CircleID

>>Within 4 months of the actual sunrise launch (by EURid's calendar), individual registrations could be available during the 2005 calendar. I anticipate that we will see individual land rush registration numbers that are unprecedented in a two character TLD launch.>>

Much depends upon the Nexus requirement, and how it is enforced.  In some geographies and ccTLDs, the Nexus agreement is strictly enforced (.SG, for example).  In other geographies, the Nexus agreement exists, but often anyone from anywhere can register (.US, for example).

Although the concept of a physical or geographic nexus allows for national/regional interests to play, in this rapidly globalising world, it sometimes seems outdated.

I hope .EU is a success ... each new TLD that succeeds helps make the global domain industry stronger and more competitive.

EurID has published a new timeline, which seems more right sized for the ambitious project that they are undertaking.

http://www.eurid.org/euDomainNames/timetableLaunch

The key updates are that there have been adjustments to the timeline to begin the Sunrise registrations in the 4th Quarter of 2005, meaning that first-come, first-served registrations would begin 4 months afterwards.  This places the general landrush into Q1-2 of 2006.