London To Get Its Own Domain Name

With just over 8 million people living in it, London is the size of a small country.  But now London will also become important enough to have its own domain name; an amazing feat in today’s fast track and electronically savvy world.

This week, a deal was signed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) allowing internet addresses to end in .london rather than the common .com or .co.uk.  This deal is set to take affect from next year.

As of spring 2014, London based businesses, organisations and individual people will be able to apply for the domain name ending in .london.

Hundreds of  popular and respected businesses such as Selfridges and Carnaby Street, have already shown an interest in having the domain name .london, says London & Partners, the city’s promotional body. London & Partners applied to ICANN in 2012 to set up and manage the .london domain name.

London Mayor, Boris Johnson, reiterated that there would be a major boom in business when the domain name becomes available.  “Adopting the .london suffix will enable organisations to more closely associate themselves with our great city’s powerful global brand,” he said.  “This is also an excellent opportunity to expand London’s digital presence, which in turn is set to generate funds to invest back into the city.”

In June of this year, New York became the first city in the United States of America  to have its own domain name when ICANN approved .nyc.  Both London and New York will be able to progress and show off as a digital entity.

Dot London Domains Ltd, has signed a contract with ICANN to operate the .london registry.  Information on the new .london domain is available online at www.mydotlondon.com.

[Image via Standard]

SOURCE: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/11/15/london-domain-name_n_4282219.html