Today, ICANN takes the next step in the implementation of the IDN Root Zone Label Generation Rules Procedure by publishing the Call for Generation Panels to develop Root Zone Label Generation Rules .

IDN Root Zone LGR project will undertake work to develop the rules that identify the valid repertoire of code points for IDN TLDs, as well as the rules for identifying and possibly delegating any IDN variant TLDs. The work is carried out as specified in the Procedure to Develop and Maintain the Label Generation Rules for the Root Zone in Respect of IDNA Labels [PDF, 1.39 MB] and involves an Integration Panel, (to be staffed by paid experts), a set of Advisors to all Panels (formed of paid consultants, ICANN staff, or volunteers), and a set of Generation Panels (consisting of volunteers). This call concerns the latter.

Successful development of the IDN Root Zone LGR depends on having Generation Panels for each script represented in the Root Zone. Generation Panels are expected to represent their communities and to have members with the appropriate skills to perform the substantive work of creating the LGR for the script used by their community.

Each Generation Panel will be comprised of a chair and a number of community representatives, as well as members with technical expertise in the following areas: DNS, IDNA, Unicode, and linguistics of the relevant script. The Call for Generation Panels to develop Root Zone Label Generation Rules [PDF, 150 KB] describes the details of expertise needed, as well as the details of the selection process. Interested volunteers are invited to submit their CV and an expression of interest statement demonstrating how they meet the qualifications to serve as members or chairs. Communities that already have a working group dealing with IDN and Variant issues are solicited to contact ICANN if interested in forming a Generation Panel, partially or entirely based on such an existing working group.

Initially, Generation Panel formation is expected to cover the following scripts, already represented in existing applications from both New gTLD and IDN ccTLD Programs: Arabic, Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Cyrillic, Greek, Latin, Bengali, Devanagari, Gujarati, Gurmukhi, Sinhala, Tamil, Telugu, Thai and Georgian. However, the call will remain open for those interested in serving on Generation Panels for other scripts.

Expressions of interest can be sent to idnvarianttlds@icann.org.

This announcement was sourced from :

http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-11jul13-en.htm

[news release] DomainsBot, the provider of leading domain suggestion technology, proudly announces its first product for registries. TLD Recommendation Engine for Registries is a product that services the world’s largest registrars, with the DomainsBot Name Suggestion API.

Last week, DomainsBot released the TLD Recommendation Engine for Registrars as a free add-on for registrars who already use the DomainsBot Name Suggestion API. The TLD Recommendation Engine debuted as a game changer for registrars carrying a large variety of TLDs.

The TLD Recommendation Engine for Registries allows TLD operators to define the relevance of their extension and increase the odds it will be presented to customers visiting registrar sites. Through the registry version, DomainsBot also provides key data to help registries properly position their TLDs among the competition. This is done by measuring the relevance to a given domain name search which is measured through intelligent machine learning that sources collected data. Metrics include content analysis of popular and relevant websites, frequency analysis of searched and registered domains, social media data mining and geographical targeting.

The TLD Recommendation Engine for Registrars replaces the current static domain search process with one that services multiple relevant TLDs. This new tool offers greater opportunity for registries to promote their TLDs in a way that has never been possible before.

“The TLD Recommendation Engine matches user intent with the targeted TLDs that are most likely to sell by defining and measuring relevance,” explains Emiliano Pasqualetti, CEO and Chief Data Scientist of DomainsBot. “Currently, the missing piece in domain marketing is the ability to arm registries with the ability to position TLDs directly in front of their strongest market segments. For a registry, TLD marketing is at its most effective when you can persuade the registrants that your TLD matters to them and this starts by effectively matching their purchase intent.”

New registries are already in line to become early adopters of The TLD Recommendation Engine for Registries. George Minardos, MinardosGroup CEO and applicant for .Build, .Construction and .Expert states: “Our team shares DomainsBot’s vision and are excited about the opportunity to be able to directly reach registrants right out of the gate. We know that we have a great product and we want to get it in front of as many interested parties as possible as soon as possible. .Build is very pleased to be among the early adopters of this groundbreaking service.”

The DomainsBot TLD Recommendation Engine will offer three tiers of service for registries. The first is the basic “Free” version available to all registries that provides the basic frequency analysis. The second tier is the “Start Up” option, which also offers geo targeting, advanced semantic analysis and the relevance booster. The third tier is the “Pro” option, which includes everything offered to Start Up level customers as well as deep analysis of entity, online content and social media.

To sample the free version of the TLD Recommendation Engine for Registries, please visit demo.domainsbot.com

To learn more about the TLD Recommendation Engine or to organize a meeting at ICANN Durban, please contact Emiliano Pasqualetti at emiliano@domainsbot.com

About DomainsBot
Founded in Rome, Italy, DomainsBot is the domain industry’s leading provider of domain name suggestion technology to domain name registrars and registries. Since 2005, the DomainsBot Recommendation Engine powers domain name suggestion tools at GoDaddy, Tucows, eNom, MelbourneIT and DirectI. Annually, an estimated 1.5 million new domain names are registered as a result of DomainsBot suggestions. Offices are in San Francisco, California and Rome, Italy.

InternetNZ, which has as one of its roles managing the .nz country code Top Level Domain, has announced Jordan Carter is its new Chief Executive. Carter has held the Acting Chief Executive role since January 2013 and fills the position left by Vikram Kumar.

InternetNZ President Frank March says Carter was appointed following a rigorous recruitment process. 36 people applied for the role, with eleven candidates being long-listed and three making the shortlist.

The role will see Carter responsible to the elected InternetNZ Council for leading the organisation’s growing portfolio of policy and community work.

Jordan Carter has previously held senior policy roles within InternetNZ and has most recently worked as a consultant, providing telco, media and Internet policy advice to a range of clients in New Zealand and abroad.

March says that Jordan Carter has a deep understanding of Internet policy and research and is fully across the intricacies of regulation concerning the Internet and ICT more generally. “His skills and experience in these areas will stand InternetNZ in good stead as the Internet grows and starts encompassing more areas of public and technical policy. Joined with governance experience, strong leadership credentials and deep background knowledge of InternetNZ’s structure and ambitions, he is well suited to this role.”

Carter says he is excited about the opportunity to play a leading role in building on InternetNZ’s many recent successes, and looks forward to working closely with Council, staff, members and stakeholders to implement plans that will make InternetNZ even more visible and relevant than it is today.

“An open and uncapturable Internet is essential to New Zealand’s prospects. InternetNZ is working with others to ensure the Internet remains a platform for innovation and change – ensuring its potential is not lost by drifting away from its founding principles of open standards and shared decision-making,” he says.

“I’m hugely pleased to be given the chance to serve InternetNZ and New Zealand more broadly in this role. InternetNZ can and should be the key voice standing up for the Internet in our national life. That is my goal: to lead InternetNZ in being that voice.

“In making technical and public policy suggestions to help protect and promote the Internet, we will work with partners old and new – and be careful to uphold our obligations to work in the interests of all New Zealanders,” says Carter.

InternetNZ’s subsidiaries – NZRS and DNCL are not directly affected by this appointment, each having their own management and boards that report into Council.