Category Archives: New gTLDs

3 new gTLDs applications withdrawn for .KIEHLS (L’Oréal), .ANTHEM, .BOOK (total at 66)

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This past week 3 more new gTLDs applications were withdrawn and their status was updated at the ICANN New gTLD website. These 3 withdrawn applications bring the total of withdrawn gTLD applications to 66.

WellPoint, Inc. from the US withdrew its application for the .ANTHEM new gTLD string. The string received Prioritization Numbers of 1838 on the prioritization draw last December. The company had 1 more new gTLD application for CAREMORE but that application was withdrawn as well. There are no more applicants for the .ANTHEM new gTLD string.

L’Oréal from France withdrew its application for the .KIEHLS  new gTLD string. The string received Prioritization Numbers of 554 on the prioritization draw last December. The company has 12 more new gTLD applications. There are no more applicants for the .KIEHLS new gTLD string.

NU DOT CO LLC from the US withdrew its application for the .BOOK  new gTLD string. The string received Prioritization Numbers of 357 on the prioritization draw last December. The company has 12 more new gTLD applications. There are 7 more applicants for the .BOOK new gTLD string including Amazon.

The applicants that withdraw an application are eligible for a 70% refund of the application fees to ICANN. Each withdrawn application, is entitled to a refund of 70% of the $185,000 application fee that is or $130,000, since these fall “[a]fter posting of applications until posting of Initial Evaluation results,” as described in section 1.5.1 of the Applicant Guidebook.

The new gTLD application withdrawal and refund request process may take between 2-4 weeks to complete.

The other 63 applications that have withdrawn are:

  • GLEAN (Lifestyle Domain Holdings, Inc.)
  • GMBH (GMBH Registry, LLC)
  • EST (Charleston Road Registry Inc.)
  • KSB (KSB Aktiengesellschaft)
  • HILTON (HLT Stakis IP Limited)
  • CIALIS (Eli Lilly and Company)
  • SWISS (Swiss International Air Lines Ltd.)
  • ANSONS (CBM Creative Brands Marken GmbH)
  • AND (Charleston Road Registry Inc.)
  • CHATR (Rogers Communications Partnership)
  • CAREMORE (WellPoint, Inc.)
  • SKOLKOVO (Fund for Development of the Center for Elaboration and Commercialization of New Technologies)
  • ARE (Charleston Road Registry Inc.)
  • THEHARTFORD (Hartford Fire Insurance Company)
  • GMC (General Motors LLC)
  • CADILLAC (General Motors LLC)
  • CHEVROLET (General Motors LLC)
  • TRANSFORMERS (Hasbro International, Inc.)
  • CHARTIS (American International Group, Inc.)
  • HEINZ (ProMark Brands Inc.)
  • KETCHUP (ProMark Brands Inc.)
  • OLYMPUS (Olympus Corporation)
  • HOME (Go Daddy East, LLC)
  • CASA (Go Daddy East, LLC)
  • GLOBALX (GlobalX Information Pty Limited)
  • MED (DocCheck AG)
  • INSURANCE (Progressive Casualty Insurance Company)
  • OVERHEIDNL (Ministery of the Interior and Kingdom Relations)
  • APP (Dot App LLC)
  • GUARDIANMEDIA (Guardian News and Media Limited)
  • GDN (Guardian News and Media Limited)
  • 盛貿飯店 (Shangri‐La International Hotel Management Limited)
  • SVR (SVR GROUP)
  • HEART (The American Heart Association, Inc.)
  • STROKE (The American Heart Association, Inc.)
  • 欧莱雅 (L’Oréal)
  • BUY (PVT Registry, LLC)
  • GUARDIAN (Guardian News and Media Limited)
  • 普利司通 (Bridgestone Corporation)
  • MII (MiTek USA, Inc.)
  • MITEK (MiTek USA, Inc.)
  • SAPPHIRE (MiTek USA, Inc.)
  • CONNECTORS (MiTek USA, Inc.)
  • MAIL (1&1 Mail & Media GmbH)
  • BLOOMINGDALES (Macys, Inc.)
  • LLP
  • LTD
  • INC
  • LLC
  • CORP
  • ONLINE (Tucows TLDs Inc.)
  • BOOK (Global Domain Registry Pty)
  • LOVE (Richemont DNS Inc.)
  • free (Top Level Domain Holdings (Minds+Machines))
  • sale (Top Level Domain Holdings (Minds+Machines))
  • spa (Top Level Domain Holdings (Minds+Machines))
  • zulu (Top Level Domain Holdings (Minds+Machines))
  • ONLINE (Namecheap Inc.)
  • GUARDIANLIFE  (The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America)
  • LTD (C.V. TLDcare)
  • INC (C.V. TLDcare)
  • MOVIE (Webdeus Inc.)
  • MAIL (Afilias Domains No. 2 Limited)

