New gTLDs Archives - Page 134 of 141

Today’s The Day: New TLD Applications Close Today

Anyone wishing to apply for a Top Level Domain and has not yet got their application needs to get their skates on. Applications close today.

Anyone wishing to apply for a Top Level Domain and has not yet got their application needs to get their skates on. Applications close today (12 April) at 23:59 UTC.With most predictions around the 1500 mark for applications, and around two-thirds of these predicted to be brand names, there are likely to be a lot of brand names playing their cards close to their chests and not wanting their competitors to know what they are up to.To date there have been few brand names to out themselves as applicants. But last week Google indicated it would be applying for TLDs relating to brand names it has, so it is most likely there will be a .GOOGLE and .YOUTUBE at least.Other brand names to apply include Unicef, Hitachi, Canon, the Australian ISP iinet and the Australian Football League. But most of those to announce TLDs they will be applying for are community groups with applications likely for .MUSIC, .GREEN, .ECO, .SPORT and many others as well as many city and regional names such as .LONDON, .SYDNEY, .BERLIN, .PARIS, .MELBOURNE, .NYC and again, many others.

Google To Apply For .Google, .YouTube And More TLDs, While Facebook And Pepsi Say No

Google will be applying for several TLDs for a number of their trademarks a company spokesperson told Ad Age, while Facebook and Pepsi both said they will not be applying.

Google will be applying for several TLDs for a number of their trademarks a company spokesperson told Ad Age, while Facebook and Pepsi both said they will not be applying.”We plan to apply for Google’s trademarked TLDs, as well as a handful of new ones,” a company spokeswoman said in an emailed statement to Ad Age. “We want to help make this a smooth experience for web users — one that promotes innovation and competition on the internet.”More details were not provided, but as the report notes, expect applications for .Google and .YouTube, among others.The report also notes, and which has previously been reported, that Deloitte will also be applying for a TLD, along with Canon. But few other companies contacted by Ad Age would comment on their plans, with even those that are applying most likely not wanting to tip off their competitors.Brand names that told Ad Age they will not be applying include Facebook and Pepsi.The costs of acquiring and operating a TLD were reasons given for not applying for a TLD by Shiv Singh, global head of digital at Pepsi. Singh also told Ad Age he believed consumers’ browsing habits will take years to alter.”Consumers are always going to think about first going to MountainDew.com or Pepsi.com before they think about Drink.Pepsi,” Mr. Singh said. “And that’s not going to change anytime soon, and maybe not for a few years.”To read the Ad Age report in full, see:
adage.com/article/digital/google-plots-web-domain-buying-spree/234009/

ICANN to Reveal Who Applied for Which gTLD on 30 April

ICANN has set April 30th as its target date to release the list of applications for new generic top level domains, specifying who has applied for which domain names

ICANN has set April 30th as its target date to release the list of applications for new generic top level domains, specifying who has applied for which domain names.

“Our plan always has been to publish the list of applied-for strings approximately two weeks after the close of the April 12th application window,” said Rod Beckstrom, President and CEO of ICANN. “Setting a target date gives people the opportunity to plan for this highly anticipated event.”

Beckstrom also noted that if ICANN receives an overwhelming number of applications to process, publication of the list of strings could be postponed.

To learn more about the new generic Top-Level Domain program, go here: newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/customer-service/faqs/faqs-en

This ICANN announcement was sourced from:
www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-02apr12-en.htm

ICANN: Update on New gTLD Batching

ICANN logo ICANN has developed a system for the batching of applications for new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) if required. According to the Applicant Guidebook if the number of applications significantly exceeds 500, applications will be processed in batches

Click here for additional details about how the batching process will work.Â A video demonstration on the batching system will be available in early April 2012 on the new gTLD microsite.

Applicants will be contacted directly and informed of next steps if batching is necessary.

