Waves of Domain Name Extension Application Revealed by ICANN
New Domain Name Extension Applications
It seem the recent deregulation of top level domain name extension by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) last year has brought about a significant change in the number of companies and groups applying to register their own top level domain name extension. Even if only a handful of this application succeed, the number or web addresses on the Internet will double in the next year or so.
Applying for a domain name extension is quite simple as long as you have the £120,000 or so registration application fee and an annual renewal fee of about $18,000 and of course, the infrastructure to run your own domain extension.
It was revealed today by ICANN that almost 2,000 application for new domain name extension has been submitted, they range from large corporation such as BBC applying for a .bbc to commercial organisation trying to cash in on running a top level domain name applying for domain extension such as .baby, .law and other profession related extension. Some companies apply for an extension for their popular brand for example Google apply to register .youtube, .Google and .lol . Application for country such as .wales were made by Nominet UK and an organisation applied to register the domain extension .london.
A spokes person for ICANN said having money to run the domain extension is not the only consideration, your application must be supported by a strong case for the domain extension you are applying for the directors of the organisation must pass rigorous checks including criminal and financial checks.
Some domain name extension received such as .apps received more than one application, such domain extension are likely to spark a bidding war between the organisation competing to register the extension.
Quick Facts
Total Application: 1,930
North America: 911 applications
United Kingdom: 44
Europe: 675 applications
Asia-Pacific: 303 applications
Latin American and the Caribbean: 24 applications
Africa: 17 applications
Non-Latin alphabets: 116