Business Services Industry

Icann faces competition from alternative domain name systems

Internet Business News, April 10, 2001

Several domain name companies are offering alternative top level domains in conflict with Icann, the official body which establishes and oversees web addresses.

The alternative domain naming systems have been introduced because of the slow pace of changes to the official Internet domain name endings, according to the BBC. As a result Icann risks losing control over who gets what domain because it has said it will not approve new suffixes if a domain is already being used.

The alternative domains can be seen by making a small change to the settings of the web browser or downloading a plug-in.

Three companies are reportedly offering domain names ending '.xxx', including New.net which has a number of other alternative domains such as '.kids' and '.mp3'. New.net plans to set up its own domain system and has signed an agreement with five software companies to promote its alternative domains and to have some browser software automatically work with them.

Another company, Name-space, allows people to choose from up to 500 domain names including '.mayor' and '.anarchy', the BBC reported.

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