Major corporations are likely to be at the head of the line when the new gTLD name application period begins, observers have noted.
Earlier this month, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) sanctioned the introduction of customized domain name suffixes, which means a whole range of Web address extensions can now be used.
It will cost each domain name applicant $185,000 to register their interest in a gTLD during the three-month application period, which begins on January 12, 2012.
And this level of cost means it will be mainly global brands which choose to embrace the concept, one expert has suggested. Forrester Research principal analyst Jeff Ernst wrote in his blog that he is “very bullish on this whole thing.”
“The big brands are going to jump on it right away,” he stated, referring to gTLDS.
Peter Dengate Thrush, chairman of the ICANN board, claimed last week that the body has “provided a platform for the next generation of creativity and inspiration” by introducing the new gTLDs.