Changes

561 bytes added ,  8 years ago
Line 14: Line 14:  
'''.info''' is a generic top level-domain name (gTLD) in the Domain Name System ([[DNS]]), managed and operated by [[Afilias]]. It was the first unrestricted TLD following [[.com]] to be approved, with its official opening for public registration having started on October 1, 2001.<ref>[http://www.afilias.info/news/2001/10/01/afilias-announces-opening-day Afilias.info]</ref> As of December, 2010, .info was the largest new gTLD, and the 7th largest TLD in the world, with about 6.8 million registrations.<ref>[http://www.info.info/content/afilias-releases-info-domain-2010-annual-report Afilias Releases info Domain 2010 Annual Report, info.info]</ref> Afilias' [[Roland LaPlante]] has noted that "there are as many .info domains registereed as all other new TLDs combined."<ref>[http://www.sedo.com/presse/presse.php?tracked=1&partnerid=&language=us&id=555 Press Release, May 29, Sedo.com] Retrieved 29 May 2013</ref>
 
'''.info''' is a generic top level-domain name (gTLD) in the Domain Name System ([[DNS]]), managed and operated by [[Afilias]]. It was the first unrestricted TLD following [[.com]] to be approved, with its official opening for public registration having started on October 1, 2001.<ref>[http://www.afilias.info/news/2001/10/01/afilias-announces-opening-day Afilias.info]</ref> As of December, 2010, .info was the largest new gTLD, and the 7th largest TLD in the world, with about 6.8 million registrations.<ref>[http://www.info.info/content/afilias-releases-info-domain-2010-annual-report Afilias Releases info Domain 2010 Annual Report, info.info]</ref> Afilias' [[Roland LaPlante]] has noted that "there are as many .info domains registereed as all other new TLDs combined."<ref>[http://www.sedo.com/presse/presse.php?tracked=1&partnerid=&language=us&id=555 Press Release, May 29, Sedo.com] Retrieved 29 May 2013</ref>
   −
[[Afilias]]' contract to act as the registry for .info was extended for six months after it expired on Dec. 31, 2012. The contract is held by [[ICANN]], and it is in the midst of renegotiation. The contract has a presumption of renewal and the delay is likely due to the activity at ICANN focused on the [[New gTLD Program]]. [[Neustar]]'s [[.biz]] is in the same situation.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/11534-info-and-biz-contracts-extended-after-expiring Info and Biz Contracts Extended After Expiring, DomainIncite.com]Published & Retrieved 9 Jan 2013</ref>  
+
[[Afilias]]' contract to act as the registry for .info was extended for six months after it expired on Dec. 31, 2012.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/11534-info-and-biz-contracts-extended-after-expiring Info and Biz Contracts Extended After Expiring, DomainIncite.com]Published & Retrieved 9 Jan 2013</ref>  The contract is held by [[ICANN]], and was renewed in August 2013.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries Registry Agreements, ICANN.org] Retrieved 09 Oct 2013</ref>
 
==History==
 
==History==
 
   
 
   
Line 24: Line 24:     
===Criticism===
 
===Criticism===
In October, 2011, the Australian parliament blocked its member's access to .info domains. The move was made to defensively protect against what they see as a higher rate of malware in the .info extension.<ref>[http://www.itnews.com.au/News/290150,parliament-quietly-blocks-info-domains.aspx#disqus_thread Parliament Quietly Blocks Info Domains, ITNews.com.au]</ref> One commentator notes that the possibly higher rate of spam and malware could be attributed to the cheap price that .info domains were introduced for, which effectively made them the most cost-effective space for spammers and hackers.<ref>[http://domainnamewire.com/2012/02/15/australian-parliament-blocks-access-to-info/ Australian Parliament Blocks Access to Info, DomainNameWire.com]</ref>
+
In October, 2011, the Australian parliament blocked its member's access to .info domains. The move was made to protect against what they saw as a higher rate of malware in the .info extension.<ref>[http://www.itnews.com.au/News/290150,parliament-quietly-blocks-info-domains.aspx#disqus_thread Parliament Quietly Blocks Info Domains, ITNews.com.au]</ref> One commentator notes that the possibly higher rate of spam and malware could be attributed to the cheap price that .info domains were introduced for, which effectively made them the most cost-effective space for spammers and hackers.<ref>[http://domainnamewire.com/2012/02/15/australian-parliament-blocks-access-to-info/ Australian Parliament Blocks Access to Info, DomainNameWire.com]</ref>
    
== Sunrise Period==
 
== Sunrise Period==
Line 49: Line 49:  
The .info Site Rater feature was launched in 2009, allowing directory visitors to rate their favorite websites on a scale of 1 to 5. The top rated sites were showcased on a special “Top 10 .info page."
 
The .info Site Rater feature was launched in 2009, allowing directory visitors to rate their favorite websites on a scale of 1 to 5. The top rated sites were showcased on a special “Top 10 .info page."
   −
Based on the 2010 .info annual report, at present the .info TLD remains remains the leading new TLD with 6.8 million registrants. It is now offered by 360 registrars. North America (58%) comprises the largest .info registrants, followed by Europe (27%) and Asia Pacific (12%). The 2010 report marked the domain's 10 year anniversary, and it noted that it was more than double the size of any other new TLD at the time. Of it's total registrations, about 70%, or 5 million, resolve to .info sites. It also noted that it had successfully deployed [[DNSSEC]] across the domain.<ref>[http://www.info.info/content/afilias-releases-info-domain-2010-annual-report Afilias Releases Info Domain 2010 Annual Report]</ref>
+
Based on the 2010 .info annual report, the .info TLD was leading new TLD at the time with 6.8 million registrants. It is now offered by 360 registrars. North America (58%) comprises the largest .info registrants, followed by Europe (27%) and Asia Pacific (12%). The 2010 report marked the domain's 10 year anniversary, and it noted that it was more than double the size of any other new TLD at the time. Of it's total registrations, about 70%, or 5 million, resolve to .info sites. It also noted that it had successfully deployed [[DNSSEC]] across the domain.<ref>[http://www.info.info/content/afilias-releases-info-domain-2010-annual-report Afilias Releases Info Domain 2010 Annual Report]</ref>
 +
 
 +
Between 2012 and 2013, the .info TLD had a net loss of 914,310 domain registrations, which amounted to an 11% decline compared with 2011 domains. 2012 ended with 7,402,557 .info domains, still making it the leader in new gTLD total registrations despite the loss. [[Afilias]] attributed the decline to the implementation of an anti-abuse policy that took down registrations it considered as spam.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/12744-afilias-blames-security-crackdown-for-massive-drop-in-info-domains Afilias blames security crackdown for massive drop in .info domains, Domain Incite] Retrieved 13 Sept 2013</ref>
    
==.info Awards==
 
==.info Awards==
Line 59: Line 61:     
[[category: TLD]]
 
[[category: TLD]]
 +
[[Category:TLDs with Registry Agreements|info]]
 
__NOTOC__
 
__NOTOC__