Entry No.83e

IT Writers Awards

Would you like to be the world's richest man? Sydneysider Carl Anderson wants everything that Microsoft's chairman Bill Gates has, starting with the name.

The first step cost just AU$84 -- the fee for changing his name via deed poll in November 1998. Next, a matching domain name: Billgates.com.au.

He has since created his own Internet design company called Microhard Web Page Design (microhard.com.au).

"I'm much cooler. I'm the Bill Gates everybody wants Bill Gates to be," 'Aussie Bill' said. But on a more serious note, "I don't profess to be the richest or most intelligent man in the world. I'm actually a Bill Gates admirer, I like the guy," he said.

Aussie Bill admits that he and his Microsoft namesake don't look alike -- he often has to flash identification to prove his name is authentic.

But perhaps there is a shared entrepreneurial streak. Aussie Bill owns a number of domain names including hotmale.com.au, which puts a different spin on the similarly-named Microsoft Web-based e-mail outfit. He also owns Ozemale.com.au - not to be confused with one of Australia's best-known ISPs.

"I am a cybersquatter to a certain degree, I have to confess that. But as a Web designer I can make myself more valuable to a client if I've got a good collection of domain names," he said.

Aussie Bill told ZDNet Australia that he intends to build content on all of the sites that he owns, although he admits he would be willing to part with his "little empire" for a substantial fee.

"Of course I will part with it for money. I'd be willing to go back to Carl Anderson for a fee, as long as it has six zeros in it."

Bill Gates -- of Microsoft fame -- is due in Sydney on Monday to give a presentation to the IT community and media on the software giant's .Net strategy. He will appear in Melbourne Tuesday.

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