Most people who use the Internet are familiar with domain names: the extensions that reflect the purpose of an organization or entity. The most common domains are: .com (commercial website); .gov (government); .edu (educational institutions); .mil (branch of the military); .net (networking activities); .org (organizations); and .int (international matters).
Many organizations have complained that the seven "top-level" domain names don't allow for a World Wide Web address that accurately defines their purpose or company. The Internet Ad Hoc Committee (IAHC) has proposed an additional seven top-level domains.
The proposed extensions, like the other domain names, are mostly self-explanatory: .firm; .store; .web (web activities); .rec (recreation and entertainment); .arts; .info; and .nom (for individuals).
The new domain names probably won't come into use until the end of this year; perhaps longer, if current arguments between the IAHC and other organizations continue. However, once they are in place, the names will make advanced searches for a particular name or company much easier. For more information, contact the IAHC at [url=http://www.iahc.org]http://www.iahc.org[/url].
