Web domain extensions - what now?

Domain Extensions

In this article about KPMG applying for the .kpmg extension or what they are calling "generic top-level domain (gTLD)" they site the advantages of having a closed registry "superfast servers at the root of the Internet". They also site SEO but that's a fairly weak argument. And they mention that there is a sense of security or authenticity since it officially has to be a KPMG company since no one else can register for it - that might be the strongest argument for most. However, they don't have any short term plans to change their email addresses from having a .com extension. We'll have to see what the real advantages are.

Another thought, what gTLD's will be available and what is the criteria? Will someone be able to own .OMG or .LOL? We'll have to wait until ICANN  (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) provides more information and see which of the almost 2,000 applicants they approve. There is a guidebook available on their site.

Device Extensions

What is interesting to note in the article is that "the amount of machine-to-machine Internet communications will eclipse human-generated Internet traffic" - it's rather scary to know that your smart phone is going to be exchanging more communications than you are with your other digital devices - think home security, fridge, heating system, lighting system, car - anything with a computer chip. The more "communications" exchanged the more data there is about you being collected and shared - and no security system is secure enough. So the extension I'm more concerned about is in the future when our devices connect and extend the data about us to each other and throughout the Internet.