New rules for domain names could open up the internet it was a simple matter to announce but probably too complicated to implement. Which was why the new rule took six years of negotiations. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the California-based body that regulates the internet, announced last week that it would ease the restrictions on the use of domain names. This means that website extensions no longer need to be .com, .net or .org, or, any of the small approved list of 21 names. ICANN also removed the restriction that the names would have to be in Roman characters.

This rule is expected to do two things. One, it will allow companies or individuals to choose extensions that are appropriate to their businesses. The second ruling means that website addresses no longer have to be in English or any other language with a Roman script. You could have a Hindi name, for example, and type your address using a Hindi keyboard… Read More