WordPress.com Introduces 100-Year Plan: A Glimpse into the Future of Web Hosting
In a bold move, WordPress.com has recently unveiled its 100-year plan, offering customers the opportunity to secure their online presence for a century. Priced at $38,000 for a one-time payment, this plan is one of the longest available in the industry, promising managed WordPress hosting, multiple backups across geographically distributed data centers, submission to the Internet Archive, 24/7 dedicated support, and a domain that doesn’t require renewal for a hundred years.
While this may sound like an enticing offer, it raises questions about the future of domain names and the longevity of web hosting providers. ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, currently limits domain registration to a maximum of 10 years. After this period, customers need to renew their domains on time and keep their payment methods updated. The 100-year plan eliminates these uncertainties but relies on the assumption that the registrar will stay in business for the next century.
To invest in the 100-year plan, customers must have unwavering confidence in WordPress.com and believe that domain names will continue to play a crucial role in the architecture of the web for decades to come. It’s a significant commitment that requires a long-term perspective on the future of the internet.
During his presentation at WordCamp US 2023, Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg discussed the challenges of pricing the 100-year plan. He also expressed his reservations about offering lifetime licenses for WordPress products. Mullenweg believes that lifetime licenses create open-ended commitments that can be problematic for accountants and acquirers. Instead, he suggests offering plans with finite lengths, such as a 20-year plan. Mullenweg’s stance reflects a desire to reexamine practices and make responsible promises to customers.
Mullenweg drew inspiration from the Long Now Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering long-term thinking. The foundation’s most notable project is the “Clock of the Long Now,” a mechanical monument designed to keep accurate time for the next 10,000 years. WordPress.com aims to create a digital equivalent, allowing individuals to create lasting monuments and preserve their online presence for generations to come.
The introduction of the 100-year plan also highlights WordPress.com’s role as a domain registrar. The company recently made a bid to capture Google Domain customers, positioning itself as a reliable host for long-term domain management. While the 100-year plan may be out of reach for most customers due to its high price, it demonstrates WordPress.com’s capability and commitment to hosting entrusted domains for the long haul.
However, the future of web hosting remains uncertain. What will URLs point to in 50 years? Will they become obsolete as new methods of identifying web addresses emerge? These questions raise important considerations about longevity in the digital world. While nobody, including WordPress.com, can predict what the internet will look like in the coming decades, the introduction of the 100-year plan sparks thought and discussion about the future of web hosting and domain management.
In conclusion, WordPress.com’s 100-year plan offers customers an opportunity to secure their online presence for an extended period. It challenges the limitations set by ICANN and raises questions about the future of domain names and web hosting providers. With its commitment to long-term thinking and inspiration from the Long Now Foundation, WordPress.com aims to create a digital monument that withstands the test of time. While the future of web hosting remains uncertain, this ambitious offering invites us to ponder what longevity looks like in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
