New Domain Names vs Old Domain Names (gTLD)
The highest-level domains in the hierarchy of the DNS (Domain Name System) of the Internet are called Top Level Domain (TLD). Top Level Domain becomes the last part of the domain name for all domains in lower levels. For example, in www.cnn.com, the Top Level Domain is .com (or .COM, as they are case insensitive). TLDs are installed to the root zone. IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) operated by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is the responsible body for maintaining the DNS root zone. Groups of top-level domains identified by IANA are country-code top-level domains (ccTLD), internationalized country code top-level domains (IDN ccTLD), generic top-level domains (gTLD) and infrastructure top-level domains. Generic Top-level Domains (gTLD) are the Top Level Domains with 3 or more characters and they could be either sponsored by private agencies (sponsored top-level domains, sTLD) or operated directly under ICANN (unsponsored top-level domains). Currently there are 22 such gTLDs. ICANN has recently approved a proposal to expand this list with many more new domain names. These new domain names will go live in 2013.
What are Old Domain Names (gTLD)?
At the moment, there are 22 generic Top Level Domains. The domains .com, .net, .info and .org are considered to be the core group of gTLDs. This group is unrestricted (open for any one to buy). .com is for commercial organizations. .info is used for informational sites. Additionally, .biz, .name and .pro also belong to generic domains. But they are restricted, meaning that not everybody can request them. You need to adhere to certain guidelines to acquire these. .edu, .gov, .int and .mil are also considered generic (but sponsored). Typically, all domain names that are not ccTLD are considered as generic TLD. Other gTLDs are aero, biz, coop, museum, name, xxx, asia, cat, jobs, mobi, tel and travel.
What are New Domain Names ( New gTLD)?
ICANN approved the program for the new domain names for generic Top Level Domains, on 20th of June 2011. This new gTLD program will expand the gTLD to go beyond its current list of 22 generic Top Level Domains to include almost anything (for e.g. .car, .rome, .brand and .deloitte) requested by the organizations. But according to the details and policies of the new gTLD program posted on ICANN’s gTLD Application Guidebook, only the established corporations, organizations or institutions will be considered for a new gTLD. Applications will be accepted for the new gTLDs in early 2012 for an application fee of $185,000. After a long and tedious process, the accepted new gTLDs will go live in the first quarter of 2013. If all goes according to ICANN’s plan, the second level domains (e.g. wheel.car or engines.car, etc.) will be available for sales by the end of 2013.
What is the difference between New Domain Names and Old Domain Names (gTLD)?
Old Domain Names (gTLD) contains 22 Top Level Domains such as .com, .net, while New Domain Names will include almost any name requested by established organizations (as well as the domain names such as .post that have been proposed, but not accepted yet.). Many organizations are expected to get domain names based on brand names (such as .ipad and .apple). Generic names such as .cars and .hotels will be auctioned to highest bidder. New Domain names will go live in the early part of 2013. It is predicted that there will be at least 500-100 new gTLDs due to this initiation.