Tomorrow, a new top-level domain just for .ME

By Michael Hatamoto | Published July 16, 2008, 4:43 PM

Those interested in getting a .ME domain name -- perhaps one named just for themselves -- can do so after ICANN, the organization responsible for overseeing Internet domains, opens up .ME domain registration tomorrow.

The "Sunrise" period of registration for .ME domains began in May, where trademark owners were permitted to register their own names early. The "Landrush" period began in June, in which any interested party can submit a domain application without restrictions.

According to the .ME Registry, more than 30,000 domains have been registered, and auctions for domains with multiple bids are now taking place. Successfully completed open registrations will enable domain owners to launch their .ME Web sites immediately after registration opens publicly tomorrow.

Auctions are expected for domains that will likely be considered high value, with Love.Me, Buy.Me, Contact.ME, Drive.ME, and Date.me, and other verbs you can conceivably do to ".me," at the top of the list.

The open registration period makes it possible for anyone to get any domain name on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers had a busy year in 2008, opening up several new top-level domains and drastically altering the rules for introducing new Top-Level Domains (TLDs). The most popular generic TLDs today are .COM, .ORG, .NET, and to a lesser extent .BIZ, though a rule change initiated last month could complicate things drastically.

Companies and interested parties will be able to create their own gTLD depending on what their needs are - for example, japan.yahoo in place of yahoo.co.jp. The rules restriction could open up more than 70 million possible new domains operating under the .COM gTLD.

Also with the rule changes, ICANN also made it possible for Chinese corporations to create a domain that ends with Chinese ideograms instead of .CN.

Earlier in the year, ICANN eased restrictions on the .PRO TLD. Interested parties now only have to fill out an online registration form that has a company's name, profession, and a qualifying license number.

Comments

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Oh F**k.me. I see where this is headed....

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The ads are handled by 3rd party companies such as Google. For example, The Obama campaign pays an internet ad company to place ads and then that company places the ads according to their available sites and restrictions. So, in a sense, neither the buyer of the ads or the site has much say in placement if they agree to the terms. I would think that there is some sort of tier approach to this and would dictate where and how many sites get an ad.

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Deleting as I replicated post. Apologies.

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The LCN site has a handy little iCalendar reminder to make sure you don't forget to register
http://www.lcn.com/me_domain_registration

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Cool. I can already hear it coming.

Screw.me

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I know is out of the topic, but I have a doubt:
Every time I access BetaNews, the first ADs I see is something like this - Don't satisfy your wife? buy Viagra. - It´s a flash AD.
It occurs with someone else?
(English isn't my native idiom)

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"It occurs with someone else?"

Not me, and I have Adblock (or IE7Pro) to thank for that.

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go do a virus scan or something.
I don't think betanews got viagra ads.

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I believe Betanews uses google adsense. as such, they don't actually have all that much control over what displays.

Not sure if Google's pushing Viagra now, but....

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lol i usually end up getting obama adds.

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I do believe you are correct.

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I'm registering Bite.me. It's mine. GTFO!

;)

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itsallabout is still available

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Yeah.. the word 'blow' comes to mind. :D

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What happened to Montenegro owning .me? Why is ICANN opening this up? Isn't that a decision Montenegro should be making and managing?

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Montenegro may still be in charge of it somehow. I'm not sure but only Montenegran entities can get the co.me, org.me etc. I wonder if the .tv worked the same way?

Anyway, Quote from the registration FAQ at http://www.domain.me/index.php?page=15#3

Third-level domain names are open to Montenegrin entities only. Third-level names -- in co.me, org.me, etc. -- are not subject to the Sunrise process. Third-level domains may be registered by Montenegrin entities on a first-come, first-served basis beginning on May 1. Third-level domain names may be submitted exclusively at www.registruj.me.

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