The Post Dot Era Begins
The Numbers Behind the Applications
The "Post Dot Era" is beginning to take shape as ICANN revealed the details on its over 1930 application filings for new Top-Level-Domain (nTLDs) extensions on June 13, 2012. The sure volume and diversity of the applications ICANN received clearly shows us that the very nature of the Internet is on the verge of radically changing. Here are the cold hard facts about the ICANN applications:
Applications by String Type/Group
- 1846 of 1930 are "standard" or generic string applications like .art, .movie, .bank, etc.
- 84 are "community" or group/affiliation type applications like .gay, .cpa, .latino, etc.
- 66 are "geographic", representing a city, town, or region like .nyc, .berlin, .london, etc.
- 116 are IDNs (Internationalized Domain Names) like .アマゾン, .信息, etc.
Applications by Originating Region/Country
- 60 different countries are represented
- 911 applications are from North America
- 675 applications are from Europe
- 303 applications are from Asia-Pacific
- 24 applications are from Latin America/Caribbean
- 17 applications are from Africa
Why So Many Applications
One glaring and obvious certainty that shows up in the application list is the presence of Big Money. Specifically, the Big Money paws all over the most popular nTLD strings. There are over 230 applications where two or more parties are bidding for the same nTLD string. Some nTLD strings like .app even have thirteen companies vying for the one extension. With these contentious nTLDs being sold off to the highest bidder via auction, ICANN is already reserving a fleet of armored vehicles to bring it all to the bank.
Unlike the humble and academic foundations of the original gTLDs, Big Money is not in this to be do-gooders. And so it is this Big Money for big money motive that is the consternation for the pundits and those opposed to the entire nTLD process. Though I am not here to state my personal opinion on the matter, however, I do understand why some are in opposition.
The Good, Bad and the Underestimated
There is great debate on whether the proliferation of extensions will be good, bad, or even needed. At this point though, no one really knows the answer. Only history will determine the result. However, if I were a betting man, I would lean towards the expand of nTLDs being more beneficial than detrimental. Technology seems to always find a way to evolve beyond what we can imagine. To illustrate this point remember these famous quotes:
- "We will never make a 32-bit operating system" - Bill Gates in 1983
- "I’m doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby, won’t be big and professional like gnu) ... " - Linus Torvalds in 1991
The Numbers Behind the Applications
The "Post Dot Era" is beginning to take shape as ICANN revealed the details on its over 1930 application filings for new Top-Level-Domain (nTLDs) extensions on June 13, 2012. The sure volume and diversity of the applications ICANN received clearly shows us that the very nature of the Internet is on the verge of radically changing. Here are the cold hard facts about the ICANN applications:
Applications by String Type/Group
- 1846 of 1930 are "standard" or generic string applications like .art, .movie, .bank, etc.
- 84 are "community" or group/affiliation type applications like .gay, .cpa, .latino, etc.
- 66 are "geographic", representing a city, town, or region like .nyc, .berlin, .london, etc.
- 116 are IDNs (Internationalized Domain Names) like .アマゾン, .信息, etc.
Applications by Originating Region/Country
- 60 different countries are represented
- 911 applications are from North America
- 675 applications are from Europe
- 303 applications are from Asia-Pacific
- 24 applications are from Latin America/Caribbean
- 17 applications are from Africa
Why So Many Applications
One glaring and obvious certainty that shows up in the application list is the presence of Big Money. Specifically, the Big Money paws all over the most popular nTLD strings. There are over 230 applications where two or more parties are bidding for the same nTLD string. Some nTLD strings like .app even have thirteen companies vying for the one extension. With these contentious nTLDs being sold off to the highest bidder via auction, ICANN is already reserving a fleet of armored vehicles to bring it all to the bank.
Unlike the humble and academic foundations of the original gTLDs, Big Money is not in this to be do-gooders. And so it is this Big Money for big money motive that is the consternation for the pundits and those opposed to the entire nTLD process. Though I am not here to state my personal opinion on the matter, however, I do understand why some are in opposition.
The Good, Bad and the Underestimated
There is great debate on whether the proliferation of extensions will be good, bad, or even needed. At this point though, no one really knows the answer. Only history will determine the result. However, if I were a betting man, I would lean towards the expand of nTLDs being more beneficial than detrimental. Technology seems to always find a way to evolve beyond what we can imagine. To illustrate this point remember these famous quotes:
- "We will never make a 32-bit operating system" - Bill Gates in 1983
- "I’m doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby, won’t be big and professional like gnu) ... " - Linus Torvalds in 1991