The .android Dot
Brand
Android
is a Linux-based open source mobile phone platform. The Open Handset
Alliance (OHA) is a consortium established to develop open standards
in the mobile space, and includes major companies like Google, Intel,
Motorola, Sony, NEC, Huawei Technologies, Samsung Electronics and LG
Electronics.
Google's
domain registry, Charleston Road Registry, has applied to operate the
.android string. Having a specific meaning, it will be differentiated
from generic extensions like .com and .net.
The proposed
gTLD will provide the marketplace with direct association to the term,
"android." The mission of this gTLD, .android, is to provide
members of the Open Handset Alliance with a dedicated domain space
in which to enact relevant second-level domains.
("Second-level
domains" refers to the words left of the dot.)
The .android
extension will be available to the more than 80 OHA members who will
be able to utilise a highly relevant and meaningful domain like Games.android.
It will thus be a restricted registry.
There will
be a careful strategy to ensure that all .android websites are relevant
and legitimate. "When Internet users visit a website in the proposed
gTLD environment, they will be able to reliably expect content relevant
to the proposed gTLD."
Charleston
Road Registry, as the registry operator, will define the specialized
meaning of the term and, based on this definition, will identify criteria
for registrants to operate in the proposed gTLD. Only entities that
meet these criteria will be entitled to register for a domain in the
gTLD.
Google
will allow ICANN accredited registrars to offer .android domains. The
ultimate aim is to facilitate greater communication of android related
content for the benefit of all OHA members, Google itself, and all android
mobile users and providers. "When Internet users visit a website
in the proposed gTLD environment, they will be able to reliably expect
content relevant to the proposed gTLD."
Google
wants to make an impact on consumer behavior, and to promote awareness
and understanding through its marketing and public relations efforts,
intends to promote its portfolio gTLDs collectively.
Charleston
Road Registry will reach out to the Internet community via a number
of different outreach and communications methods and venues to deliver
its mission and message to the public, including but not limited to:
press briefings, videos posted on various Internet sites, blogs and
other social media, and paid advertising.
SPECIAL
NOTE: Google may charge premium pricing for certain premium domain names.
(Pricing and renewal price escalation is likely to become a big issue
with the new generic domain names being concurrently released.) "Charleston
Road Registry reserves the right to charge different prices for unique
second-level domains within the gTLD..."
 Geographic
Dot Brands
Android's
registry will reserve protected geographic descriptive domains from
the applied-for TLD after having reviewed the Registry Agreement and
the GAC's "Principles Regarding New gTLDs". These reserved
names take into account the ISO 3166-1 list and a UN manual for the
Standardization of Geographical Names, for example. With regard to two-character
country code signifiers (like DE) such names would only be released
after agreement and consulting with the government, country-code manager,
ICANN and the GAC.
Possible .android
Brand Domains
Phone.android
Plans.android
Compare.android
My.android
OS.android
Games.android
Apps.android
Google.android
Sony.android
Intel.android
Search.android
Notes
Brand
names mentioned on this site are registered trademarks or trademarks
of their respective corporations. This site claims no association
with or endorsement by any of these corporations and their marks are
mentioned only to illustrate opinion presented in the public interest.
All quotations
on this page are from the respective companies' official ICANN brand
TLD applications unless otherwise stated.
Many possible
theoretical dot brands are mentioned (in English). There are also countless
possibilities in other languages. This has significant potential value
for international navigation.
This site
is focused on reporting the strategic impact of the brand domains on
internet communication, competition and commerce, and some comment is
speculative.
It is not
a comprehensive overview of what some of the world's largest corporations
have chosen to reveal about their plans for the implementation of their
proprietary domain strings.
ICANN is
particularly concerned with the technical, financial, security and legal
issues associated with the new TLDs. These issues are beyond the scope
of this website.
For a comprehensive
overview of the brand domains and their impact on the web, refer to
ICANN's website and the individual applications (large parts of which
are publicly published).
If you
have a particular interest in an individual company, the public aspects
of their applications are available for download via these ICANN links:
You can also search a complete list of applicants there.
ICANN
new gTLD applications
ICANN
official website
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