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(The Hosting News) – Just one week ago, ICANN, the influential Internet authority in charge of Internet Assigned Numbers began accepting applications for customized gTLDs (generic Top-Level Domains).

The move allows entities to apply for whatever they’d like to use as a domain ending (TLDs pertain to the likes of .com, .org, .net, .gov, etc.).

Now the Internet authority says that the application process is running smoothly and “without a hitch.”

Discussing the matter in a press release, ICANN CEO Rod Beckstrom commented, “I can state firmly that one week into the process, the application system for the new domain names is functioning just as it should.”

“This is a reflection of the careful planning, hard work and long hours our staff spent preparing for last week’s launch,” Beckstrom continued.

ICANN initially authorized the application process in June of last year and the time to apply ends in April.

For the Internet authority to consider approving a new gTLD, an application fee of $185 thousand dollars is required. However, ICANN has a plan in place to help entities that can’t afford such costs. A reduced price of $47 thousand dollars is possible for those especially in developing economies.

The online application system being used for consideration of the gTLDs is known as TAS (TLD Application System).

Meanwhile, ICANN noted that twenty five applications had gone through the process thus far. Details of which gTLDs were applied for will be revealed by ICANN in May following the conclusion of the application timeline.

Although the initiative was initially announced just last year, ICANN’s New gTLD Director Michael Salazar said that it actually took six years of planning.

The process has not necessarily come without controversy despite things running smoothly. Last month, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission expressed concern regarding how the new gTLDs would affect the FTC’s ability to go after illegal Internet spammers. Along with expressing concern, the U.S. agency listed several recommendations that it believed would help the process move smoothly.

ICANN will face a big change this year as current CEO Rod Beckstrom plans to step down from the organization following the conclusion of his term in July.

ICANN Provides Update on Custom TLD Applications

(The Hosting News) – The start of 2012 brings with it a new factor that could possibly change the way people look at web addresses forever: The ability for websites to use their own customized gTLDs.

What’s a gTLD? It’s the domain suffix included at the end of a web address (such as .com, org, etc.). With IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) operator ICANN’s acceptance of a customized gTLD platform, website operators now have the ability to make up their own gTLD.

For example, if a website operator wanted to use their company name as a gTLD, then that’d be possible.  Of course that pends the approval of the customized gTLD by ICANN, which begins the application process for the domain suffixes today.

The internet oversight organization initially agreed to the application process in June of last year following approval from ICANN’s Board of Directors. After the move, ICANN CEO Rod Beckstrom stated, “ICANN has opened the Internet’s naming system to unleash the global human imagination. Today’s decision respects the rights of groups to create new Top Level Domains in any language or script.”

“We hope this allows the domain name system to better serve all of mankind,” Beckstrom continued.

Simply applying for your own customized domain extension would not necessarily be described as easily affordable. Submitting an application comes with a price of $185 thousand dollars.

ICANN has also set up a program where those in developing economies can pay a significantly smaller amount, set at $47 thousand.

Those looking to have their own customized domains considered can do so through the TLD Application System (TAS), set up by ICANN for the application process.

Despite the matter, ICANN’s acceptance of customized gTLDs does not come without controversy. Just last month, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission expressed concern to ICANN on the issue, especially how the matter would affect Internet spamming. In its letter, the FTC stated, “A rapid, exponential expansion of gTLDs has the potential to magnify both the abuse of the domain name system and the corresponding challenges we encounter in tracking down Internet fraudsters.”

Along with expressing the concern, the FTC also presented ICANN with a variety of recommendations on how to combat issues it sees as possibly problematic.

ICANN’s application process is set to continue until the 12th of April. Meanwhile, this year will also usher in a new leader for ICANN. Current CEO Rod Beckstrom will step down from the organization following the completion of his term in July. For more information on ICANN’s application process, view a press release here (icann.org).

ICANN’s Application Process Begins for Custom gTLDs

(The Hosting News) – America’s top consumer protection watchdog the FTC recently expressed concern regarding ICANN’s gTLD plan that allows for customized domain suffixes.

In June, ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) passed the measure, allowing groups to begin applying on January 12^th of next year.

