ICANN plans to allow more internet Domain name extensions (gTLDs)

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) plans to increase the number of domain name extensions (i-e gTLD such as .com, .net, .org, .info)


Currently it had allowed only 22 gTLDs(generic top level domains)

This important decision is made at ICANN meeting in Singapore.

This decision was made by votes of ICANN Directors.

The Board vote was 13 approving, 1 opposed, and 2 abstaining.

New gTLDs will change the way people find information on the Internet and how businesses plan and structure their online presence.

This is the biggest change to domain names since the creation of '.com' 26 years ago.

Internet address names will be able to end with almost any word, and be in any language.

"Icann has opened the Internet's addressing system to the limitless possibilities of the human imagination," said Rod Beckstrom, president and chief executive officer for Icann

Global giants such as Apple, Toyota and BMW can launch websites with their own domain name extensions. i-e We can get websites such as www.ipad.apple, www.iphone.apple, www.mainframe.ibm and www.pc.ibm

But it will cost nearly $200,000 even to apply for the suffixes, and companies would need to show they have a legitimate claim to the name they are buying. But I am not sure how ICANN will verify the claim.

Applications for new gTLDs will be accepted from 12 January 2012 to 12 April 2012.

Hnarakis,chief executive of Melbourne IT Digital Brand Services, told that the companies that will benefit most are "big brands with a clear marketing and customer education strategy to exploit the name for competitive advantage."

Hundreds more suffixes could be created beginning as early as late next year.


The new domains could be categorized by subjects including industry, geography, etc.

Brands need to act now if they want to apply for one of these new domain names as it is not as simple as registering a .com address. It is a complex task that needs thought and investment.

Some people feel that the new gTLDs will cause confusion.
For example, assume that we are creating many websites with extension ".qpt" If some one else create a website with .qpt extension, our customers will be confused.

But ICANN believe that this can be managed effectively using appropriate Tools. Let us see how it is going to handle.

I think this new decision will make significant changes in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) also.







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