Google Applies for Domain Names

Google announced that they have applied for various domain names.

In 2008, ICANN announced a program to expand the number of generic TLDs (think .com, .org, .edu), developed through its bottom-up, multi-stakeholder process, in which we participate. Given this expansion process, we decided to submit applications for new TLDs, which generally fall into four categories:

• Our trademarks, like .google
• Domains related to our core business, like .docs
• Domains that will improve user experience, such as .youtube, which can increase the ease with which YouTube channels and genres can be identified
• Domains we think have interesting and creative potential, such as .lol

Domain names are run by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, an independent agency which controls and runs them. They stopped taking applications for new domain names, after Google's announcement.

At this point there are less than two dozen domains available, .com being used by about fifty percent of web sites. Any and all new ones will be listed June 13.

Some regulators, from various governments, have requested that ICANN not allow any more domains, at all. However, internet freedom groups support the expansion, praising that it will allow for more diversity.