Two years ago, MINC [1] initiated a project to evaluate the formation of an Internationalized Domain Names (IDN) Interoperability Testbed. In view of the time lag of issuance of IETF standards, this was postponed till late last year 2002 [2] when the IETF standards were impending, when MINC Board passed a resolution to set up Interoperability Testing and noted that a subsequent call for participation was impending.
In early this year 2003, a MINC document for setting up an Interoperability Testbed was circulated for comment [3]. Based on extensive feedback from that document, drafts have been iterated and a final version of the tender document for MINC IDN Interoperability Testbed has been achieved.
In addition, now that IETF proposed IDN standards (RFC 3490, 3491 and 3492) have been published, MINC has engaged a contractor to set up the tender process, and is presently making the invitation to potential tenderers to bid for operating the MINC Interoperability Testbed. Subsequent to this, we will be expecting a call for participation in this Interoperability Testbed.
The MINC Website http://www.minc.org will contain the latest information about the tender, and all interested parties are requested to respond to sec@minc.org by 10am GMT+0800h SST (i.e. 10 am Local Singapore Time) on 14th July 2003.
MINC Chairman, Khaled Fattal, has appointed an Interoperability Testing Committee comprising Milton Choo, Tan Tin Wee, Dongman Lee and Sergey Charikov to provide oversight for this MINC activity. Said Fattal "This is a vital step in the overall delivery of true IDN and the multilingualization of the global Internet and will further ensure its proper development, deployment and stability."
[1] MINC Statement on Internationalised Domain Names and Interoperability Testing. 12 March 2001
[2] MINC Announces Interoperability Testing For Internationalized Domain Names. 4 Nov 2002
[3] Release of MINC Document on Interoperability Testbed: Request For Comments. 25 Feb 2003.