Generic top level domain names now up for grabs
Friday 13th January 2012
UK companies are now able to apply for their own generic top level domain names.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has opened its 90-day application period for generic domain names, having given final approval to the process.
As such, businesses will now have the opportunity to tailor their domain names with a customised suffix, such as .car, .mortgage, .shoes or .football.
Global brands will be able to register domain names using their own brand names should they so choose, increasing the options for internet-based marketing.
However, the need to pay an application fee of $185,000 (£120,000) is set to dissuade some parties from entering the process.
Paid entry does not even guarantee the applicant a generic domain name - should there be more than one application for a particular suffix, ICANN will auction it off to the highest bidder.
Businesses and organisations have until April 12th 2012 to complete their generic top level domain name application.
Posted by Debra Hastings-Henry