ICANN calls on South Africa to adopt non-ASCII characters in domains and apply for new TLDs

[Jan]

South Africa could soon get domains like .bathong and .sê

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has launched a campaign that could see South Africa get new generic top-level domains.

Currently, South Africa’s top-level domains (TLDs) are limited to its country code domain, .za, and city-based domains like .joburg, .capetown, and .durban.

 

[PaulGherkin]

.bathong is not non-ASCII.
So in the context here, non-ASCII means all characters outside the range of 0x20 - 0x7F.
It's a PITA to have to try and type this in a URL on a mobile device even.
ê
What a f**ing dumb idea

 

[RaptorSA]

Try remembering how to get that kappie "ê" when you don't have a dedicated numpad on your new fancy mechanical keyboard.

Alt...een...drie... ooo etter.

 

[username and 23 others]

goto www.X.sê to meet sexy and available and willing hotties in your area. Aweh!

 

[RaptorSA]

goto www.X.sê to meet sexy and available and willing hotties in your area. Aweh!

You do realize that's a bloody brilliant idea, right?
Hell I'd use it.

Tinder is k@k.

 

[hj007]

.sê is a bad idea, since .se is Sweden.

 

[PaulGherkin]

.sê is a bad idea, since .se is Sweden.

Yes, so those plebs who can't get the accented character will end up at a different web address (if it exists at all)
Genius move from ICANN. But then again, ICANN has proved in recent years to be yet another daft org so far removed from reality

 

[karnuffel]

remember kids, alt+1 3 6

 

[nicroets]

.sê is a bad idea, since .se is Sweden.

The long tail of websites is already under threat: Cookie content being just one straw. Go ahead ICANN, add domain confusion as another straw. Then act surprised when scammers abuse it.

 

[Nicholas Lisse]

Yes, so those plebs who can't get the accented character will end up at a different web address (if it exists at all)
Genius move from ICANN. But then again, ICANN has proved in recent years to be yet another daft org so far removed from reality

Having just come back from ICANN 78, I can confirm the last bit.

 

[username and 23 others]

You do realize that's a bloody brilliant idea, right?
Hell I'd use it.

Go for it!

 

[Johand]

No need for special characters. There are many options like .bru,.hoezit,.jouma that we can use.

 

[PaulGherkin]

remember kids, alt+1 3 6

I can't even remember all the alt+ codes.

 

[PaulGherkin]

No need for special characters. There are many options like .bru,.hoezit,.jouma that we can use.

Precisely, and they should consider the following too:
.tsek
.fokof
.masekinners
.awe

 

[Johand]

Precisely, and they should consider the following too:
.tsek
.fokof
.masekinners
.awe

We need like R2m per tld. Willing to put down R200 per domain. Anybody good for the other R1999800?

 

[RonSwanson]

Having just come back from ICANN 78, I can confirm the last bit.

So how do you feel about umlauts in domain names?

 

[ShakeSpeer]

Imagine having to spell that out to the Vodacom person when you upgrade.

 

[Johand]

Imagine having to spell that out to the Vodacom person when you upgrade.

With Vodacom it is literally the least of your worries

 

[Bliksis]

Oh what a great example you used in the headline. Jirre.

Some inclusivity this is

 

[Nicholas Lisse]

So how do you feel about umlauts in domain names?

Indifferent.