Five More TLDs were Added to the Internet

February 23, 2014 - A Top Level Domain (TLD) is the text to the right of the final dot in a domain name. For example, .Com is the most popular TLD today. In 2012, ICANN - the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers - held a historic application round inviting organizations from around the world to apply to create new TLDs. 1,930 applications for new TLDs were filed. Since that time, each application has undergone a rigorous evaluation process which included evaluation of the string itself as well as the applicant's technical capacity and financial capability for operating a new TLD.  It is expected that over 700 new TLDs will result from this process (many of the TLDs were duplicates).

After the application process is complete, each prospective registry operator must sign a contract - known as a Registry Agreement - with ICANN before the new TLD can be added to the Internet.

This week, five more TLDs have been delegated - or added - to the Internet.  After a TLD is delegated, the Registry Operator will undergo a ramp-up period before domains in the TLD become available to the general public.  The length of the ramp-up period varies.  For example, the .ventures TLD was delegated in November, and domains within the .ventures went to General Availability in February.  However, other TLDs were delegated in October and have not yet announced General Availability dates.  In the past, the typical ramp-up period was six months.

The application review process conducted by ICANN is a very thorough, time-consuming process. The application process consists - at a high level - of the steps below:

• Administrative Completeness Check – During this phase, ICANN confirmed that all applicants had filled in all required questions and paid all required fees. The Administrative Completeness check occurred in 2012 and is complete.
• String Similarity Review - After the Administrative Completeness check, ICANN assigned applicants into contention sets based on string similarity. In addition to the strings that were exact matches of each other, which were automatically placed into contention sets, ICANN also created two additional string contention sets. These were 1) .hotels and .hoteis and 2) .unicorn and .unicom. The String Similarity Review occurred in 2012 and is complete.
• Initial Evaluation – During the Initial Evaluation phase, ICANN evaluated every application for financial capability to operate a TLD, technical capacity to operate a TLD, and also evaluated the string itself for stability and operational issues. While the Initial Evaluation phase is ‘officially’ deemed complete, there are a few stragglers still pending Initial Evaluation. Overall, 1,757 TLD s passed Initial Evaluation, 11 TLDs failed Initial Evaluation but passed Extended Evaluation, 27 TLDs are still in Extended Evaluation, and 4 TLDs remain still pending Initial Evaluation. Additionally, there are three TLDs classified as ‘Not Approved’, which means that they failed to pass Initial Evaluation and are not eligible for Extended Evaluation, and 127 applications were withdrawn.
• Extended Evaluation - The Extended Evaluation phase was only necessary if ICANN required additional time to fully evaluate an applicant or if the applicant failed to pass the Initial Evaluation phase. Since there are additional fees associated with Extended Evaluation request, applicants who failed to pass Initial Evaluation are given the option to request Extended Evaluation.
• Dispute Resolution - Disputes may be filed against an application for a new TLD on four grounds: Legal Rights, Community Objection, Limited Public Interest, String Confusion. The String Confusion objection was another way that applicants could use to request that similar strings should be placed in a contention set. ICANN’s Independent Objector may also file a dispute against an applicant.
• Community Priority Panel - If one of the applicants in a contention set applied as a Community TLD, then ICANN must evaluate the applicant's claim to Community priority. If it is found that one applicant in a contention set has community support from established institutions representing the community, then that applicant will be granted the approval to move forward to the next steps in the application process.
• Auction - In the event that more than one applicant in a contention set passes through the Evaluation and Dispute Resolution phases, then applicants are encouraged to negotiate a solution. Failing that, applicants may bid against each other for the proposed TLD either via private auctions or via an auction hosted by ICANN.
• Contracting – After the applicant has passed through all prior steps in the application process, and any string contention disputes have been resolved, the applicant may be invited to the contracting phase of the Application Process.
• Pre-Delegation Testing – Pre-delegation testing consists of technical and operational testing to ensure that the applicant is ready to operate a new TLD.
• Delegation into the Root Zone – After the Applicant has signed a contract with ICANN and after the applicant has passed Pre-Delegation testing, the applicant may request delegation into the Root Zone. This means that the new TLD will be added to the Internet.
• Ramp-up – After the Applicant’s string has been delegated into the Root Zone, the applicant may begin to build up and test the technical infrastructure required to operate a TLD.
• Sunrise – The Sunrise phase usually consists of a 30-day period during which Trademark holders may purchase domain names within a given TLD followed by a 30-60 day Landrush Phase during which interested parties may request to purchase a domain name within the given TLD. During the Landrush period, in the event that two parties wish to purchase the same domain name, a bidding process us usually held for the domain name in contention.
• General Availability – Domain names are sold to the general public.