New gTLD program posts 50 new Initial Evaluation results: 41 applications get a pass (total is 341)

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The next set of Initial Evaluation (IE) Results was released by ICANN. The total number of passing applications is now 341. ICANN released Initial Evaluation (IE) results for the next set of applications with priority numbers 350-400. There are 41 applications in this set that received a passing score. This takes the total number of IDN applications receiving a passing score to 341 out of 400. (there are a few withdrawn applications in these 400 applications) ICANN will continue to post IE results weekly, ramping up to 100 results per week by June.

3 new gTLD applications have failed to pass IE and are “Eligible for Extended Evaluation”:

48    العليان    Olayan Investments Company Establishment    LI
Contact name: Mike Rodenbaugh
Contact email: OGtld1@rodenbaugh.com
Application ID: 1-1017-64718
Evaluation phase: IE Complete
IE Result: Eligible for Extended Evaluation

125    MCKINSEY    McKinsey Holdings, Inc.    US
Contact name: Gretchen Olive
Contact email: mckinsey@cscinfo.com
Application ID: 1-1782-78035
Evaluation phase: IE Complete
IE Result: Eligible for Extended Evaluation

318    OLAYANGROUP    Olayan Investments Company Establishment    LI
Contact name: Mike Rodenbaugh
Contact email: OGtld1@rodenbaugh.com
Application ID: 1-1017-54910
Evaluation phase: IE Complete
IE Result: Eligible for Extended Evaluation

For some applications Initial Evaluation results were not yet available for one or more possible reasons such as: pending change requests, clarifying questions, or follow-up with applicants regarding missing information. The results for these applications will be published as soon as the relevant processes are completed.

To view Initial Evaluation results for applications with priority numbers 1 through 350, go to the Current Application Status page of the new gTLD microsite. Then click on the Quick Search “IE Result – Pass”. Clicking on the result will take you to the Initial Evaluation report for that application.

There are three possible outcomes of Initial Evaluation: Pass, Eligible for Extended Evaluation, or Ineligible for Further Review.

  • Pass – The evaluation panels determined that the application is consistent with the requirements in the Applicant Guidebook and can advance to the next phase of the Program.
  • Eligible for Extended Evaluation – The Financial, Technical/Operational, Registry Services, or Geographic Names evaluation panels determined that the application did not provide sufficient information to award a passing score. The application is eligible for extended evaluation.
  • Ineligible for Further Review – The DNS Stability, String Similarity, Background Screening, and/or Geographic Names evaluation panels determined that the application did not meet the relevant criteria in the Applicant Guidebook, and the application is ineligible for further review.

As communicated previously, ICANN is releasing Initial Evaluation results in priority order, in increments of 30 per week, with plans to increase to 100 per week. ICANN anticipates having Initial Evaluation results for all applications published by the end of August 2013.

6 new gTLDs applications withdrawn for .ONLINE (Namecheap), .MAIL (Afilias), .MOVIE, .TLD, .INC (total at 63)

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This past week 6 more new gTLDs applications were withdrawn and their status was updated at the ICANN New gTLD website. These 6 withdrawn applications bring the total of withdrawn gTLD applications to 63.

Following the .ONLINE new gTLD alliance by Directi, Tucows and Namecheap, Tucows TLDs Inc. from CANADA withdrew it’s application for the .ONLINE new gTLD string 2 weeks ago. This week Namecheap Inc. also withdrew it’s application for the .ONLINE string leaving the Directi application to continue on behalf of all three companies. The string received a Prioritization Number of 648 on the prioritization draw last December. The company has no more new gTLD applications. There are now 4 applicants for the .ONLINE new gTLD string.

The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America withdrew its application for the .GUARDIANLIFE  new gTLD string. The string received Prioritization Numbers of 1421 on the prioritization draw last December. The company has 1 more new gTLD application for GUARDIAN. There are no more applicants for the .GUARDIANLIFE new gTLD string.

