The Web site domain world is about to get a lot more crowded. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is making plans to add hundreds of new generic top level domain names (gTLDs). There are currently 21 gTLDs available, e.g., .com, .net, and .org. In addition, there are currently 270 country code top level domain names (ccTLDs). With the new gTLD program proposed by ICANN, estimates are that 500 to 1000 new gTLDs will be approved each year after the program is implemented.
The current draft of ICANN’s proposal calls for four kinds of new gTLDs: (1) generic word TLDs, such as .radio or .sport; (2) company TLDs, such as .ibm or .walmart; (3) community TLDs, such as .irish or .teaparty; and (4) geographic TLDs, such as .nyc or .paris. Given these broad categories, the number of new domain names is limitless. However, getting such a gTLD will be pricey. The initial application fee is $185,000, and, if the application is approved, there are annual fees of at least $25,000. But that is well within the marketing budgets of large companies and organizations. ICANN believes the new gTLDs will improve innovation, choice, and competition on the Internet.
ICANN expects to begin accepting applications for the new gTLDs the middle of this year with an anticipated roll out of the approved new gTLDs sometime in 2012.
For more information go to http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtld-program.htm.
« Back to newsSubscribe