The table below provides a list of all all of the TLDs that have been delegated to date.

Date TLD Delegated	TLD	Registry Operator
21-Feb-14	.FISH	Fox Woods, LLC
21-Feb-14	.삼성 (xn―cg4bki) – Korean for "Samsung/Samseong"	Samsung SDS Co., LTD
21-Feb-14	.VACATIONS	Atomic Tigers, LLC
21-Feb-14	.INDUSTRIES	Outer House, LLC
21-Feb-14	.SUPPLY	Half Falls, LLC
19-Feb-14	.XYZ	XYZ.COM, LLC
19-Feb-14	.WIKI	Top Level Design, LLC
19-Feb-14	.NEUSTAR	NeuStar, Inc,
18-Feb-14	.بازار (xn--mgbab2bd) – Arabic for "bazaar/bazar"	CORE Association
16-Feb-14	.MANGO	Punto FA S.L.
12-Feb-14	.QPON	dotCOOL, Inc.
11-Feb-14	.CARDS	Foggy Hollow, LLC
11-Feb-14	.FOUNDATION	John Dale, LLC
11-Feb-14	.REVIEWS	United TLD Holdco, Ltd.
11-Feb-14	.FUTBOL	United TLD Holdco, Ltd.
11-Feb-14	.VISION	Koko Station, LLC
11-Feb-14	.CONDOS	Pine House, LLC
11-Feb-14	.VILLAS	Koko Station, LLC
11-Feb-14	.PARTS	Sea Goodbye, LLC
11-Feb-14	.PRODUCTIONS	Magic Birch, LLC
11-Feb-14	.MAISON	Victor Frostbite, LLC
5-Feb-14	. 移动 (xn--6frz82g) – Chinese for "mobile"	Afilias Limited
5-Feb-14	.BLUE	Afilias Limited
4-Feb-14	.FLIGHTS	Fox Station, LLC
4-Feb-14	.CLEANING	Fox Shadow, LLC
4-Feb-14	.REPORT	Binky Glen, LLC
4-Feb-14	.EVENTS	Pioneer Maple, LLC
4-Feb-14	.CRUISES	Spring Way, LLC
4-Feb-14	.RENTALS	Big Hollow, LLC
4-Feb-14	.PARTNERS	Magic Glen, LLC
4-Feb-14	.PROPERTIES	Big Pass, LLC
4-Feb-14	.CATERING	New Falls, LLC
4-Feb-14	.EXPOSED	Victor Beach, LLC
29-Jan-14	.VOTING	Valuetainment, Corp.
29-Jan-14	.TOKYO	GMO Registry, Inc.
29-Jan-14	.NAGOYA	GMO Registry, Inc.
27-Jan-14	.DATING	Pine Fest, LLC
27-Jan-14	.COMMUNITY	Fox Orchard, LLC
23-Jan-14	.BOUTIQUE	Over Galley, LLC
23-Jan-14	.BARGAINS	Half Hallow, LLC
23-Jan-14	.TIENDA	Victor Manor, LLC
23-Jan-14	.WORKS	Little Dynamite, LLC
23-Jan-14	.WED	Atgron, Inc.
23-Jan-14	.EXPERT	Magic Pass, LLC
23-Jan-14	.WATCH	Sand Shadow, LLC
23-Jan-14	.KIM	Afilias Limited
23-Jan-14	.COOL	Koko Lake, LLC
23-Jan-14	.TOOLS	Pioneer North, LLC
18-Jan-14	.CLUB	.Club Domains, LLC
18-Jan-14	.BUILD	Plan Bee, LLC
18-Jan-14	.PICS	Uniregistry, Corp.
18-Jan-14	.PINK	Afilias Limited
18-Jan-14	.LUXURY	Luxury Partners, LLC
18-Jan-14	.PHOTO	Uniregistry, Corp.
18-Jan-14	.GIFT	Uniregistry, Corp.
