Australian registry on track to manage .tokyo gTLD

Stephen Withers
Tuesday, 06 December 2011 14:34

IT Industry - Deals

Australian registry Cloud Registry is set to operate at least one of the new top level domains, and hopes to get more of the action.

Sydney-based Cloud Registry and its Japanese partner GMO has won the tender let by the Tokyo metropolitan government to host and operate the planned .tokyo global top level domain (gTLD).

22 new gTLDs proposals are known to be under way at this stage. Cloud Registry co-founder Andrew Douglas told iTWire there are an estimated 100-150 more under consideration, with "a lot of the players are keeping their cards close to their chests" so it is difficult to be sure about the true state of affairs.

Cloud Registry is mainly focussing on the overseas market, but Mr Douglas seems keen to bid to operate proposed Australian-based gTLDs such as .sydney.

Proposed new gTLDs fall into several categories, including brands (eg, .canon), geographical names (eg, .sydney, .london, .california) and generics (.shop, .bank, .phone, .club). Cloud Registry officials expect at least some of those seeking other than brand names will use them to set up a new type of portal for information, products or services pertinent to the name.

For example, .hotel.sydney and .cinema.sydney could be used for portals relating to accommodation and movies in Sydney. The new space provides new opportunities to register names, said Cloud Registry co-founder Ruud Verstijnen.

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