DotAsia Domains Names Launched

Work to create the .asia domain began in 2000. The DotAsia Organisation won official approval to set up the domain in mid-October 2006 and the global landrush for the .asia domains begins March 2 2008. At first the domains will be offered in the Latin alphabet and language specific alphabets will follow.

There are already several sites using the .asia domain names, and some examples include Kapil Dev and Shibani Kashyap.

As of February 6 2008 Asia Sunrise completed with over 30,000 domain applications. Auctions to watch: iphone.asia, levis.asia, power.asia.

Here are the top 10 auctions bids as of Feb. 20 2008:

• ace.asia — USD $20,501
• tyco.asia — USD $7,600
• spotlight.asia — USD $5,700
• edge.asia — USD $5,400
• parliament.asia — USD $5,200
• reach.asia — USD $5,100
• lifesavers.asia — USD $5,100
• camel.asia — USD $5,100
• dove.asia — USD $5,100
• cheers.asia — USD $4,100

Unlike other administrators of net domains, the DotAsia Registry plans to use an auction to determine who gets domains wanted by more than one organisation. The highest bidder will win the right to the contested name.

The geographical reach of the .asia domain extends from Australia to the Middle East. In all, 20 organisations that run country code domains have signed up to back the .asia registry.

The .asia domain is the second regional domain to go live following the European .eu suffix which started selling in April 2006. Other regional domains for Africa and Latin America are expected to follow.

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