You’ve heard of .com, .net, and .org. But are you ready for .whateveryouwant?
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), is planning a dramatic rewrite of Web address rules that could effectively demote the importance of the generic norm known as .com. Today there are only a few generic top-level domains, but ICANN wants to make it possible for literally hundreds or even thousands more of these domains.
When typing an Internet address, the top-level domain is what follows the last period in the main server address. There are two broad types, such as the generic top-level domain .com, or the country code top-level domains such as, .jp for Japan or .uk for the United Kingdom. But with ICANN’s expansion, it could include something like .auto or .hotel, or even branded domains such as .ibm or .walmart. Imagine going to support.canon instead of canon.com/support, or iphone.apple instead of apple.com, and you’ll see the direction the new changes will take major businesses.
Back in the early 1990’s when .com addresses became virtual must-have’s for most every legitimate business, companies scrambled to register their own or buy them from those who already owned them, sometimes at extremely elevated cost. But things will be different with the GTLD expansion. For example, instead of registering a domain for a modest fee through a registry such as GoDaddy, those consumers wanting the new GTLD will apply directly to ICANN. But it will be expensive not necessarily for the causal user. Expect around $185,000 just for the application fee, plus an additional $25,000 per year to operate the registry. For secondary domains on a top-level domain, such as sales.hyatt, reservations.hyatt, etc., the first 50,000 will be free, but then cost 25 cents apiece thereafter.
