Tuesday, June 21, 2011

ICANN opens up for more top level domains

 THE INTERNET Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is pushing ahead with plans to increase the number of generic top level domains (gTLDs) and will open up applications for additional suffixes.
In a vote in Singapore, which ICANN said ushered in "one of the biggest changes ever to the Internet's Domain Name System", the board voted 13 to 1 in favour of adding gTLDs and agreed plans to increase the number of TLDs from its present 22.
"ICANN has opened the Internet's naming system to unleash the global human imagination. Today's decision respects the rights of groups to create new Top Level Domains in any language or script. We hope this allows the domain name system to better serve all of mankind," said Rod Beckstrom, president and CEO of ICANN.
ICANN will accept applications for new gTLDs from January of next year through 12 April, and it is expecting to receive a range of applications in a variety of languages.
"Today's decision will usher in a new Internet age," said Peter Dengate Thrush, chairman of ICANN's board of directors. "We have provided a platform for the next generation of creativity and inspiration."

The INQUIRER

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