New Domain Name Extensions

The list of available domain names is about to get bigger, and for some, more confusing. A few years ago ICANN, the organisation that makes key decisions about how the Internet work, decided that we need more domain names, especially for brands and for businesses.

About What is a Domain name?

A domain name is a unique identification label given to your website, so it can easily be found among the millions of other websites on the internet. A domain name consists of two parts; the domain name and an extension. For example a domain name www.getaheadhosting.com consists of the domain name “getaheadhosting” and the extension “.com”. There are many domain name extensions, some are international, like .com .biz .net or .info, others are local, indicating that the business is operating in a specific country e.g. “.ie” (for businesses registered in Ireland) or region e.g. “.eu” for businesses operating in the European Union. Examples of  top level domain extensions (TLDs):

• .com – Commercial domain
• .net – Network
• .org – Organization
• .biz – Business
• .info – Information
• .name – Individual name
• .mobi – Mobile

The most popular domain extension is by far “.com”, followed by “.net”. Some countries have restrictions as to who can register a domain with this country extension e.g. Ireland and China. The extension is restricted to the entities registered or residing in that country. 

New Domain Extensions (TLDs)

Recently a number of new, generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs) have been proposed and are being evaluated by ICANN.  As from 2014  will  be able to register   new domains such as .hotels, .car and even .pets. That’s partly a response to the way country-specific domains like .tv (initially intended for the country of Tuvalu) and .it (Italy) get used for sites that are nothing to do with Tuvalu or Italy. Unfortunately, since Google search is localised, registering a domain name with.tv or .it extension could make your website show up further down its search results. To overcome this problem, ICANN decided to allow registration of many more generic (non-country specific) domain name extensions.To-date nearly 2,000 new TLDs were evaluated;  some of them were dropped as unsuitable and over 1,700 new domain extensions are now either ready to be sold or in the last stages of making sure they work properly everywhere in the world. Soon you’ll have choices like .SHOP, .APP, .PHOTOGRAPHY and even offbeat extensions like .NINJA and .BUZZ Click here for a full list of proposed new top-level domains.

Will Google make the new domain name extensions easy to find?

Some of the new TLDs are controversial. According to some sources, Google wants to control the .SEARCH TLD, as well as .APP, .BLOG and .CLOUD; that’s caused an outcry from competitors who aren’t convinced Google will be fair and unbiased when deciding whether a someone who wants a .app domain is part of a “relevant developer community”. Some domains are already restricted – .bank and .law are reserved for banks and lawyers – and if you want to to register a domain name with that extension, you might have to go through the Trademark Clearing House to make sure you’re not infringing another business’s trademark.

Register your New TLD Now, before someone else grabs it!

If there is a TLD and a domain you have your eye on, reserve it  as soon as possible because the first new TLDs will be working by the end of the year 2014. You can register your domain once it becomes available here:

Register a domain name