The process lets users to sidestep using more traditional TLDs such as .com, .net, .org, etc. and create their own TLD, perhaps in the name of their company or for other reasons.

Discussing the matter in a letter sent to ICANN on Friday, the FTC expressed concerns while discussing how ICANN can help safeguard consumer protection.

One concern that the FTC has regards investigating illegal spam. In order to properly identify a website operator during such investigations, ICANN says it regularly works with “Whois services.” However, the FTC appears worried that ICANN’s new plan could further complicate the matter.

“A rapid, exponential expansion of gTLDs has the potential to magnify both the abuse of the domain name system and the corresponding challenges we encounter in tracking down Internet fraudsters,” stated the FTC in the letter.

To maintain consumer protection, the FTC wants ICANN to follow five outlined steps.

The first step involves allowing the process to move more gradually. To do this, the FTC wants ICANN to implement the application process as a “Pilot Program.”  That means accepting fewer applications at once so that the “Internet landscape” will not be “dramatically” changed so soon.

Secondly, the FTC wants ICANN to make its Contractual Compliance Program stronger. Doing this would allow ICANN to add further accountability for registrars and registries.

The FTC also wants more oversight of the gTLDs approved to watch for consumer issues along with evaluating them for “Potential Harm to Consumers” during the actual approval process.

Lastly, the FTC would like ICANN to help make “Whois data” more accurate, thus helping in investigations against illegal internet spamming.

Just last week, ICANN detailed its search for a new CEO. Current executive Rod Beckstrom will step down following the completion of his term in July of 2012. For further information regarding the FTC’s concerns, view the FTC’s letter here as a .pdf file (ftc.gov).

FTC Expresses Concern Regarding ICANN gTLD Plan

(The Hosting News) – ICANN, the organization in charge of internet oversight recently discussed the organization’s search for a new executive.

ICANN notably oversees the IANA, the authority responsible IP address allocation.

Stating that they’ve already met to discuss the matter and will continue to do so, ICANN is working with executive search firm Odgers Berndtson to coordinate the hiring process.

Current ICANN CEO Rod Beckstrom’s term ends in July of next year.

ICANN previously announced in August that Beckstrom wouldn’t return, despite continued support by the organization along with a number of successes during Beckstrom’s term.

Meanwhile, working with the candidate consulting firm, ICANN has released a CEO Candidate Profile, detailing qualifications for Beckstrom’s successor.

“ICANN requires a public interest-minded leader with a combination of business, diplomatic and organizational skills,” the profile states.

Qualifications listed range from professional and personal skills to having technical experience and a knowledge of “the Internet Governance Ecosystem.”

ICANN has been busy recently. When announcing Beckstrom’s departure in August, ICANN detailed successes under his tenure, including the launch of “internationalized domain names.” The organization also worked on an agreement with the U.S. government, making internet oversight global.

The organization has also overseen an initiative that allows for the application of customized TLDs. ICANN launched in 1998 and is headquartered in Marina Del Ray, California. For more information on the matter, view a press release here (icann.org).

ICANN Looks for Beckstrom’s Successor

(The Hosting News) – Provided for by registrar ICM Registry, the controversial .xxx TLD was expected to be made available today at 11 A.M. eastern time.

.xxx domains were originally approved by ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) earlier this year in March.

While the move is suited for sites with adult content and is definitely edgy, the availability of the .xxx TLD could actually go towards making the internet a safer place.

How? Proponents say it gives internet users the ability to clearly distinguish between sites that are appropriate for everyone and adult-related sites that the user may deem inappropriate.

Commenting on the matter in a press release, ICM Registry CEO Stuart Lawley stated, “While adult entertainment is enjoyable to many adults, it is not appropriate for all audiences.”

The move also makes adult-related sites safer for internet users. ICM Registry stated that .xxx domains are scanned for malware through services by computer security company McAfee.

Although the .xxx TLD is just now becoming available, web hosts have been making moves concerning the matter for quite some time. In September, domain registrar and web host Go Daddy began offering applications for the TLD. Meanwhile, other domain registrars have offered the same.

Even though the availability of .xxx has arrived, it does not necessarily mean that it will be accessible in all parts of the world. A March report by the Economic Times indicated that the country of India may block .xxx domains.

