ICANN Approves .Mobi sTLD

Internet-oversight group ICANN (www.icann.org) recently announced the creation of .mobi, sponsored top-level domain (sTLD), aimed at mobile phones and other mobile devices. It formalized the creation by entering into a contract with mTLD Top Level Domain Ltd (www.mtldinfo.com), the sponsoring organisaton for .mobi domains.

mTLD Top Level Domain, Ltd. was formed by member companies including Ericsson, GSM Association, Hutchison, Microsoft, Nokia, Samsung Electronics, Syniverse Technologies, Telefonica Moviles, TIM, T-Mobile and Vodafone. They jointly lobbied for '.mobi' to encourage more mobile websites which are optimized for mobile phone and small display screen.

The first domain names will be available during the first half of 2006, starting with a 90 day sunrise period, allowing corporations with trademark validated names to secure a second-level .mobi domain.