C.V. TLDcare from the Nederlands withdrew its applications for the .LTD and .INC new gTLD strings. The strings received Prioritization Numbers of 1381 and 1503 on the prioritization draw last December. The company has no more new gTLD applications.

Webdeus Inc. withdrew its application for the .MOVIE new gTLD string. The string received Prioritization Number of 592 on the prioritization draw last December. The company has no more new gTLD applications. There are 7 more applicants for the .MOVIE new gTLD string.

Afilias Domains No. 2 Limited withdrew its application for the .MAIL new gTLD string. The string received Prioritization Number of 1724 on the prioritization draw last December. The company has 20 more new gTLD applications.

The applicants that withdraw an application are eligible for a 70% refund of the application fees to ICANN. Each withdrawn application, is entitled to a refund of 70% of the $185,000 application fee that is or $130,000, since these fall “[a]fter posting of applications until posting of Initial Evaluation results,” as described in section 1.5.1 of the Applicant Guidebook.

The new gTLD application withdrawal and refund request process may take between 2-4 weeks to complete.

The other 57 applications that have withdrawn are:

  • GLEAN (Lifestyle Domain Holdings, Inc.)
  • GMBH (GMBH Registry, LLC)
  • EST (Charleston Road Registry Inc.)
  • KSB (KSB Aktiengesellschaft)
  • HILTON (HLT Stakis IP Limited)
  • CIALIS (Eli Lilly and Company)
  • SWISS (Swiss International Air Lines Ltd.)
  • ANSONS (CBM Creative Brands Marken GmbH)
  • AND (Charleston Road Registry Inc.)
  • CHATR (Rogers Communications Partnership)
  • CAREMORE (WellPoint, Inc.)
  • SKOLKOVO (Fund for Development of the Center for Elaboration and Commercialization of New Technologies)
  • ARE (Charleston Road Registry Inc.)
  • THEHARTFORD (Hartford Fire Insurance Company)
  • GMC (General Motors LLC)
  • CADILLAC (General Motors LLC)
  • CHEVROLET (General Motors LLC)
  • TRANSFORMERS (Hasbro International, Inc.)
  • CHARTIS (American International Group, Inc.)
  • HEINZ (ProMark Brands Inc.)
  • KETCHUP (ProMark Brands Inc.)
  • OLYMPUS (Olympus Corporation)
  • HOME (Go Daddy East, LLC)
  • CASA (Go Daddy East, LLC)
  • GLOBALX (GlobalX Information Pty Limited)
  • MED (DocCheck AG)
  • INSURANCE (Progressive Casualty Insurance Company)
  • OVERHEIDNL (Ministery of the Interior and Kingdom Relations)
  • APP (Dot App LLC)
  • GUARDIANMEDIA (Guardian News and Media Limited)
  • GDN (Guardian News and Media Limited)
  • 盛貿飯店 (Shangri‐La International Hotel Management Limited)
  • SVR (SVR GROUP)
  • HEART (The American Heart Association, Inc.)
  • STROKE (The American Heart Association, Inc.)
  • 欧莱雅 (L’Oréal)
  • BUY (PVT Registry, LLC)
  • GUARDIAN (Guardian News and Media Limited)
  • 普利司通 (Bridgestone Corporation)
  • MII (MiTek USA, Inc.)
  • MITEK (MiTek USA, Inc.)
  • SAPPHIRE (MiTek USA, Inc.)
  • CONNECTORS (MiTek USA, Inc.)
  • MAIL (1&1 Mail & Media GmbH)
  • BLOOMINGDALES (Macys, Inc.)
  • LLP
  • LTD
  • INC
  • LLC
  • CORP
  • ONLINE (Tucows TLDs Inc.)
  • BOOK (Global Domain Registry Pty)
  • LOVE (Richemont DNS Inc.)
  • free (Top Level Domain Holdings (Minds+Machines))
  • sale (Top Level Domain Holdings (Minds+Machines))
  • spa (Top Level Domain Holdings (Minds+Machines))
  • zulu (Top Level Domain Holdings (Minds+Machines))

New gTLD program posts 50 new Initial Evaluation results: 56 applications get a pass (total is 300)

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The next set of Initial Evaluation Results was released by ICANN. The total number of passing applications is now 300. ICANN released Initial Evaluation (IE) results for the next set of applications with priority numbers 300-350. There are 56 applications in this set that received a passing score (the number is larger than 50 because a few applications got a pass this week from previous sets). This takes the total number of IDN applications receiving a passing score to 300 out of 350. (there are a few withdrawn applications in these 350 applications) ICANN will continue to post IE results weekly, ramping up to 100 results per week by June.

