If you’re an ardent follower of corporate announcements and the often-arcane world of ICANN-accredited domain registrars (and really, who isn’t?), you’ll see a press release from Network Solutions, announcing that “Network Solutions and CentralNic Launch New Joint Venture Called Central Registry Solutions.”

Here’s the lead of the release:

“Network Solutions, LLC and CentralNic USA Ltd. announced today the creation of a new joint venture called Central Registry Solutions, LLC. This joint venture combines one of the most trusted registrars with the largest selection of domain extensions with a premiere registry that has one of the widest networks of registrar partners. Together they will provide consulting, domain registration, and other value added services to entities interested in offering new top level domains (TLDs).”

What all that means is that Network Solutions has teamed up with CentralNic to create Central Registry Solutions, which will help companies and other organizations interested in getting their own generic top-level domains.

A thousand years ago, there were only a few available top-level domains: .com, .org, .net, .mil, .gov, and .edu. Over the years, more TLDs were added (like .name); people started using 2-letter country code domains (like .gs, .us, .ly); and also, restrictions on other TLDs were loosened (so that, say, you could get a .pro domain even if you weren’t a doctor or lawyer). Yet people wanted more.

By opening up the generic TLD (gLTD) space, this means that you can take your vanity domain to the next level. On the Central Registry Solutions site, it says, “Control what appears to the left and right of the dot,” which is a pretty good way of explaining it: Instead of being “example.com” (or .net, or .org), you can have your own entire “.example” top-level domain.

So you could have a main Web site URL of, say, www.kubrick.example, and domains of www.strangelove.example, www.fullmetaljacket.example, and www.2001.example).

The implications of this are pretty amazing. People always chafed under TLD restrictions (for example, at one point, only non-profit organizations could be .org), but the ability to create new gTLDs blows this wide open. So your creativity can run wild, though it does complicate things a bit.

Then again, most of us navigate via search engines, anyway. But I imagine this will give a whole new generation of Search Engine Optimization people stuff to obsess about.

Important Note: I was reading through the ICANN gTLD FAQ — it’s giving me a headache, though it says this about who’s eligible for a gTLD:

“Any public or private-sector organization can apply to create and operate a new gTLD. Any established corporation, organization, or institution in good standing may apply for a new gTLD. Applications from individuals or sole proprietorships will not be considered.”

In case you’re screaming about keeping the little guy down, you should also see the fees section: About US$185,000. So it’s definitely targeted towards institutions who can maintain and upkeep their gTLDs.

Anyway, if you represent one of those institutions, and you’re interested in getting your own gTLD, you might want to engage the services of Central Registry Solutions.

Finally, I note that I’m not an expert on gLTDs (if you couldn’t tell) — fortunately, our own Shashi is listed as the Blogger Relations Contact, so if you’re a blogger and would like to relate, have at him. *punt*

The ICANN Board just approved unanimously the motion to adopt the New gTLD policy and to move forward with the implementation of New gTLDs. The implementation details are still subject to Board approval later this year.

Under the current timeline, applications will be called for in early to mid 2009.

Today, June 26th, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) voted to allow more domain options into the mix. This means that sometime in the near future you will have even more choices in which to register your domain names. Once applications to establish new TLDs are approved, people and brands could register names in domains such as .apple, .ebay, .bensen (that’s me!), etc.

Currently there are 20 generic top level domains (gTLDs). Some – like .edu, .gov, .museum, etc. – have special eligibility requirements, but most – like .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz, .name, etc. – can be registered by anyone. These domains mean something to us in a general sense, and we register names in them for specific reasons. For example, you may register a .com to set up a website, get the same name in .net to set up a community, and add the .org if you have a non-profit entity associated with it. While that’s 3 unique domain names, for the user they each have a specific reason. It’s also a way to remember the URL which has its own value.

The application and review process for creating new TLDs will take time. There also will be an arbitration process for people to object to proposed domains. Once these processes have run their course and the new TLDs are approved, you can expect a rush as people and brands seek to personalize their names in these new domains.

Here is some further reading and opinions on this process:

ComputerWorld

Debate over new top-level domains drags on – the history

Online shake up will revolutionise the face of the Internet – the challenges of the transition

The end of the road for .com?

ICANN’s policy brief that cites a link to its coverage of the overall process: see http://www.icann.org/en/policy/briefs/new-gtlds-jun08-en.pdf