After more than seven years of planning, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has initiated a process that could trigger a dramatic expansion of the Internet. 

Starting today, ICANN begins accepting applications for new generic top-level domains (gTLDs).  The world of .com, .gov, .org and 19 other gTLDs will soon be expanded to include all types of words in many different languages. For the first time generic TLDs can include words in non-Latin languages, such as Cyrillic, Chinese or Arabic.

Applicants will use the TLD Application System (TAS) to submit their application, in which they answer the 50 questions detailed in the Applicant Guidebook.  Links to register in TAS are provided on the ICANN New gTLD page.

12 January:
29 March:
12 April:   

ICANN begins accepting applications
The last day to register in TAS
Final day ICANN accepts applications
An updated version of the Applicant Guidebook was posted with the opening of the application window. The updated version incorporates clarifications made through responses previously published by the gTLD customer service center. Main points of clarification are on topics such as batching, background screening, the applicant support program, Continued Operations Instrument, GAC advice processes, and the registry code of conduct. Additional information and answers to previously asked questions can be found in the Program’s Supplemental Notes. These materials are not intended to introduce new requirements or criteria. Links to both the Applicant Guidebook and the Supplemental Notes can be found at the ICANN New gTLD page.

Also available now are changes to the Applicant Support Program: limited financial assistance is offered to qualifying applicants. Through this program, applicants, especially from developing economies, have access to financial assistance in the form of an evaluation fee reduction and other in-kind or community pro bono services. The financial assistance element of the program will allow a limited number of qualifying applicants to pay a US $47,000 evaluation fee instead of the full USD $185,000. This fee reduction has been made possible because ICANN’s Board of Directors has dedicated USD $2,000,000 to the program. This is a seed fund to which other organizations can donate. In response to public comment, the draft program has been updated to increase availability of refunds, make the program available to certain trademark owners, and broaden the scope for those seeking to serve the public interest. More information on the Applicant Support program can be found on the ICANN New gTLD page.

This announcement was sourced from here .

It’s only a month to go until the 2012 Domain Pulse, this year to be held in the German city of Hamburg. The annual conference, rotated between Switzerland, Austria and Germany and hosted by the registries in each country (SWITCH, nic.at and DENIC), is one of the highlights of the domain name calendar.

This year’s two-day Domain Pulse conference will be held on 13 and 14 February and will have presentations both dealing with domain names and also looking wider about how technology is impacting on our lives. All presentations are translated into English when in German, and into German when the presentation is in English.

On the domain name front presentations will include “How Domains Are Being Used” by Marc Van Wesemael from EURid, a panel discussion looking at insights and outlooks on new top level domains, a look at the Eco Registrar Atlas (available here in German and English) by lawyer and eco member Thomas Rickert, a look at risks regarding domain names from a specialist lawyer in IT law as well as an update on news from the registries as the last discussion of the conference.

There will also be presentations on internet governance, privacy, security, internet addiction while the keynote address is titled “The Internet as the Operating System of Society” by Prof. Dr. Gunter Dueck, who is described as a mathematician and maverick.

The agenda for the conference is online (available here in English and here in German) while registration can be completed here in English and here in German.

For more information, check out the conference website here.

3D.com was the highest .COM domain name selling in December 2011 . 3D.com was brokered by Sedo for $500,000 .

Here are the top 20 .COM domain name sales for December 2011 :

1. 3D.com  $500,000
2. 45.com  $280,000
3. Honest.com  $180,000
4. PHD.com  $150,000
5. Bolt.com  $125,581
6. QX.com   $124,975
7. PokerBonus.com   $110,508
8. Lela.com   $100,463
9. SideEffects.com   $100,000
10. Flora.com  $95,000
11. LiveCloud.com   $92,000
12. KeywordTool.com  $90,000
13. OrangeField.com   $75,000
14. MarketAnalysis.com  $60,000
15. VintagePorn.com  $60,000
16. VIIA.com   $58,050
17. iWitness.com  $55,281
18. Cart.com  $49,999
19. AllYouNeed.com   $45,000
20. Makassar.com  $40,000

3D.com was the highest .COM domain name selling in December 2011 . 3D.com was brokered by Sedo for $500,000 .

Here are the top 20 .COM domain name sales for December 2011 :

1. 3D.com  $500,000
2. 45.com  $280,000
3. Honest.com  $180,000
4. PHD.com  $150,000
5. Bolt.com  $125,581
6. QX.com   $124,975
7. PokerBonus.com   $110,508
8. Lela.com   $100,463
9. SideEffects.com   $100,000
10. Flora.com  $95,000
11. LiveCloud.com   $92,000
12. KeywordTool.com  $90,000
13. OrangeField.com   $75,000
14. MarketAnalysis.com  $60,000
15. VintagePorn.com  $60,000
16. VIIA.com   $58,050
17. iWitness.com  $55,281
18. Cart.com  $49,999
19. AllYouNeed.com   $45,000
20. Makassar.com  $40,000

3D.com was the highest .COM domain name selling in December 2011 . 3D.com was brokered by Sedo for $500,000 .

Here are the top 20 .COM domain name sales for December 2011 :

1. 3D.com  $500,000
2. 45.com  $280,000
3. Honest.com  $180,000
4. PHD.com  $150,000
5. Bolt.com  $125,581
6. QX.com   $124,975
7. PokerBonus.com   $110,508
8. Lela.com   $100,463
9. SideEffects.com   $100,000
10. Flora.com  $95,000
11. LiveCloud.com   $92,000
12. KeywordTool.com  $90,000
13. OrangeField.com   $75,000
14. MarketAnalysis.com  $60,000
15. VintagePorn.com  $60,000
16. VIIA.com   $58,050
17. iWitness.com  $55,281
18. Cart.com  $49,999
19. AllYouNeed.com   $45,000
20. Makassar.com  $40,000