For some applications Initial Evaluation results were not yet available for one or more possible reasons such as: pending change requests, clarifying questions, or follow-up with applicants regarding missing information. The results for these applications will be published as soon as the relevant processes are completed.

To view Initial Evaluation results for applications with priority numbers 1 through 350, go to the Current Application Status page of the new gTLD microsite. Then click on the Quick Search “IE Result – Pass”. Clicking on the result will take you to the Initial Evaluation report for that application.

There are three possible outcomes of Initial Evaluation: Pass, Eligible for Extended Evaluation, or Ineligible for Further Review.

  • Pass – The evaluation panels determined that the application is consistent with the requirements in the Applicant Guidebook and can advance to the next phase of the Program.
  • Eligible for Extended Evaluation – The Financial, Technical/Operational, Registry Services, or Geographic Names evaluation panels determined that the application did not provide sufficient information to award a passing score. The application is eligible for extended evaluation.
  • Ineligible for Further Review – The DNS Stability, String Similarity, Background Screening, and/or Geographic Names evaluation panels determined that the application did not meet the relevant criteria in the Applicant Guidebook, and the application is ineligible for further review.

As communicated previously, ICANN is releasing Initial Evaluation results in priority order, in increments of 30 per week, with plans to increase to 100 per week. ICANN anticipates having Initial Evaluation results for all applications published by the end of August 2013.

6 new gTLDs applications withdrawn for .LOVE, .BOOK, etc. (total at 57)

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This past week 6 more new gTLDs applications were withdrawn and their status was updated at the ICANN New gTLD website. These 6 withdrawn applications bring the total of withdrawn gTLD applications to 57.

Global Domain Registry Pty from Australia withdrew their applications for the .book  new gTLD string. The string received Prioritization Numbers of 1464 on the prioritization draw last December. The company has no more new gTLD applications. There are 8 applicants for the .BOOK new gTLD string.

Richemont DNS Inc. from Switzerland withdrew it’s application for the .LOVE new gTLD string. The string received a Prioritization Number of 466 on the prioritization draw last December. The company has 13 more new gTLD applications. There are 6 applicants for the .LOVE new gTLD string.

Top Level Domain Holdings (Minds+Machines) withdraws 4 new gTLD applications: .free, .sale, .spa and .zulu.

The applicants that withdraw an application are eligible for a 70% refund of the application fees to ICANN. Each withdrawn application, is entitled to a refund of 70% of the $185,000 application fee that is or $130,000, since these fall “[a]fter posting of applications until posting of Initial Evaluation results,” as described in section 1.5.1 of the Applicant Guidebook.

The new gTLD application withdrawal and refund request process may take between 2-4 weeks to complete.

The other 45 applications that have withdrawn are:

  • GLEAN (Lifestyle Domain Holdings, Inc.)
  • GMBH (GMBH Registry, LLC)
  • EST (Charleston Road Registry Inc.)
  • KSB (KSB Aktiengesellschaft)
  • HILTON (HLT Stakis IP Limited)
  • CIALIS (Eli Lilly and Company)
  • SWISS (Swiss International Air Lines Ltd.)
  • ANSONS (CBM Creative Brands Marken GmbH)
  • AND (Charleston Road Registry Inc.)
  • CHATR (Rogers Communications Partnership)
  • CAREMORE (WellPoint, Inc.)
  • SKOLKOVO (Fund for Development of the Center for Elaboration and Commercialization of New Technologies)
  • ARE (Charleston Road Registry Inc.)
  • THEHARTFORD (Hartford Fire Insurance Company)
  • GMC (General Motors LLC)
  • CADILLAC (General Motors LLC)
  • CHEVROLET (General Motors LLC)
  • TRANSFORMERS (Hasbro International, Inc.)
  • CHARTIS (American International Group, Inc.)
  • HEINZ (ProMark Brands Inc.)
  • KETCHUP (ProMark Brands Inc.)
  • OLYMPUS (Olympus Corporation)
  • HOME (Go Daddy East, LLC)
  • CASA (Go Daddy East, LLC)
  • GLOBALX (GlobalX Information Pty Limited)
  • MED (DocCheck AG)
  • INSURANCE (Progressive Casualty Insurance Company)
  • OVERHEIDNL (Ministery of the Interior and Kingdom Relations)
  • APP (Dot App LLC)
  • GUARDIANMEDIA (Guardian News and Media Limited)
  • GDN (Guardian News and Media Limited)
  • 盛貿飯店 (Shangri‐La International Hotel Management Limited)
  • SVR (SVR GROUP)
  • HEART (The American Heart Association, Inc.)
  • STROKE (The American Heart Association, Inc.)
  • 欧莱雅 (L’Oréal)
  • BUY (PVT Registry, LLC)
  • GUARDIAN (Guardian News and Media Limited)
  • 普利司通 (Bridgestone Corporation)
  • MII (MiTek USA, Inc.)
  • MITEK (MiTek USA, Inc.)
  • SAPPHIRE (MiTek USA, Inc.)
  • CONNECTORS (MiTek USA, Inc.)
  • MAIL (1&1 Mail & Media GmbH)
  • BLOOMINGDALES (Macys, Inc.)
  • LLP
  • LTD
  • INC
  • LLC
  • CORP
  • ONLINE (Tucows TLDs Inc.)

New gTLD program posts 50 new Initial Evaluation results: 31 applications get a pass (total is 244)

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The next set of Initial Evaluation Results was released by ICANN. The total number of passing applications is now 244. ICANN released Initial Evaluation (IE) results for the next set of applications with priority numbers 251-300. There are 31 applications in this set that received a passing score. This takes the total number of IDN applications receiving a passing score to 244 out of 300. (there are a few withdrawn applications in these 300) ICANN will continue to post IE results weekly, ramping up to 100 results per week by June.

For some applications Initial Evaluation results were not yet available for one or more possible reasons such as: pending change requests, clarifying questions, or follow-up with applicants regarding missing information. The results for these applications will be published as soon as the relevant processes are completed.

To view Initial Evaluation results for applications with priority numbers 1 through 300, go to the Current Application Status page of the new gTLD microsite. Then click on the Quick Search “IE Result – Pass”. Clicking on the result will take you to the Initial Evaluation report for that application.

There are three possible outcomes of Initial Evaluation: Pass, Eligible for Extended Evaluation, or Ineligible for Further Review.

  • Pass – The evaluation panels determined that the application is consistent with the requirements in the Applicant Guidebook and can advance to the next phase of the Program.
  • Eligible for Extended Evaluation – The Financial, Technical/Operational, Registry Services, or Geographic Names evaluation panels determined that the application did not provide sufficient information to award a passing score. The application is eligible for extended evaluation.
  • Ineligible for Further Review – The DNS Stability, String Similarity, Background Screening, and/or Geographic Names evaluation panels determined that the application did not meet the relevant criteria in the Applicant Guidebook, and the application is ineligible for further review.

As communicated previously, ICANN is releasing Initial Evaluation results in priority order, in increments of 30 per week, with plans to increase to 100 per week. ICANN anticipates having Initial Evaluation results for all applications published by the end of August 2013.

Top Level Domain Holdings (Minds+Machines) withdraws 4 new gTLD applications: .free, .sale, .spa and .zulu

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The Company has decided as a consequence of GAC warnings, and after discussion with relevant governments, to withdraw four of its applications: .free, .sale, .spa and .zulu.

The GAC strongly advised against four gTLDs, none of which TLDH applied for. Another 513 gTLDs were given some kind of advice by the GAC, ranging from serious reservations to desired improvements.

The Company expects to receive refunds totaling $520,000 (£341,304) from ICANN, and to have released to it $144,000 (£94,515) currently set aside in letters of credit for ICANN’s Continued Operations Instrument requirement.

TLDH’s portfolio received relatively few third-party objections, all from rivals for the TLDs in question. TLDH was notified that objections had been filed against only seven of its new gTLD applications, representing 9.7% of the Company’s portfolio: two objections for .music and one each for .购物(“shopping” in Chinese), .gay, .eco, .home, .vip, and .realestate.