There are also concerns arising from the availability of .xxx. Domain squatting is just one (where users register someone else’s trademarked name as a domain then either pose or spoof the trademark). Colleges including Illinois State University and the University of Chicago have already secured .xxx TLDs with their names to prevent possible spoofs, according to a news report from the Chicago Tribune.

As of late, TLDs (top level domains like .com, .net, etc.) have experienced increased attention. Earlier this year in June, ICANN passed a measure that allows applications for customized gTLDs (generic top level domains).

.xxx TLD Makes Its Way Online

(The Hosting News) – WIXI and HEXONET announced a major partnership today that would have WIXI manage and operate a number of its key ICANN and ccTLD accreditations through HEXONET’s advanced registrar technology – RegistrarOC. The platform, Registrar Operations Center, is one of a few turn-key solutions, industry wide, that can scale to deliver the performance, reliability, and extensibility to meet the demands of even the largest of resellers and registrars. The addition of WIXI, now makes RegistrarOC the operational platform of choice of several of the top registrars in the world.

“WIXI delivers only the best to our customers and as such we demand the best from our partners,” said Darshaun Nadeau, WIXI’s Chief Executive Officer. “We chose HEXONET not only for their renown engineering expertise with domains, but more importantly, for their first class history of operational excellence.” “I have been very impressed with their technical and operations knowledge, which was clear, when they had us integrated and operational in no time, including critical requirements like Registrar Data Escrow.”

According to Robert Birkner, Chief Strategy Officer for HEXONET, “We are extremely happy to partner with such a great and progressive company like WIXI. No other company has the pulse and understanding of the Japanese domain and aftermarket like WIXI.” Robert Birkner further added, “I am personally excited to be working with Darshaun and his talented team as they integrate even more country code Top-Level-Domains with their already innovative services for the Japanese domain market.”

About HEXONET

Since 1999, HEXONET has been a leading developer and service provider of reseller technologies for the domain industry, including domain backordering. Thousands of resellers, startups and service providers from across the world trust HEXONET as their domain platform provider. And today, HEXONET manages over 700 thousand domains for its clients. 1API GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of HEXONET.

For more information, please visit: http://www.hexonet.net/

About WIXI Inc.

WIXI is a Japanese corporation founded in 2009. WIXI specializes in the secondary domain market, in particular, for the .jp extension through domain backordering, drop catching, parking, monetization and domain name auctioning. WIXI is also renown for developing an extensive set of tools for statistical analysis of domain name traffic and quality, as well as, engineering an industry leading domain auction platform.\

For more information, please visit: http://www.wixi.jp/

WIXI and HEXONET Partner on ICANN Accreditation

(The Hosting News) – The ICANN Board of Directors today passed a resolution to review a proposal from a special working group that would create a support system for deserving applicants of new gTLDs, many of whom are expected to be in developing countries. The Board further directed the President and CEO to develop a detailed plan by December 8, for the scoping and implementation of the recommendations.

“It is very important that deserving applicants, such as those from emerging economies, be included in the new gTLD program,” said Rod Beckstrom, President and Chief Executive Officer. “It is necessary to encourage diverse participation in this new program and to broaden the scope of our multi-stakeholder model.”

The ICANN Board of Directors also made clear today that it wants to enhance the organization’s policies relating to conflicts of interest, ethics, confidentiality and an overall code of conduct.

“We want to achieve a Gold Standard in terms of conflicts and ethics practices,” said Steve Crocker, Chair of the ICANN Board. “Specifically we are working on a system which will lay out how Directors interested in specific new generic Top Level Domain applications will be restricted from participation in the deliberations and decisions regarding the new gTLD Program.”

In closing ICANN’s 42nd public meeting in Dakar, Senegal, the Board passed a resolution stating that, “ICANN will treat decisions relating to approving any single new gTLD application in an ethical manner and with care to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest.”

ICANN’s next public meeting will occur March 11-16 in San Jose, Costa Rica.

To read the resolutions passed by the ICANN Board, go here: http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/.

