icantfindmyname.com

In the beginning of the "Domain Name Game" there were only a few options when it came to suffixes you could use. Your US Web site had to end with either a .com, .org, .net or in special circumstances you could use .mil, .edu or .gov. These suffixes are called Top Level Domain Names. Then, after a few years, some countries such as Tonga and Tuvalu made their countries' Top Level Domains (TLD) available for public Internet use. Thus we have two-letter TLDs like .to and .tv.

Why are we limited to using just these few? Why can't we create our own? The answer to both those questions is that it would be very difficult to manage the Internet with everyone creating their own domain name suffixes. So we have a non-profit organization called The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which has responsibility for managing the Domain Name System.

Changes in the Wind

ICANN was formed in October of 1998 to bring a degree of organization on an international level to the Domain Name System (DNS), the allocation of IP address space, the management of the root server system and the coordination of protocol number assignment. One of the key issues ICANN has been working on is the restructuring of the current Domain Name space, and soon Web developers everywhere will start to see the benefits of ICANN's efforts.

What's going to change? For one, last year ICANN requested submissions from companies and organizations proposing new TLDs. Each submission went through an extensive application process and was accompanied by a $50,000 fee. In response to their request, ICANN received hundreds of submissions, and in November of 2000 the ICANN Board of Directors approved seven new Top Level Domains for use on the Internet. They are: .biz, .info, .aero, .pro, .name, .coop, and .museum.

It's Not About .coms Any More

The new Top Level Domains provide many benefits and challenges to Web developers everywhere. The most obvious benefit is that we will no longer be limited to the standard three .com, .org and .net names we are used to. However, this also presents a unique challenge in marketing your Web site. No longer will users be able to just type in yoursite.com and get to your Web site. They will also have to remember which of the many suffixes your domain name has. Today, with only three to choose from, it isn't much of an issue, but with ten it becomes a different problem.

Let's look at the new Top Level Domains individually and see how they differ from those currently available. The three domains we currently work with (.com, .net and .org) can be used and purchased by anyone willing to fork out the $35 per year fee. This has led to a lot of controversy in the areas of copyright and trademark infringements and the practice known as cybersquatting (purchasing many domain names for the sole purpose of reselling them for a profit). Originally each of these Top Level Domains had a specific purpose; .com was slated for commercial use, .org for non-profit organizations and .net for providers of services related to Internet and network technology. However, when we look at the Web today we see that this is no longer the case.

Part of ICANN's strategy for some of the new Top Level Domains is to slate them for specific uses. The following table outlines the seven new Top Level Domains and their proposed use:

As you can see, there is only one TLD, .info, that is set to be unrestricted. The rest of the TLDs are to be used for specific types of Web sites. This model is subject to change. What ICANN is attempting with this initiative is to bring more organization to Domain Names and their use.

I Want My TLD!

The big question now is when these new Top Level Domains will be available. Although no official date is set, you may be able to start purchasing domains with the new suffixes as early as March 2001. However, some Domain registration sites are offering you the opportunity to pre-register domains for a fee. Be aware that such services do not necessarily guarantee that you will actually get the Domain you've pre-registered. What these companies are actually providing is a place in line when the registration doors open. Be sure that you thoroughly read the terms of the agreement if you choose to pre-register your domain.

There is one other major issue involving the new Top Level Domains and pre-registering. Some sites may still be offering the ability to pre-register TLDs such as .Web, .shop, .kids and .firm, among others. Although it is likely that in the future many more Top Level Domains will be offered, no one can tell what those suffixes will be.

The best way to keep on top of the new Top Level Domains is to visit the ICANN Web site at www.icann.org. Here you will find news and information regarding the new TLDs including when and where you can purchase them.

More To Come

These changes in the Top Level Domain structure are a great step forward in bringing a level of organization to Domain Names. Although there may be some issues with users becoming accustomed to the new TLDs, the benefits surely outweigh the obstacles. If ICANN succeeds in this first round of issuing new TLDs then we are sure to see more options coming in the future. In the coming years we may see other TLDs such as .music, .magazine or .jokes. Who knows? Maybe I'll invest $50,000 and see if .geek can get accepted in the next round. Anything's possible.

David Cullipher
Affiliate for Virtualis Systems, Inc. a leading Web host and ASP.
David has been involved with Internet technologies and Web development since 1992. He is President of Digital Deviants, a multimedia and Web development firm in Venice, CA..