TLDH’s operating company, Minds + Machines, is now focused on the upcoming launches of .london, .budapest, .nrw, .gop and .kiwi. The Company is also actively pursuing arrangements with other applicants for new gTLDs.

About Top Level Domain Holdings Limited
Top Level Domain Holdings is a publicly-traded holding company listed on the London AIM market. The company is focused on the new top-level domain space. Top-level domains, such as .com, run by VeriSign (NASDAQ: VRSN), and .biz, run by NeuStar (NYSE: NSR), are regulated by ICANN. ICANN has announced plans to expand the number of top-level domains. TLDH intends to make targeted investments in this space, focusing on both infrastructure technologies and specific top-level domains.

About Minds + Machines
Minds + Machines is a registry services provider that works internationally with commercial organisations, cities, not-for-profits, and entrepreneurs to secure and operate new web domains, known as top-level domains (TLDs). Minds and Machines Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Top Level Domains Holdings Limited.

Top Level Domain Holdings (Minds+Machines) Report: 92 gTLD applications, $15,000,000 additional funding raised

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Top Level Domain Holdings Limited (AIM: TLDH.L), the only publicly traded company focused exclusively on acquiring and operating new generic top-level domains (“gTLDs”), announced its audited results for the fourteenmonth period ended 31 December 2012 (the “Period”).

Period Highlights

  • 92 gTLD applications lodged on behalf of the Company and its clients;
  • £420,000 of revenue generated in the period (2011: £54,000);
  • cash and cash equivalents at 31 December 2012 of £2,418,000 (2011: £7,074,000); and
  • Company expects to see the first of its domains become operational in 2013 generating significant cash inflow opportunities for the Company in 2013.

Post Period Highlights

  • 4 gTLD applications submitted for withdrawal from the gTLD program – once the withdrawals are processed the total applications lodged will be 88;
  • following completion of ICANN’s string similarity review, TLDH and its clients have a total of 21 uncontested applications of its remaining 88;
  • 2 gTLD applications – 购物 (“shopping”) and .网址 (“site”) – have passed Initial Evaluation;
  • up to $15,000,000 (£9.9M) additional funding raised to support the bid for one of its contested applications;
  • joint venture formed with the only other applicant for the .country gTLD ensuring that the Company will receive revenue from this contested string when launched; and
  • core registry operations are being set up in Dublin, with additional operations being managed out of London to support .London.

Executive Chairman, Fred Krueger, commented:

The directors believe that TLDH is now very well positioned to participate in the expansion of the Internet and we look forward to playing our part in creating a vibrant new wave of innovation, consumer choice and wealth creation on the Internet as a result of the gTLD program. The introduction of new gTLDs will create significant opportunities in both direct investment and service revenues for the Company.

A full copy of the Company’s audited results, which are being posted to shareholders shortly, is available here

About Top Level Domain Holdings Limited
Top Level Domain Holdings is a publicly-traded holding company listed on the London AIM market. The company is focused on the new top-level domain space. Top-level domains, such as .com, run by VeriSign (NASDAQ: VRSN), and .biz, run by NeuStar (NYSE: NSR), are regulated by ICANN. ICANN has announced plans to expand the number of top-level domains. TLDH intends to make targeted investments in this space, focusing on both infrastructure technologies and specific top-level domains.

About Minds + Machines
Minds + Machines is a registry services provider that works internationally with commercial organisations, cities, not-for-profits, and entrepreneurs to secure and operate new web domains, known as top-level domains (TLDs). Minds and Machines Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Top Level Domains Holdings Limited.

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Nominet selects Domainbox.com to run .cymru / .wales reseller platform

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Domainbox.com, the cloud based wholesale domain name registration and management platform owned by the Host Europe Group, today announced its selection by Nominet Registrar Services Ltd (NRS), the subsidiary set up by Nominet to provide a reseller system for .cymru and .wales domains.

Nominet Registrar Services Ltd (NRS) – the company set up as a wholly-owned Nominet subsidiary to guarantee a distribution channel for .wales and .cymru –  has now submitted its application to become an ICANN- accredited registrar.