To download high resolution pictures from the Dakar meeting, go here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/icann/sets/72157627841166127/.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Brad White
Director of Global Media Affairs
Washington, D.C.
Tel. +1 (202) 570 7118
brad.white(at)icann(dot)org

Andrew Robertson
Edelman Public Relations
London, U.K.
Tel. + 44 (7811) 341 945
andrew.Robertson(at)edelman(dot)com

About ICANN:

ICANN’s mission is to ensure a stable, secure and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet you have to type an address into your computer – a name or a number. That address has to be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN coordinates these unique identifiers across the world. Without that coordination we wouldn’t have one global Internet. ICANN was formed in 1998. It is a not-for-profit public-benefit corporation with participants from all over the world dedicated to keeping the Internet secure, stable and interoperable. It promotes competition and develops policy on the Internet’s unique identifiers. ICANN doesn’t control content on the Internet. It cannot stop spam and it doesn’t deal with access to the Internet. But through its coordination role of the Internet’s naming system, it does have an important impact on the expansion and evolution of the Internet. For more information please visit: http://www.icann.org.

ICANN Focuses on Developing Economies

(The Hosting News) – Rod Beckstrom, ICANN’s President and Chief Executive Officer said today that there is a real need to increase Internet access across the African continent.

“There has been tremendous progress toward greater connectivity. In ten years, the number of Internet users has grown 25-fold,” said Beckstrom. “That is rapid growth, yet it still represents only 11.5 percent of the African population.”

Beckstrom made his comments during the kick-off of ICANN’s 42nd public meeting in Dakar, Senegal.

He told the conference that discussions will take place during the week on how to best provide financial and logistical support to applicants of new generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) from developing countries.

“ICANN’s global community is already taking steps to help needy applicants apply for new gTLDs,” said Beckstrom. “A joint working group has spent many hours working on a proposal that the Board will consider this week on how best to provide that support.”

The new gTLD program will vastly expand the number of generic Top-Level Domains from the current 22, which includes such familiar endings as “.com”,”.net” and “.gov.”

Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade told the conference that the Internet is crucial for the growth of African economies.

He also said “the international makeup of ICANN’s Board of Directors is crucial and provides legitimacy for its decisions.”

The ICANN meeting will end on Friday with a meeting of the Board of Directors.

To download some high resolution photos from the ICANN Dakar meeting, here:

• http://www.flickr.com/photos/icann/6276906402/in/photostream/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/icann/6276941476/in/photostream/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/icann/6277030740/in/photostream/lightbox/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/icann/6276511315/in/photostream/lightbox/

To hear an audio recording of the opening News conference with ICANN CEO Rod Beckstrom and Board Chair Steve Crocker, go here: http://audio.icann.org/meetings/dakar2011/press-conference-24oct11-fr.mp3.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Brad White
Director of Global Media Affairs
Washington, D.C.
Tel. +1 (202) 570 7118
brad.white(at)icann(dot)org

Andrew Robertson
Edelman Public Relations
London, U.K.
Tel. + 44 (7811) 341 945
andrew.Robertson(at)edelman(dot)com

About ICANN:

ICANN’s mission is to ensure a stable, secure and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet you have to type an address into your computer – a name or a number. That address has to be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN coordinates these unique identifiers across the world. Without that coordination we wouldn’t have one global Internet. ICANN was formed in 1998. It is a not-for-profit public-benefit corporation with participants from all over the world dedicated to keeping the Internet secure, stable and interoperable. It promotes competition and develops policy on the Internet’s unique identifiers. ICANN doesn’t control content on the Internet. It cannot stop spam and it doesn’t deal with access to the Internet. But through its coordination role of the Internet’s naming system, it does have an important impact on the expansion and evolution of the Internet. For more information please visit: http://www.icann.org.

ICANN Meeting Opens with Calls for Greater Internet Access

(The Hosting News) – ICANN’s New Generic Top-Level Domain Program offers significant opportunities for Middle Eastern organizations to expand their online presence, according to Rod Beckstrom, CEO and President of ICANN.

He stressed the benefits and challenges of the new domains for the Middle East, and cited the region’s technological know-how as a factor that would encourage the innovation and consumer choice the program is expected to generate.

Beckstrom delivered the keynote address to the Global Leaders Summit, an exclusive meeting of regional leaders, at Gitex, the region’s premier technology conference, in Dubai.

