ICANN Includes Non-Latin Domain Name Extensions

Carolina Usbeck - November 16, 2009

Have you ever wondered why Japanese or Korean sites use Latin extensions in their domain names?
Those sites from countries with non-Latin languages had to use Latin domain names since domain names extensions were implemented from the beginning of the Internet as Latin.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has announced the inclusion of non-Latin domain name extensions. This gives the opportunity for non-Latin countries to name their sites extensions correspondingly in their own language; this will allow in better SEO opportunities since their domain name extensions will enable users to search information in their corresponding territory or nations. This change to the domain names extensions will cause a significant transformation to the Internet, probably the greatest change it has gone through since it was created.

The nations that would like to obtain their new extensions which reflect their name, will need to send an application to ICANN and will under an evaluation process. If approved they can start accepting registrations from within their country.
ICANN will provide this service beginning on November 19, 2009.