Chris Ambler
Chris (Christopher) Ambler is the founder of Image Online Design, IOD, Inc.;[1] and, arguably, the first person to obtain a new gTLD through IANA for his .web registry.[2] He previously worked at Demand Media, GoDaddy, Expedia, Logitech and with Microsoft.[3] Chris currently works as the Director of Domains at Corporate Tools.
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| Country: | USA |
| Email: | chris[at]ambler.net |
| Website: | |
| Facebook: |  Chris Ambler
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| LinkedIn: |  Chris Ambler
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| Twitter: |  @TheDogberry
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Chris Ambler grew up in Los Angeles and attended the University of California, Riverside for one year. In the early 80s he moved to San Luis Obispo, California and enrolled in Cal Poly. Chris began to spend time developing computer applications, and then started his own company, Image Online Design Inc. in 1995. [4]
Chris currently lives in San Francisco, California, having relocated there in 2014 after spending 17 years in Seattle. He has two children, Caitlin and Jason. [5]. He is an accomplished photographer and musician. Chris does not like kale.
.web Generic Top-Level Domain Issues
In 1995, Christopher Ambler's company IOD, submitted the first request to own and obtain the TLD, .web.[6] According to Ambler, "I was writing a check for $3,000 to Network Solutions for 30 domain names (in those days, it was $100 each for 2 years) and I thought, Wait a minute, this is silly – I can run a zone server just as easy as NSI can!"[7] So, he applied for a delegation for .Web through IOD; and launched .web, a new unrestricted TLD after receiving permission from IANA.
IOD has been trying to get their domain into the official root through several plans to admit new TLDs. When ICANN accepted applications for new TLDs in 2000 , IOD's application was not approved, nor was it officially rejected.[8]
Career History
- Chris worked as Software Developer at Microsoft Corporation from July 1997 to July 2000.[9]
- He was the founder and the Chief Technology Officer at Image Online Design, Inc.
- He is currently Director of Domains at Corporate Tools.
- He also worked as Chief Software Strategist at eNom and transitioned to Demand Media. He was at eNom/DM from 2003 to 2012.
- He also worked as a Principal Software Architect at GoDaddy from 2014 to 2021.
Writing
Chris blogs at BitParts, treats his Facebook as a public journal, and wrote for the GoDaddy Garage. He has written many science fiction short stories and may even sell one some day, but that day is not today.