The launch of seven new generic top level domains (gTLDs),
scheduled for July this year, could be delayed by several months
according to a report by news agency Reuters. The report blames
lengthy contract negotiations with the proposed operators of the
new names and the high-tech downturn in the US economy.
The new gTLDs announced in November 2000 are: .biz, .name,
.museum, .pro, .aero, .coop and .info. The registries for the names
will be operated by seven companies. These names will add to the
existing seven gTLDs of .com, .org, .net, .edu, .gov, .mil and
.int.
An ICANN official told reporters that the new registries will
still be in place by the year’s end but that delays were being
caused because some of the registries were having their business
plans re-evaluated by their investors as a result of what he called
the “dot-bomb phenomenon”. The registries in turn blamed ICANN for
delays in providing contracts.
