We’re trained to type .com almost on autopilot, but more top-level domains are coming. You’ll soon see websites ending in .eat, .fly and .here. It’s a new way for restaurants, travel agencies and other service providers to customize their online presence.
Google successfully filed these domain types with ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, back in 2012, but only released the new registry options to the public on Tuesday.
There’s always a concern that someone will steal a business’ domain name, a process known as cybersquatting. To prevent new top-level domains from being registered and ransomed at high prices, Google’s partnered registrars offered .eat, .fly and .here websites to registered trademark holders ahead of a wider rollout. This closed access period lasted from Sept. 1 to Nov. 9.
Google’s blog post about the new domains revealed several big businesses that have already secured new web addresses during the trademark holder selloff. Wingstop bought up wingstop.eat, while agriculture and food-tech company Clayton Farms secured the america.eat address. Caddy, Canary and Voltair are some of the businesses with new .fly domains.
The most interesting assortment of companies have tied down .here addresses. In its blog, Google describes .here domains as denoting businesses “where people get things done.” They utilize fairly common words that people might search for. Real-estate app Zillow owns rent.here and sell.here, while bloodtest.here is owned by SiPhox Health, a home blood-testing service.
A number of Google-partnered registrars are now accepting registrations for the three new domain types.
There’s currently a one-time early registration fee associated with registering the new domain names, though it is diminishing and will completely disappear on Nov. 17. After that, any currently unused .eat, .fly and .here names can be registered and maintained at a fixed annual rate, just like any other type of domain.
A representative for Google didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Tyler is a writer for CNET covering laptops and video games. He's previously covered mobile devices, home energy products and broadband. He came to CNET straight out of college, where he graduated from Seton Hall with a bachelor's degree in journalism. When Tyler's not asking questions or doing research for his next assignment, you can find him in his home state of New Jersey, kicking back with a bagel and watching an action flick or playing a new video game. You can reach him at [email protected]. See full bio
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