The gTLD .NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone) was the 500th new gTLD to be delegated, with new domains rolling out at an average of one per day.
The New gTLD Program is the Internet’s largest expansion ever, introducing hundreds of new top-level domain names or “strings” which could become available in the next few years. With the first four strings delegated on 23 October 2014, the Program continues to make advancements and enable enhanced competition, innovation and choice.
A few days ago, ICANN updated delegates at the Singapore ICANN meeting, and the video and transcript is available online:
ICANN meetings are not only for registrars by any means, registrars play but a very small part in the processes and discussions. Having been to a couple of meetings in the past, I’ve always found them very interesting from an internet governance point of view, and a great counterpoint to the top-down we-know-best processes elsewhere.
Registration and attendance at the meeting is free. However, you are required to pay for your accommodation and meals. Coffee breaks are provided during the meeting and there are often events in the evenings that you can join.
Historic Milestone for the Internet’s Domain Name System
New gTLD Reveal Day
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) today revealed who has applied for which generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) names in what is expected to become the largest expansion in the history of the Internet’s Domain Name System.
A total of 1,930 new gTLD applications were received during the application period of the new generic Top-Level Domain program.
“We are standing at the cusp of a new era of online innovation,” said Rod Beckstrom, President and Chief Executive Officer. “That means new businesses, new marketing tools, new jobs, and new ways to link communities and share information.”
Beckstrom made the comments during a London news conference, where it was revealed which organizations have applied for which specific domain names.
Senior Vice President Kurt Pritz noted that the applications will now be subject to a public comment and objection period, and a rigorous, objective and independent evaluation system.
“A 60-day comment period begins today, allowing anyone in the world to submit comments on any application, and the evaluation panels will consider them,” said Pritz. “If anyone objects to an application and believes they have the grounds to do so, they can file a formal objection to the application. And they will have seven months to do that.”
Of the 1,930 applications received:
66 are geographic name applications.
116 applications are for Internationalized Domain Names, or IDNs, for strings in scripts such as Arabic, Chinese, and Cyrillic.
Applications were received from 60 countries and territories, broken down by ICANN’s geographic regions;
The countdown for a huge tranche of new top level domain names is well underway* and the list of applied for domains will shortly be made public. One applicant is making their option known now at GlobalINET which is taking place this week in Geneva.
dotAfrica
dotAfrica branding
The .Africa top level domain application is a African Union sanctioned bid to establish a regional internet identity of Africa. Mohamed El Bashir, Chair of the dotAfrica steering committee describes the reason for the domain:
“Africa’s new top-level domain (dotAfrica) will be utilised as a mechanism to promote the development of Africa’s Internet services and ecosystem, and to showcase African pride, identity and know-how.”
The registry will be run by non-profit .za (South Africa) operator, UniForumSA, and they hope the new domain will stimulate the whole African domain name market. Pricing and availability (including any restrictions) will be announced closer to launch.
*The countdown hit a bump in the road in April due to a security issue with the online platform ICANN uses for the process.
ICANN, the organisation in charge of the global domain name system, tonight opens the 3 month process for allowing applications for new top level domains. Top level domains are the ‘right of the dot’ extension on domain names – like .com, .uk, .xxx.
From midnight 12 Jan 2012 until April 12th 2012, anyone who can stump up $185,000 (£119,500) as a processing fee can apply for more or less any domain name extention they like*.
*ICANN has a multi-stakeholder consensus-based decision making process so there are plently of caveats, special cases and discounts for worthy causes.
You can find out more about the process at the newgTLD Icann website.
2020Media offers registration services for domain names worldwide and we welcome the changes ICANN has made. Although it’s likely many of the applications will be by big brands like Facebook and Microsoft for domains that won’t be available for the public, there will still be more choice in the coming months and years.
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