18-Jan-14	.网络 (xn--io0a7i) – Chinese for "network"	Computer Network Information Center of Chinese Academy of Sciences (China Internet Information Center)
18-Jan-14	.公司 (xn--55qx5d) – Chinese for "company"	Computer Network Information Center of Chinese Academy of Sciences (China Internet Information Center)
18-Jan-14	.MONASH	Monash University
18-Jan-14	.RICH	I-REGISTRY Ltd. Niederlassung Deutschland
18-Jan-14	.RED	Afilias Limited
18-Jan-14	.SHIKSHA	Afilias Limited
18-Jan-14	.中信 (xn--fiq64b) – Chinese for "CITIC"	CITIC Group Corporation
18-Jan-14	.LINK	Uniregistry, Corp.
18-Jan-14	.GUITARS	Uniregistry, Corp.
14-Jan-14	.ZONE	Outer Falls, LLC
14-Jan-14	.CHEAP	Sand Cover, LLC
14-Jan-14	.MARKETING	Fern pass, LLC
14-Jan-14	.DEMOCRAT	United TLD Holdco Ltd.
14-Jan-14	.SOCIAL	United TLD Holdco Ltd.
14-Jan-14	.AGENCY	Steel Falls, LLC
14-Jan-14	.MODA	United TLD Holdco Ltd.
14-Jan-14	.DANCE	United TLD Holdco Ltd.
8-Jan-14	.BERLIN	dotBERLIN GmbH & Co. KG
3-Jan-14	集团 (xn--3bst00m) – Chinese for "group"	Eagle Horizon Limited
3-Jan-14	我爱你 (xn--6qq986b3xl) – Chinese for "I love you"	Tycoon Treasure Limited
3-Jan-14	中文网 (xn--fiq228c5hs) – Chinese for "Chinese network"	TLD Registry Limited
3-Jan-14	.WANG	Zodiac Leo Limited
3-Jan-14	.KIWI	Dot Kiwi Limited
3-Jan-14	.WIEN	punkt.wien GmbH
2-Jan-14	.EMAIL	Spring Madison, LLC
2-Jan-14	.IMMOBILIEN	United TLD Holdco Ltd.
2-Jan-14	.在线 (xn--3ds443g) – Chinese for "online"	TLD Registry Limited
28-Dec-13	.INSTITUTE	Outer Maple, LLC
28-Dec-13	.CEO	CEOTLD Pty Ltd
28-Dec-13	.SOLAR	Ruby Town, LLC
28-Dec-13	.FARM	Just Maple, LLC
28-Dec-13	.EDUCATION	Brice Way, LLC
28-Dec-13	.GLASS	Black Cover, LLC
28-Dec-13	.ONL	I-REGISTRY Ltd. Niederlassung Deutschland
28-Dec-13	.INTERNATIONAL	Wild Way, LLC
28-Dec-13	.CODES	Puff Willow, LLC
28-Dec-13	.TRAINING	Wild Willow, LLC
28-Dec-13	.HOUSE	Sugar Park, LLC
28-Dec-13	.KAUFEN	United TLD Holdco Ltd.
28-Dec-13	.NINJA	United TLD Holdco Ltd.
28-Dec-13	.REPAIR	Lone Sunset, LLC
28-Dec-13	.BUILDERS	Atomic Madison, LLC
28-Dec-13	.COFFEE	Trixy Cover, LLC
28-Dec-13	.FLORIST	Half Cypress, LLC
28-Dec-13	.HOLIDAY	Goose Woods, LLC
28-Dec-13	.SOLUTIONS	Silver Cover, LLC
18-Dec-13	.BUZZ	dotStrategy Co.
18-Dec-13	.SUPPORT	Grand Orchard, LLC
