domain names in a -primitive" move will ultimately lead to a suppression of competition in the Australian market.

Bruce Tonkin, chief technology officer with Melbourne IT, told ZDNet that the auDA's plan to adopt new technical standards for the registration of .au domain names would result in Australia becoming isolated from international domain registry markets.

-Before developing a new protocol which is specific to Australia, the auDA should consider adopting the protocols used by international bodies like the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers," Tonkin said.

Tonkin argues that the creation of a new protocol is hypocritical, given the auDA's current push towards increased competition. Tonkin claims the new technical registration standard would inhibit competition in the Australian domain name registration market.

-If the auDA adopts international protocols, the Australian market would be opened up to more competition from global companies, as they would be able to enter the market without setting up a protocol specifically for this country," Tonkin said.

However, Australian domain name resellers have thrown their weight behind the development of a protocol specific to Australia, saying that the adoption of an international protocol would unfairly prejudice their business by allowing global players unprecedented access to local markets.

Julie Barker, director of finance and operations at domain name reseller Domain Registrations, said local companies would suffer if the auDA adopted the ICANN protocols as suggested by Melbourne IT.

-There is already substantial competition within this market, the last thing we need is companies with a global presence a lots of marketing coming in and taking our customers," Barker said.

In opposing the adoption of a new protocol, Melbourne IT argues that it would prejudice smaller domain name resellers and potential registrars as they would have to modify their computer systems to cope with the new addition.

-We operate with several protocols because we work with registrars from all over the world, however some of the smaller domain name registries will find it difficult and expensive to change over to a new protocol," Tonkin said.

However, domain name registries currently reselling Melbourne IT services have come out in support of the auDA, denying the adoption of a new protocol would in any way prejudice their operations.

-I don't expect the adoption of a new protocol to present any problems at all," responded Domain Registrations' Barker.

In fact most are coming out in support of the creation of the new protocol, despite the fact the technical specifications have yet to be finalised.

-If the protocol is designed to make registration processes faster and uniform across the board of .au domains, then this can only benefit the Internet community," said Amin Kroll national sales manager for domain name registration reseller IntaServe.

Kroll also echoed suspicions that Melbourne IT's opposition to the new protocols was driven by alterior motives.

-Forcing resellers to adopt a new protocol will surely jolt many out of their comfort zone with Melbourne IT," Kroll said. -It may even prompt them to consider what alternatives are out there now?"

Resellers are looking forward to the increased competition promised with the auDa's release of requests for tender, which are designed to break the Melbourne IT monopoly on the registration of .com.au domains in Australia.

Chris Disspain, chief executive office of auDA, is refusing to respond to the Melbourne IT claims at this stage, deferring comment until he had discussed the technological issues associated with the proposed protocol further.

Disspain said he would respond to Melbourne IT's concerns before a public meeting to be held next Tuesday to facilitate discussion of the new protocols. Information regarding the meeting is available through the auDA website.

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