Internet group opens door to domains beyond .com

0 Comments | USA TODAY, June, 2008 | by Michelle Kessler

SAN FRANCISCO -- Get ready for ".nyc" and ".ebay."

Starting in early 2009, almost any word will be able to replace ".com" in a Web page address. That opens the door for addresses such as www.books.amazon.

The decision was made Thursday by the organization that manages the technical underpinnings of the Web, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. ICANN, a non-profit based in Marina del Rey, Calif., wants "to increase competition and choice," CEO Paul Twomey says.

The news is likely to spark a scramble for desirable addresses, called top-level domains. It could force businesses to register thousands of domains to protect their brands. And it could make some Web pages easier -- and some harder -- to find.

"It is an amazing...