17-Dec-13	.RECIPES	Grand Island, LLC
17-Dec-13	.COMPUTER	Pine Mill, LLC
17-Dec-13	.ACADEMY	Half Oaks, LLC
17-Dec-13	.CAREERS	Wild Corner, LLC
17-Dec-13	.CAB	Half Sunset, LLC
17-Dec-13	公益 (xn--55qw42g) – Chinese for "charity"	China Organizational Name Administration Center
17-Dec-13	政务 (xn--zfr164b) – Chinese for "government"	China Organizational Name Administration Center
17-Dec-13	.SYSTEMS	Dash Cypress, LLC
17-Dec-13	.DOMAINS	Sugar Cross, LLC
17-Dec-13	.VIAJES	Black Madison, LLC
17-Dec-13	.COMPANY	Silver Avenue, LLC
17-Dec-13	.CAMP	Delta Dynamite, LLC
17-Dec-13	.LIMO	Hidden Frostbite, LLC
17-Dec-13	.MANAGEMENT	John Goodbye, LLC
17-Dec-13	.PHOTOS	Sea Corner, LLC
17-Dec-13	.SHOES	Binky Galley, LLC
17-Dec-13	.CENTER	Tin Mill, LLC
10-Dec-13	.RUHR	Regiodot GmbH & Co. KG
30-Nov-13	.MENU	Wedding TLD2, LLC
30-Nov-13	.UNO	Dot Latin, LLC
23-Nov-13	みんな (xn--q9jyb4c) - Japanese for "everyone"	Charleston Road Registry, Inc.
19-Nov-13	.diamonds	John Edge, LLC
19-Nov-13	.tips	Corn Willow, LLC
19-Nov-13	.photography	Sugar Glen, LLC
19-Nov-13	.directory	Extra Madison, LLC
19-Nov-13	.enterprises	Snow Oaks, LLC
19-Nov-13	.kitchen	Just Goodbye, LLC
19-Nov-13	.today	Pearl Woods, LLC
14-Nov-13	.plumbing	Spring Tigers, LLC
14-Nov-13	.graphics	Over Madison, LLC
14-Nov-13	.contractors	Magic Woods, LLC
14-Nov-13	.gallery	Sugar House, LLC
14-Nov-13	.sexy	Uniregistry, Corp.
14-Nov-13	.construction	Fox Dynamite, LLC
14-Nov-13	.tattoo	Uniregistry, Corp.
14-Nov-13	.technology	Auburn Falls
14-Nov-13	.estate	Trixy Park, LLC
14-Nov-13	.land	Pine Moon, LLC
14-Nov-13	.bike	Grand Hollow, LLC
6-Nov-13	.VENTURES	Binky Lake, LLC
6-Nov-13	.CAMERA	Atomic Maple, LLC.
6-Nov-13	.CLOTHING	Steel Lake, LLC
6-Nov-13	.LIGHTING	John McCook, LLC
6-Nov-13	.SINGLES	Fern Madison, LLC
6-Nov-13	.VOYAGE	Ruby House, LLC
6-Nov-13	.GURU	Pioneer Cypress, LLC
6-Nov-13	.HOLDINGS	John Madison, LLC
6-Nov-13	.EQUIPMENT	Corn Station, LLC
23-Oct-13	شبكة (xn--ngbc5azd) – Arabic for "web/network"	International Domain Registry Pty. Ltd.
23-Oct-13	онлайн (xn--80asehdb) – Russian for "online"	CORE Association
23-Oct-13	сайт (xn--80aswg) – Russian for "site"	CORE Association
23-Oct-13	游戏(xn--unup4y) – Chinese for "game(s)"	Spring Fields, LLC