Net names .bike and .guru available
Nine new web address suffixes, including .bike, .clothing, .singles and .guru, have been made available as the net names system undergoes a radical shake-up.
The new names, formally known as generic top level domains (gTLDs) are currently open only to those with registered trademarks. They will be open to the general public at the end of January 2014. New names are expected to be released at a rate of about 10 a week. Last month four new domains were launched: شبكة, the Arabic word for "web"; 游戏, the Chinese word for "game"; and the Russian words for "online" and "web site", онлайн and сайт. Approximately 1,400 new gTLDs are expected to come online in the next few years. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann) believes that the new set of names will transform the way business is done online. "From fashion brands and dating agencies, to spiritual healers and cycle advocates, the launch of these new domains mean consumers can easily find specific content within each extension, while businesses will benefit from a stronger and more relevant online proposition," said Jan Corstens, project director of Icann's Trademark Clearinghouse. Icann has invited companies to submit applications for names they would like to register. Firms have come forward to request almost 2,000 new names including the likes of .porn, .ninja, and .ferrari. The BBC has expressed an interest in .bbc. As well as domain names set aside for brands there will be around 700 more generic names, such as .shop, .hotel and .site. But not everyone thinks that the shake-up is necessary. The Coalition Against Domain Name Abuse estimates that companies will need to spend thousands of pounds to ensure their brands are not hijacked by others.