New domain names to suit users

Internet regulators have voted to allow the creation of thousands of new domain names. ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) voted unanimously to loosen the strict rules on domain names such as .com or .uk.

Under the new system, the web’s 1.3 billion users would be able to buy an unlimited number of addresses based on brands or company names.

Broad product groups like .bank or .car, while the sex industry is looking at .xxx for adult sites.

Cities could benefit from this liberalisation, with the German capital hoping for .berlin or .paris for the French capital.

The details are to be worked out over the next few months, with the change expected to take effect in 2009.

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