.wales and .cymru are due to launch as part of ICANN’s new Generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) programme (http://newgtlds.icann.org/) in 2014. The new gTLD .cymru has passed its initial evaluation by ICANN. The reseller system will allow registrars who are not ICANN accredited to resell .wales and .cymru domain names via NRS. The Domainbox.com platform will allow resellers to register and manage domain names seamlessly via a comprehensive SOAP and/or EPP based interface or via a Web 2.0 administrative portal.
Matt Mansell, Head of Domain Strategy for the Host Europe Group commented:  “Our robust cloud based platform already processes over 25,000 new domain registrations a week, via more than 10 million API commands. NRS is one of a growing number of domain registries who have recently selected us as their reseller system of choice, and we are delighted to welcome them as a new customer.”
“We held a competitive tender process to choose our supplier for Nominet Registrar Services Ltd. The Domainbox.com platform meets our criteria and provides functionality that we believe will be beneficial to our registrars” commented Eleanor Bradley, Chief Operating Officer, Nominet.
Nominet Registrar Services Ltd. is expected to go live in the second half of 2013, allowing resellers time to integrate into the platform prior to the launches of .wales and .cymru in 2014.

About Host Europe Group 

Founded in 1997, the Host Europe Group is the largest privately-owned hosting group in Europe. It manages in excess of 5 million domains, and offers more than 1 million retail and wholesale customers mass, customised, managed and cloud web hosting alongside multiple cloud based software applications. As the largest domain registrar in the UK, and largest virtualisation provider in Europe, Host Europe Group is the default choice for businesses seeking high quality service, with first rate performance, at a competitive price. With its leading brands: Domainbox.com, 123-reg, Webfusion, Heart Internet and Host Europe, the Group has a market leading presence in the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Spain.
About Nominet
Domain names are one of the key building blocks of the internet – an essential component of every email address and website.   Millions of businesses and consumers now depend on Nominet’s services, which underpin a critical part of the internet economy.
Nominet is a private, not-for-profit business, responsible for the smooth and secure running of the .uk Internet infrastructure. We have over 2,800 members and are committed to acting in the public interest.
Nominet has also recently been chosen by several brands and communities to launch and manage new top level domains such as .bbc in addition to .wales & .cymru.

New gTLD program posts 52 new Initial Evaluation results: 39 applications get a pass (total is 213)

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The next set of Initial Evaluation Results was released by ICANN. The total number of passing applications is now 213. ICANN released Initial Evaluation (IE) results for the next set of applications with priority numbers 199-250. There are 39 applications in this set that received a passing score. Past priority numbers getting a pass this week: 98, 178, 189. This takes the total number of IDN applications receiving a passing score to 213 out of 250. ICANN will continue to post IE results weekly, ramping up to 100 results per week by June.

Number 48, an IDN application from Olayan Investments Company Establishment is now marked as “Eligible for Extended Evaluation”.

For some applications Initial Evaluation results were not yet available for one or more possible reasons such as: pending change requests, clarifying questions, or follow-up with applicants regarding missing information. The results for these applications will be published as soon as the relevant processes are completed.

Applications numbers still pending from 1 to 250:
45, 48, 49, 63, 65, 94, 100, 104, 110, 111, 125, 139, 146, 150, 157, 171, 172, 174, 179, 180, 190, 192, 199, 200, 204, 206, 211, 215, 221, 222, 223, 229, 230, 242, 248

To view Initial Evaluation results for applications with priority numbers 1 through 250, go to the Current Application Status page of the new gTLD microsite. Then click on the Quick Search “IE Result – Pass”. Clicking on the result will take you to the Initial Evaluation report for that application.

There are three possible outcomes of Initial Evaluation: Pass, Eligible for Extended Evaluation, or Ineligible for Further Review.

  • Pass – The evaluation panels determined that the application is consistent with the requirements in the Applicant Guidebook and can advance to the next phase of the Program.
  • Eligible for Extended Evaluation – The Financial, Technical/Operational, Registry Services, or Geographic Names evaluation panels determined that the application did not provide sufficient information to award a passing score. The application is eligible for extended evaluation.
  • Ineligible for Further Review – The DNS Stability, String Similarity, Background Screening, and/or Geographic Names evaluation panels determined that the application did not meet the relevant criteria in the Applicant Guidebook, and the application is ineligible for further review.

As communicated previously, ICANN is releasing Initial Evaluation results in priority order, in increments of 30 per week, with plans to increase to 100 per week. ICANN anticipates having Initial Evaluation results for all applications published by the end of August 2013.