TLD (top-level domains) – the .com or .uk bits of web addresses, are going to be set free to allow you to have whatever you want after the dot. Icann the people that control most TLDs, voted unanimously to relax the strict rules on TLDs, which could result in thousands or even millions of new top-level domains.

One of the main drivers for the change is simply because we are running out of popular TLDs such as .uk (UK) .com (commerce). This is also a benefit to countries and places without their own top-level domain, and this might see the introduction of .cym (Wales) .sco (Scotland) and even more specific for big cities such as .ldn (London).

There has already been talk about some new top-level domains that could fetch a big asking price, these are bound to be more generic top-level domains like .sport and .news.

It’s an interesting development which I must admit I’m unsure about. Will it just confuse people with an endless amount of dot something-or-others, or is it a good way to categorise the internet? We wait to see.

The changes are set to take place in 2009 with the first site to have a bespoke TLD to appear later on in 2009.