The Hindu Business Line : Net domain name system gets 10 applications

AS part of the process of expanding the Internet's domain name system, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has received 10 applications for sponsored top-level domains(sTLDs). Domains that have been applied for include `.asia'; `.post'; `.mail'; `.travel'; `.tel' and `.jobs'.

While an un-sponsored top-level domain operates under policies established by the global Internet community through the ICANN process, a sponsored top-level domain is a specialised one that has a sponsor representing the specific community that is most affected by the top-level domain.

So, for instance, the Bern-based Universal Postal Union has applied for the `.post' top-level domain, while the New York-based The Travel Partnership Corporation, a non-profit consortium of international travel organisations, has applied for the `.travel' top-level domain.

Other applications received by ICANN include those from the Hong Kong-based DotAsia Organisation Ltd for the `.asia' top-level domain, the Anti-Spam Community Registry's application for the `.mail' top-level domain and that of the US-based Society for Human Resources Management for `.jobs'. Interestingly, the Toronto-based International Foundation for Online Responsibility has applied for the `.xxx' top-level domain, while there are two applications for the `.tel' top-level domain.

The applications are currently open for `public comment', which will close on April 30. Once this is over, an independent evaluation panel will review the applications for the sTLDs. If an application passes this review process, its sponsors can commence technical and contract negotiations with ICANN for allocation and sponsorship of the desired top-level domain.

Several organisations that have applied for these top-level domains have been formed specifically for this purpose. These include The Travel Partnership Corporation and DotAsia Organisation Ltd. The last expansion of top-level domains took place in 2000, when ICANN created seven new top-level domains, including three sTLDs — `.aero'; `.coop' and `.museum'.