[news release] European internet domain name registry TLD Registry Ltd and ten leading registrars have signed preliminary agreements to sell fully-Chinese domain names in the “Dot Chinese Online” and “Dot Chinese Website” global top level domains (“New gTLDs”). Sales and marketing activity will occur worldwide, with special focus on China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Of the ten preliminary agreements, seven have been signed in the last four weeks. TLD Registry CEO Arto Isokoski said, “The pace of newly signed preliminary agreements has exceeded our expectations. We’re delighted to have welcomed so many new partners to the Dot Chinese Online and Dot Chinese Website team.”

TLD Registry Executive Chairman Taneli Tikka, said, “Our investors’ and executives’ confidence in Dot Chinese Online and Dot Chinese Website as the essential new Chinese TLDs has been validated by the excellent traction we’ve achieved in the sales channel.”

The two new Chinese TLDs will offer businesses and consumers more domain name choices and a unique opportunity to enhance their brands and businesses online. “The Dot Chinese Online and Dot Chinese Website TLDs are culturally relevant, linguistically correct and will dramatically improve the way the booming Chinese web operates,” said Simon Cousins, TLD Registry Communications Director. He continued, “Our TLDs are of interest to businesses worldwide, whether they’re serving Chinese people in China or Chinese communities around the world.”

“Tens of thousands of domain name resellers and millions of Chinese domain name customers are addressed with TLD Registry’s marketing channel,” said Isokoski. “The fully-Chinese domain names made possible by Dot Chinese Online and Dot Chinese Website will be popular with trademark owners seeking to protect and benefit brands, businesses looking to better serve their customers, and domain name investors.”

Pinky Brand, the domain industry veteran overseeing TLD Registry’s channel sales said, “Our registrars universally view Dot Chinese Online and Dot Chinese Website as culturally relevant and linguistically correct TLDs. Channel enthusiasm is high.”

“All things going well with ICANN’s final policy details, we expect our TLDs to go live in the October 2013 timeframe,” said Isokoski.

ARI Registry Services have announced they are set to power the world’s first new Top Level Domain after its client, dotShabaka Registry, today (14 July) signed a Registry Agreement with ICANN for the شبكة. TLD.

The Arabic TLD شبكة. (.shabaka, translates to .web in English) is set to beat around 1900 other applicants from around the world and will become the world’s first borderless Arabic new TLD and provide Arabic speaking Internet users with an alternative to namespaces such as .com, .net and .org.

Expected to go live in the coming months, شبكة. will also enable Arabic speaking internet users to better navigate the web in their native language.

An ARI Registry Services news release on the announcement is below:

ARI Registry Services powers first new Top-Level Domain [news release]
Melbourne-based technology company ARI Registry Services is set to power the world’s first new Top-Level Domain after its client, dotShabaka Registry, today signed a Registry Agreement with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) for the شبكة. Top-Level Domain.

Surpassing almost 1900 other applicants from around the world, شبكة. (.shabaka translates to .web in English) will become the world’s first borderless Arabic new Top-Level Domain and will provide Arabic speaking Internet users with an alternative to namespaces such as .com, .net and .org.

Expected to be live on the Internet in the coming months, شبكة. will enable Arabic speaking Internet users to better navigate the web in their native language.

Yasmin Omer, General Manager of dotShabaka Registry said: “Today’s contract signing is a monumental occasion. As the first new TLD, شبكة. is set to become the centre of all things Arabic on the Internet. It is an incredible achievement not only for us but for the entire Arabic speaking world. It will pioneer a new way for people to use the Internet that begins with the Arabic language.”

Adrian Kinderis, CEO of ARI Registry Services, congratulated dotShabaka Registry on the historic achievement.

“We’re extremely proud to be supporting such an important project. dotShabaka Registry will revolutionise the way the global Arabic speaking community use the Internet and we’re honoured to be a part of the movement,” Mr Kinderis said.

He added that it was a noteworthy achievement for an Australian technology company to be recognised for its success on the global stage.

“ARI Registry Services is at the forefront of the new Top-Level Domain program with two clients in the top three applications. In supporting شبكة., we will be powering the very first new Top-Level Domain to go live.

“This is also in addition to supporting some of the most innovative entrepreneurs, largest brands and governments in the world through the .menu, .melbourne, .ibm .host, .doha, .barclays, .physio and many other inspiring new Top-Level Domains.”

While buoyed by today’s announcement, Mr Kinderis also encouraged the ICANN Board to address the final remaining issues within the program to allow applicants to swiftly move from the contract negotiation phase through to delegation.

“A number of small issues remain outstanding that may impede the delegation process. I encourage ICANN to expedite the resolution of issues such as predictability in pre-delegation testing, rights protection mechanism requirements, testing of the Trademark Clearinghouse interface and the trademark +50 process,” Mr Kinderis said.

Nii Quaynor ,also known as the “Father of the Internet in Africa”,will join ICANN CEO and Board Chair at a news conference on Monday 15 July- the first day of ICANN’s 47th meeting in Durban,South Africa .

You can read the press release after the jump :

“Dr. Nii Quaynor, often referred to as the “Father of the Internet in Africa,” will join ICANN CEO and President Fadi Chehadé, Board Chair Dr. Stephen Crocker, and Vice President, Stakeholder Engagement for Africa Pierre Dandjinou at a news conference on Monday, 15 July – the first day of ICANN’s 47th public meeting in Durban, South Africa.

A recent inductee into the Internet Hall of Fame, Dr. Quaynor has spent two decades promoting the Internet’s growth across the African continent. He will answer questions about the expansion of the Internet in Africa and how increased online access is expanding business potential and information access across the region.

The news conference will also address ICANN’s role in Internet growth and its increased efforts to internationalize the organization.

In addition to taking questions on the global expansion of the Internet, the four will also answer questions on a variety of other ICANN related subjects, ranging from the new expansion of Domain Names to ICANN’s plans to increase its presence in Africa.

Journalists are also encouraged to attend the Welcome Ceremony and President’s Opening Session on Monday, 15 July at 0830. Dr. Elham Ibrahim, the African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy will be among the speakers.

Journalists who are unable to attend the Durban meeting are encouraged to remotely participate in the news conference via a live video web stream or an international toll-free telephone connection.

A recording of the news conference will be posted to the press page of the ICANN web site (http://www.icann.org/en/news/press) after the event.

Here are the details of the News Conference:

WHAT: News Conference

WHO: Nii Quaynor, Internet Hall of Fame Inductee, Fadi Chehadé, President and CEO, Dr. Stephen Crocker, Chair of Board of Directors and Pierre Dandjinou, Vice President, Stakeholder Engagement – Africa.

WHEN: Monday, 15 July 2013, 1630-1730 Durban, South Africa (1430-1530 UTC).

WHERE: Hall 3B – Durban International Convention Center (Durban ICC), 90 M4 Durban, South Africa.

OFF-SITE ACCESS: Journalists from around the world can participate in the news conference via remote access.”