Environmental domain names 'are a good idea'

Plans to launch a .eco top-level domain (TLD) name for environment-focused websites are "a great idea", it has been suggested.

According to James Murray, editor of BusinessGreen.com, the initiative by Dot Eco could be seen to be "a prime example" of how the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) intends to diversify the domain name market for the better.

"It will allow an emerging green and clean tech sector to promote itself more effectively and help further highlight environmental issues," he commented.

Dot Eco announced its plans to apply for the .eco TLD earlier this month, with the company receiving the support of former US vice-president Al Gore and his Alliance for Climate Protection.

Most of the profits generated through the new domain names will be distributed among a number of different environmental causes, it was announced.

ICANN intends to increase the number of generic TLDs available to individuals and companies by allowing them to register their own suffix, which may include brand names.

Written by Debra Hastings-Henry