Last June 20, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) made an announcement that the standards it sets for naming websites will be less strict. Currently, generic top-level domain (gTLD) suffixes are confined to 22 three letter options which includes such familiar domains as dot com, dot org and dot net.
During a special meeting, ICANN’s Board of Directors approved a plan to dramatically increase the number of Internet domain name endings to 66 characters long. The cost for applying for a new suffix is $185,000. Private companies have already made announcements that they will be applying for custom suffixes. Applications for new gTLDs will be accepted from 12 January 2012 to 12 April 2012.