No more “test flights” ... 2012 is the year that IPv6 gets permanently deployed! That is the message of “World IPv6 Launch,” announced today by the Internet Society, Google, Facebook, Cisco, Microsoft, Comcast, AT&T, Time Warner Cable and a whole host of other companies.

While last year’s successful World IPv6 Day was all about testing how your site or service worked with IPv6, this year’s World IPv6 Launch is about enabling IPv6 permanently as of June 6, 2012 (or earlier). As Google’s Erik Klein wrote:

“At long last, IPv6 will be the new normal.”

Today’s announcement included a new website:

www.worldipv6launch.org

with information about the initiative, forms to complete to register your participation in World IPv6 Launch, and also badges and images you can use on your websites, in your presentations, etc. As you will see on the site, this year’s initiative is focused primarily on internet service providers (ISPs), home networking equipment manufacturers and website operators / content providers. You can register on the site to participate and can also stay up-to-date on the program by following @worldipv6launch on Twitter.

Partners participating in the event also published supporting blog posts today, including:

• Internet Society Deploy360 Programme: World IPv6 Launch on June 6, 2012, To Bring Permanent IPv6 Deployment
• The Official Google Blog: IPv6: Countdown to launch
• Cisco Blog: Launching a New Internet Protocol (includes a video)

While Facebook joined in with a tweet about their participation to their 2-million+ followers.

Many more companies are already completing the forms and registering their interest in joining the effort.

The momentum is just starting and will only build as June 6th approaches - what will you do to be part of the effort?

Full Disclosure: I am employed by the Internet Society although not directly with the World IPv6 Launch team. My role is with the Deploy360 Programme where we are providing resources to help people more rapidly deploy IPv6 (and thereby participate in World IPv6 Launch).