- New Internet domain names may also include '.mail,' for
spam-free communication.
-
- LONDON (Reuters) - Nine new
Internet domain names, including ".xxx" for adult content and
".mail" for spam-free communications, could join the more
familiar
".com" and ".net" Web site suffixes later this
year.
-
- Internet governing body the Internet Corporation for
the Assignment of Names and Numbers (ICANN) said 10 organizations had filed
proposals for the new Web domains in time for last week's deadline. A
month-long
public comment period starts April 1.
-
- The domains, which are sponsored by a variety of
organizations
and companies, will go through a two-month approval process before possible
ratification later this year, the group said.
-
- If each is accepted, it would bring the number of top
level domains to over 20.
-
- Among the new entrants is ".mobi," proposed
by nine top computer, telecoms and handset companies including Microsoft
Corp. (MSFT: Research, Estimates), South Korea's Samsung Electronics and
Finland's Nokia.
-
- The consortium, named Mobi JV, aims to create a new
domain
specifically for Web sites designed for mobile phones and Internet-ready
devices. The group hoped the new domain would be ratified in time to be
operational next year.
-
- Other new domain candidates include: ".asia,"
".jobs," ".tel," ".post" and
".travel,"
ICANN said.
-
- Expanding the list of top level domains to meet the needs
of the medium's growing user base is one of ICANN's top initiatives.
-
- The new suffixes were proposed to help Web surfers locate
sector-specific information on, say, travel and employment.
-
- The London-based Anti-Spam Community Registry, meanwhile,
proposed ".mail" to better identify the authenticity of online
marketers in an effort to combat spam e-mails.
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