The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced
on Tuesday that it has finalized accreditation agreements with the new
.biz and .info top-level domain (TLD) registries. This will mark the first
introduction of new global top-level domains since the mid 1980s when the
current domain name system became operational. These new registries will
add to the already familiar registries such as .com, .org and .net.
Dot-info will be an unrestricted TLD, open to any business or person to
register for any purpose. Dot-biz will be a restricted TLD open only for
commercial or business purposes and .biz names are not intended for exclusively
personal or non-commercial purposes.
Registry operators
NeuLevel (.biz)
and
Afilias (.info) were among seven
registry operators for new TLDs selected by the ICANN Board of Directors
in November 2000 following an open process for submission of proposals.
Agreements with the operators of .aero, .coop, .museum, .name, and .pro
are expected shortly.
Afilias plans to make its addresses active starting in early August
and NeuLevel's .biz address will be active in October.
For more information:
www.icann.org
Related News:
Vinton
Cerf's testimony about the new domain names (11/2/2001)
Seven
New Top-Level Domains (18/11/2000)