ICANN New top-level internet domains set for launch in 2013

Just like Christmas coming early, a new internet domain name for all things festive could be among the first to go live in spring next year.

The domain .christmas is among the first wave of new internet addresses to rival .co.uk and .com planned to launch in the first half of 2013.

The body responsible for the rollout, ICANN, will hold a lottery draw in Los Angeles on Monday to decide which of the proposed new addresses will be the first to go live.

Multinational corporations and governments from around the world have scrambled to pick up highly sought after domains – including .islam, .news and .search – as part of the process that will change the face of the internet. Read more