This ICANN announcement was sourced from:
www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-2-30mar12-en.htm

EBU Sets Sights in .RADIO, .EUROVISION

The European Broadcasting Union has set its sights on the .RADIO and .EUROVISION top level domains. While there will not be any competition for .EUROVISION given its trademarked status, its bid for .RADIO will run into completion with an existing proposal.BRS Media Inc., who describes themselves as a diverse and growing media e-commerce firm that helps traditional and interactive media companies build and brand on the power of the Internet, expressed their interest in the TLD back in April 2009.For over 11 years, BRS Media has engaged radio properties, web sites and online media organisations worldwide to move up to a ‘Great Sounding Web Address’ under the .FM and .AM TLDs. Today some of the highest-profile media properties have a branded web address ending in .FM, including: Last.FM, Power106.FM, DI.FM, Ping.FM, as well as new sites like: Twisten.FM, Sleep.FM and Las Vegas’ 1027Now.FM.But the application from the EBU has the full backing of the World Broadcasting Unions (WBU) and other relevant bodies, will stress that the .RADIO TLD would allow the EBU to create an internet-based platform where the world’s radio broadcasters could assemble. Closer networking ‘under one roof’ would also bolster their position as an indispensible media sector, whose development would be accelerated by new radio services.The EBU Executive Board met in London Wednesday, where a decision was taken to apply for the TLDs.Following the meeting, President Jean-Paul Philippot said the EBU’s application for .RADIO was in the best interests of the radio community and the medium itself.

“The EBU’s acquisition of this TLD will serve a greater good, bringing tangible benefits to radio broadcasters and listeners everywhere,” said Philippot. “Our application includes the firm, written support of the EBU’s seven sister unions, representing the interests of around 50,000 radio stations with a potential reach of some 5.5 billion listeners.”The EBU’s sister broadcasting unions, which together with the EBU make up the World Broadcasting Unions, are: Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU); Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU); African Union of Broadcasting (AUB); Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU); International Association of Broadcasting (IAB); North American Broadcasters Association (NABA); Organizacion de Telecomunicaciones Iberoamericanas (OTI).EBU Director General Ingrid Deltenre said the EBU’s aspirations for the .radio TLD would bring a one-time opportunity to “communitise” the world’s oldest broadcasting medium as never before.”The EBU wants to ensure that the world’s radio community has fair, reasonable access to a domain name that could bring unique impetus to the entire sector,” said Deltenre. “The EBU would administer the .radio TLD in a neutral, reliable and not-for-profit way; it would be regrettable if it fell into hands that do not represent the entire radio community.”

Could gTLD Applications Reach 2000?

Today (29 March) is the closing date when applicants have to be registered in ICANN’s online TLD Application System (TAS) and the number of registered users is growing rapidly. The latest figure published by ICANN shows that as of 25 March there were 839 registered users, up from 556 on 23 March and 329 on 19 March.However as ICANN makes clear, this does not necessarily (and will not) represent the total number of applications since each registrant can apply for up to 50 new TLDs.While there will not be 50 applications per registered user, the consultant FairWinds Partners recently said their clients are applying for 2.72 TLDs each. And if their average of 2.72 TLDs per applicant was the average for all applications, then there will be well over 2000 applications.”Some clients are applying for more than 10,” noted FairWinds, “while some are applying for just one. These clients are all, for the most part, large companies with major, well-known brands. Some are applying for only ‘dot brand’ gTLDs that correspond to their major business, product, or service names, while others are pursuing generic or category terms as gTLDs. Some are applying for both. We are by no means saying that more gTLDs are better – at this point, until new gTLDs have become an established feature of the domain name space, we cannot know what the ‘right’ number of new gTLDs for any given business or other applicant to pursue is. For some, one application makes perfect sense, while others will likely benefit from applying for more.”

Registrations Open For Third .NXT Conference In London

The third .NXT conference will be held in London from 20 to 22 June with registrations now open with early bird rates now available for Â£399 until 12 April

The third .NXT conference will be held in London from 20 to 22 June with registrations now open with early bird rates now available for Â£399 until 12 April.

The conference will be held immediately preceding the ICANN meeting in Prague, which will be held from 24 to 29 June.

