ICANN is the Internet body responsible for overseeing Internet related issues. Standing for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, it governs tasks that until it was founded were performed by IANA, or the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority. ICANN sees that all users of the World Wide Web can find what they are looking for as easily as possible by overseeing the distribution of IP addresses and domain names.
ICANN domain registrars will know that the organisation is designed to preserve the stability of the Internet as we know it, ICANN manages the introduction of new generic top level domain, and has recently announced the successful string delegation of the .IRAN TLD.
Organised as a non profit organisation, ICANN has been seen to be the police of the Internet, to govern the responsible use and make sure that the harmonious relationship is kept balanced. It has been approached to be taken over by the United Nations, but as yet is still under its own jurisdiction.
They have been in the news this month as they are planning to make changes to the current system and expand the amount of generic top level domains in circulation. There are twenty one existing generic top level domains, but under the new proposal the amount and price of these could soar. At their conference in Cartegena, Columbia this week, they told how they are planning to make it far easier (and more costly) for a company to register their own gTLD, meaning that in the future of the Internet we could see extensions like .microsoft and .apple popping up over the internet.
It’s unknown whether domain resellers will be able to sell these new extensions, as they may be limited by the companies who register them, but as an ICANN domain registrar we hope to be able to help you with any issues that you have. Don't hesitate to give us a shout with all your questions.