The move comes as part of an ongoing Google initiative to increase the diversity among existing types of domain names.

Google said:

“We hope that .みんな will make it easier for Japanese people and companies to create more recognizable website names that better suit their businesses or personalities and are easier to understand and remember in Japanese.”みんな” means ‘everyone’ in Japanese and suggests multiple people doing things together.

Our vision is for .みんな to be a collaborative space, where folks can build online communities — something along the lines of ‘Cook, everybody!’ or ‘Run, everybody!’ But that’s just a thought. We can’t wait to see what new ideas the new domain will help make possible.”

Users can go through any one of Google’s partner registrars to register for a .みんな domain name. Applications are only open to trademark holders at the moment, but they will open to everyone mid-February.

You can email us at info@qumsieh.com for more information.

In order to submit your application you will have to use the TLD Application System (TAS) ,in which you will have to answer 50 questions.

The new gTLD website is found at http://newgtlds.icann.org.

More information on how to submit your application you can find here.

During a special meeting, the Board approved a plan to dramatically increase the number of Internet domain name endings — called generic top-level domains (gTLDs) — from the current 22, which includes such familiar domains as .com, .org and .net.

“ICANN has opened the Internet’s naming system to unleash the global human imagination. Today’s decision respects the rights of groups to create new Top Level Domains in any language or script. We hope this allows the domain name system to better serve all of mankind.” said Rod Beckstrom, President and Chief Executive Officer of ICANN.

New gTLDs will change the way people find information on the Internet and how businesses plan and structure their online presence. Internet address names will be able to end with almost any word in any language, offering organizations around the world the opportunity to market their brand, products, community or cause in new and innovative ways.

“Today’s decision will usher in a new Internet age,” said Peter Dengate Thrush, Chairman of ICANN’s Board of Directors. “We have provided a platform for the next generation of creativity and inspiration.”

The decision to proceed with the gTLD program follows many years of discussion, debate and deliberation with the Internet community, business groups and governments. The Applicant Guidebook, a rulebook explaining how to apply for a new gTLD, went through seven significant revisions to incorporate more than 1,000 comments from the public. Strong efforts were made to address the concerns of all interested parties, and to ensure that the security, stability and resiliency of the Internet are not compromised.

ICANN will soon begin a global campaign to tell the world about this dramatic change in Internet names and to raise awareness of the opportunities afforded by new gTLDs. Applications for new gTLDs will be accepted from 12 January 2012 to 12 April 2012.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has taken the necessary procedures which allow these countries to use non Latin characters for domain names registrations.

The table below illustrates the Top-level domain names for these countries and the documents required for registration:

Three Arab countries namely Egypt, UAE, and Saudi Arabia are becoming technically qualified by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to allow for non-Latin characters in web extensions. This means that the said countries are allowed to use and register the domain names in Arabic characters.

Even though this new progress will break the monopoly of the Latin language in all web sites, the necessity to protect these Arabic domain names from online piracy (cyber-crimes) would be necessary. Trademarks owners are highly recommended to do so.