New generic top-level domains (gTLDs) are well on their way to being realised, as moves are afoot at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to give domain registrants more choice. Dr Paul Twomey, President and CEO of ICANN, noted that new gTLDs would not only present new business opportunities for the companies who would manage them, but could also encourage healthy competition in the area of domain name registry services.

ICANN is urging companies to bid to develop the Request for Proposals (RFP). The new domains are intended to come online in 2008. Twomey also hinted that the new set of gTLDs might include international domains, as sandbox tests have been carried out on Domain Registration using non-Latin characters. This could open up the internet market to a much wider variety of businesses and individuals.