Your own domain suffix, not just .com or .net

How would you like to own a domain name that ends in a customized suffix, say, .cool or .wow or .sexy instead of the boring .com, .net, or .org domains?

With a new rule governing website names, having one is not anymore that far-fetched.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a not-for-profit organization that oversees the naming scheme for web sites, recently approved a proposal allowing companies to purchase new top-level domain names ending in almost whatever suffix they choose.

The new naming process will begin in April or May 2009. Countries retain their top-level suffixes such as .uk, .au, or .ph, but cities could get individualized URLs such as .london, .chicago, or .manila.

The catch? For now, corporations and major organizations are the only ones given the opportunity. It probably will take a year or two before individuals can start purchasing domains with their own suffixes.

Also, the customized domains are initially going to be expensive — as in really expensive. The recent estimate is that it could cost anywhere between $50,000 and $100,000, or even more. Ouch.

In any case, it’s probably a good time now to start thinking of your own customized domain name and to buy it when already given the chance. I might take iam.cute. How about you?

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