Domain Names

Microsoft, Avon and Radiohead Among the Finalists for 2011 .UK.COM Awards

Global leaders Microsoft, Avon, and Radiohead are among the finalists chosen for the 2011 UK.COM Awards. The Awards, which recognize websites using domain names with the ending .UK.COM, also acknowledged well-known British-based companies including Pineapple Dance Studios, the Michelin starred restaurant Sketch, and live music venue Koko. The 24 finalists in four categories represent some of the most inventive business and creative endeavours that 2011 had to offer. The overall winner will be revealed at the end of the month, receiving a £5000 prize for either the business or the business’s charity of choice.

Verisign Selected to Operate .gov Domain Name Registry

Following a competitive RFP and evaluation process, the GSA granted Verisign the authority to provide designated domain name registration services to federal, state and local governments operating sites under the .gov and fed.us domain names.

CentralNic Bolsters Team for New Top-Level Domains

Global domain name registry CentralNic announced today several new appointments as part of its growth strategy to empower brand owners, city governments, not-for-profits and businesses to acquire and manage their own top-level domains ("TLDs").

.ORG, The Public Interest Registry Names Brian Cute as CEO

.ORG, The Public Interest Registry today appointed Mr. Brian Cute as chief executive officer. With more than 12 years of experience in the Internet and communications industry, Mr. Cute will assume his leadership position on February 1, 2011.

Landrush for New Domain Extension - .GR.COM

Starting at 6pm GMT today, a new "zone" of domain names ending with the extension .GR.COM is being launched in a Landrush. Unlike other domain extensions launched over recent years, no premium "keyword" domains will be withheld from sale, meaning that domains like shop.gr.com, athens.gr.com and games.gr.com are available for registration.

dotHOTEL Selects Afilias as New TLD Registry and DNS Provider

At the 39th International ICANN Meeting, Afilias announced that it has been selected by dotHOTEL® as the registry services and DNS provider for its application to ICANN for the .hotel new top-level domain. dotHOTEL is supported by the International Hotel and Restaurant Association, the world's largest association of hospitality providers.

Iron Mountain and Afilias Create Program for New gTLD Registry Applicants

Under the terms of this co-referral program, Iron Mountain will refer prospective gTLD Registry Operators to Afilias for Domain Name Registry Services, and Afilias will refer prospective Registry Operators to Iron Mountain for data escrow services.

.ORG, The Public Interest Registry Hires Don Blumenthal as Senior Policy Advisor

Prior to joining PIR, Mr. Blumenthal created and then directed the Federal Trade Commission's Internet Lab, a pioneering effort in the development of facilities dedicated to the collection and development of evidence needed to prosecute illegal online activity.

CentralNic Completes Largest DNSSEC Deployment

CentralNic Ltd, the global domain name registry, today announced that it has completed the largest deployment of DNSSEC of any registry to date. CentralNic, which operates the registry system for 22 domain extensions has finished rollout of the new security technology across all its extensions.

Afilias Secures .GI, .MN, and .SC Domains with DNSSEC

Afilias, a global provider of Internet infrastructure services, today announced that it has enabled Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) for .GI, the country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) for Gibraltar, .MN for Mongolia, and .SC for the Seychelles.