Issue 154 - 7th May

NetNames launches Internationalised Domain Name registration service

NetNames has become one of the first registrars to enable dynamic searching of Internationalised Domain Names (IDNs). It is now possible to register domain names containing a host of new characters - which depending on the suffix - can include: Arabic, Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese or Korean, as well as all Latin characters, Cyrillic and Greek.

Over 60 per cent of Internet users do not have English as their first language and this is likely to increase as use of the Internet extends further into new markets and access increases in countries such as China. Until now the Domain Name System (DNS) has only allowed for domain names containing the standard ASCII character set (a-z, 0-9) and the hyphen (-) to be registered. However ICANN, the global domain name governing body, has agreed on a new industry standard for the registration of domain names containing non-ASCII characters. This move has created a trend for many of the major country code registries, such as .de in Germany, now opening up for IDN registrations. Currently NetNames offers IDN capability in over twenty of the major Top Level Domains worldwide. This list is set to grow as more and more country Registries update and develop their systems to handle IDNs.

Organisations who are currently operating in international markets, or who may have plans to do so in the future need to consider IDNs as an integral part of their overall domain name strategy. The ability to register domain names containing non-ASCII characters means companies can more effectively target international markets and make it easier for people to find their products and services online.

IDN registration is available at the same price as standard domains in each of the available suffixes through www.netnames.com

Public Comment period for sTLD applications has been extended

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has extended its Public Comment period for all of the new sponsored Top Level Domains (sTLD) applications until May 14, 2004. Interested parties are further encouraged to submit comments via the ICANN website at: www.icann.org

ICANN will launch the independent evaluation process as scheduled, and proceed with the sTLD application timetable as originally published.

There are nine new sTLDs being proposed, as follows:

• .asia
• .cat
• .jobs
• .mail
• .mobi
• .post
• .tel
• .travel
• .xxx

The launch of new TLDs has met with limited success. The argument for new TLDs is that they allow for increased user choice. Of course the ongoing challenge for brand owners and intellectual property professionals is managing and controlling the risk of brand dilution and infringement in this rapidly changing online world. NetNames advocates informed decisions based on knowledge of the marketplace and the approach of individual brand owners. We provide both the knowledge through N3lite and informed advice on an ongoing basis through professional new business and account management services.