TECHNOLOGY SPECTATOR: Lining up for a domain showdown

Hundreds of companies are scrambling to register new top-level internet domains, but it may take years for some of the more contentious names to get going.

By Charis Palmer ·
11 Jan 2012

Technology Spectator

Australia's largest domain registration companies, including Melbourne IT and ARI Registry Services, could be about to make a lot of money out of web conflict thanks to the internet real estate grab that new generic top level domains will bring.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names Numbers (ICANN) has been working on a scheme since 2005 which will allow companies or communities to register and manage domains such as .camera, .beer, .apple or .bank.

The application period for registrations opens this Thursday, and closes on April 12, at which time we'll know which companies have staked their claim to a new domain. For now everyone is keeping their cards close to their chest.

Those in the industry are expecting between 1,000 and 1,500 global applicants, but it's not until we know which organisations they are that it will get interesting