Some of the topics to be covered include batching, current reviews, legal opportunities and risks, the Registrar Accreditation Agreement, lessons from a CEO on running a TLD, privacy laws, laws and threats, the Internet Governance Forum, the importance of registrars in setting up a new TLD, SOPA and more.

More information including a preliminary agenda is available from the .NXT website at dot-nxt.com/london.

DNS.be Gains .BRUSSELS And .VLAANDEREN

The Brussels government has joined with the Flemish government and awarded DNS.be the rights to apply for and manage the .BRUSSELS and .VLAANDEREN top level domains

The Brussels government has joined with the Flemish government and awarded DNS.be the rights to apply for and manage the .BRUSSELS and .VLAANDEREN top level domains.

DNS.be will now put together the applications for both TLDs and submit them to ICANN, as well as manage the technical and commercial side for ten years, assuming it is approved.

.SCOT Gets British Government Support

While the campaign for Scottish independence from Britain is controversial, the move for a .SCOT top level domain has proved uncontroversial gaining the support of the British government, with The Scotsman reporting British government ministers are “relaxed” about the proposal.Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland, claimed that Scotland would “soon be independent in cyberspace” and that the internet shake-up would be a “great boost” to Scottish businesses and tourism, The Scotsman noted on Monday.But support is not quite universal with Yorkshire Tory MP Andrew Percy dismissing the idea of .SCOT as “nonsense”. “Scotland hasn’t even voted yet on whether to go independent, and all this is doing is giving Alex Salmond’s Nationalists a propaganda coup,” Percy said according to the report in The Scotsman.But north of the border it was a different story.”Scotland is well on the road to independence, and it looks like we will soon be independent in cyberspace too – the dotScot domain name will be a great boost in promoting Scotland around the globe,” a spokesman for Salmond told The Scotsman.However should Scotland become independent it would then be entitled to its own country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD), and then have two TLDs.

.PHARMACY Set To Give Greater Confidence Searching Online For Pharmaceuticals

One of the touted benefits of the introduction of new gTLDs has been that it could give online consumers greater confidence that who they are dealing with online is actually who they are.

One of the touted benefits of the introduction of new generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs) has been that it could give online consumers greater confidence that who they are dealing with online is actually who they are.And the financial industry is one area. The introduction of a .BANK has the potential to give consumers greater confidence they are dealing with a legitimate financial company. However discussions within the banking industry for their own gTLD appear to be going nowhere for a variety of reasons.But the pharmaceutical industry appears to have grasped the potential with FairWinds Partners announcing they are working with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to submit an application for a .PHARMACY gTLD to “make a vast improvement in the way patients search for prescription drugs online.””This is a community-based application submitted on behalf of the pharmacy community, including independent community pharmacies, chain drug stores, Internet pharmacies, schools and colleges of pharmacy, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and wholesale distributors of prescription medications, for the benefit of the health care community and patients worldwide,” say FairWinds on their gTLD Strategy blog. “The goal of .PHARMACY is to provide those individuals – pharmacists, doctors, nurses, caregivers, patients, and others – a secure space in which to search for information about or purchase prescription drugs online without having to worry about cybercrime or receiving counterfeit drugs.””Currently, online pharmacies rely on the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice SitesCM (VIPPS®) accreditation program, to demonstrate to Internet users that they are safe and legitimate sites. VIPPS-accredited pharmacies are identified by the VIPPS seal that is displayed on their sites. While the authentic VIPPS seal links to the NABP website, the problem is, illegal online drug peddlers can, and do, simply copy the VIPPS logo and paste it on their sites to dupe unwitting consumers.”By contrast, by operating .PHARMACY as a restricted registry, NABP can properly vet each and every .PHARMACY site to ensure that it truly is legitimate, and can take enforcement action against any that do not meet its standards. It will also rely on LegitScript to verify, monitor, and enforce against rogue sites. These efforts, when combined with a public awareness campaign, can go a long way in protecting Internet users from the dangers posed by illegal online drug sellers and harmful counterfeit drugs.”