Amazon and Google are applying for dozens of domains including .cloud, .buy and .book to liberalise internet along with addresses attracted 1,930 applications. The liberalisation of top-level domains beyond the fewer than two dozen in existences - dominated by .com, .org and .net - is believed to stimulate competition and innovation by giving organisations more control over their Web presence.
Jonathan Robinson, Non-Executive Director, Afilias, said, “At the highest level, this is all about creating competition to .com. That’s where short, memorable, distinctive three-letter type terms become very interesting. Our organisation already provides key infrastructure for .org, .info and .mobi.”
ICANN will now spend the rest of the year assessing the applications, with contested domains going to auction where more than one party has a legitimate claim. The first new domains are likely to come online in the first half of 2013.
Rod Beckstrom, Chief Executive, ICANN shared, “The plan we have delivered is solid and fair. It is our fundamental obligation to increase innovation and consumer choice.”