‘You can apply for new gTLDs in Arabic, Chinese or other scripts,” he said. “This is the first time in history that it is possible to apply for new generic top-level domains in internationalized domain scripts. So it means you could apply for terms in Arabic – not only a company name or brand or a city name, but any other word or generic term,” he continued.

Comparing the creation of the new gTLD program to the development of Dubai as a commercial centre, Beckstrom said, “When you open up standards in technology, when you create rules of law, it fosters and allows innovation that none of us can imagine.

“People ask me: what’s going to happen to the domain name system now that you are opening up new gTLDs? And the answer is: we don’t know. The innovation will come from very unlikely directions.”

“Opening up the right of the dot,” in Latin script addresses to “dot almost anything” is being undertaken with great care to ensure the security and stability of the Internet’s domain name system, which is “job number one for us,” he stated.

Beckstrom highlighted the complexity of the application process and the need for applicants to be prepared to face substantial obstacles. “Running a top-level domain is not like buying a second-level domain,” he noted. “You’re actually running a piece of critical [Internet] infrastructure for the world. It’s got to be running 24/7, reliably, and for years and years and years.”

He stressed that a successful application would require “significant technology expertise or a relationship with a party that will give you that expertise”, as well as the significant financial wherewithal necessary to operate an Internet registry.

Beckstrom also corrected a common misconception about the new generic top-level domain program, explaining that organizations running one of the new domains will not be required to sell Internet domain names publicly.

He noted that dot emerat, the internationalized domain name (IDN) of the United Arab Emirates, was one of the world’s first IDNs.

The application window for new gTLDs opens on 12 January 2012 and closes on 12 April. In May, ICANN will publish the list of all domain names that have been applied for.

To learn more about the gTLD program go here: http://newgtlds.icann.org/applicants/faqs/faqs-en

To view a brief video (6-minutes), which explains the new gTLD program, go here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AybZsS3NmFo

About ICANN:

ICANN’s mission is to ensure a stable, secure and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet you have to type an address into your computer – a name or a number. That address has to be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN coordinates these unique identifiers across the world. Without that coordination we wouldn’t have one global Internet. ICANN was formed in 1998. It is a not-for-profit public-benefit corporation with participants from all over the world dedicated to keeping the Internet secure, stable and interoperable. It promotes competition and develops policy on the Internet’s unique identifiers. ICANN doesn’t control content on the Internet. It cannot stop spam and it doesn’t deal with access to the Internet. But through its coordination role of the Internet’s naming system, it does have an important impact on the expansion and evolution of the Internet. For more information please visit: http://www.icann.org.

ICANN Leader Stresses Benefits of New gTLD

(The Hosting News) – ICANN today launched a micro website for new generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs), a program that heralds one of the biggest changes to the Internet in its history. The site offers a wealth of information about the new program, including the Applicant Guidebook approved by ICANN’s Board of Directors.

“This microsite will be an invaluable resource,” said Rod Beckstrom, ICANN’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “It will be the definitive source for any and all information relating to the gTLD program, for applicants, potential applicants or simply the curious.”

The gTLD program will greatly expand the current number of 22 Top-Level Domains (i.e., .com, .gov, .net, etc.) to include almost any word or name. But Beckstrom has made it clear that new gTLDs are not intended for every company or organization, since running a gTLD means an applicant is committing to run an Internet registry – an expensive and highly technical operation.

The Applicant Guidebook is the best resource for anyone intent on applying for a gTLD. It lays out in thorough detail how to apply for a new domain, and links directly to the online application system.

Beckstrom spoke in London, where he has begun a series of global information sessions to raise awareness of the new gTLD program.

“If an organization wants to determine exactly what is involved in applying for a gTLD and subsequently running an Internet registry, ICANN’s new website should be the first stop in their fact-finding journey,” said Beckstrom.

ICANN will begin taking applications for new gTLDs on 12 January 2012.

The new site can be accessed at http://icann.org/newgtlds.

To view a brief video (six minutes), which explains the new gTLD program, go here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AybZsS3NmFo

ICANN Unveils Site, Guidebook for New gTLDs