Dot What? - Brief Article

The internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a multi-government-sanctioned organization based in Marina del Rey, Calif., is close to delivering seven new top-level domains (TLDs) to the world. TLDs are the distinctive letters that follow the dot in Internet addresses, such as com, net, or org. ICANN expects to wrap up negotiations and release the new designations, which include aero, biz, info, and museum, by late Spring, says CFO Andrew McLaughlin.

Meanwhile, Pasadena, Calif.-based New.net Inc. has already introduced 20 new TLDs, ranging from inc, ltd, and gmbh, to travel, sport, kids, and family. Unlike those who use ICANN-approved TLDs, surfers who use New.net domains must either download free software that sets up a browser interface, or access the Web via one of New.net's Internet service provider partners.

David Hernand, CEO of New.net, asserts that there is an immediate need for new TLDs, explaining that the fresh domains will "open up the name space." This is particularly beneficial for small businesses, because more descriptive names make Web sites easier to find, says Hernand.

Timothy Appnel, director or technology at New York-based Agency.com Ltd., a global E-business firm, also believes there is a shortage of domain names. "The Internet has seen explosive growth, despite the recent slowdown. Yet the choice of coveted English-language names is extremely limited." As a result, companies are fighting over the same addresses.

Jeffrey Mann, vice president for electronic business strategies at META Group, in Stamford, Conn., does not believe a shortage of domain names is the issue. The better reason for increasing the number of TLDs is to organize, at least to some extent, Web offerings. "It would be useful to have addresses that designated a site's content."

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