New domain names on the horizon for 2008

Get ready for a flurry of new top-level internet domain names in 2008.

Icann (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), the international body responsible for allocating generic and country code top-level domain names - gTLDs and ccTLDs respectively - is asking for public input on developing a new domain name system.

The organisation expects the new process - which is being driven by its Generic Names Supporting Organisation - to be finalised by the end of the year, with applications for new domain names to be invited in early 2008.

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Paul Twomey, president and CEO of Icann, expects new top-level domain names to start emerging next year, between June and August.

The first introduction of new gTLDs came in 2000, with the most recent gTLDs emerging in 2005/06 - including dot-mobi and dot-jobs.

According to Icann there are 120 million domain names with around 80 million of those using gTLDs. The most common gTLD is dot-com, which can be found attached to 62 million domain names.