.cam

Status:	Delegated
Manager:	Andrei Dumitriu
Registry Provider:	CentralNic
Type:	Generic
Category:	Technology
Website:	www.nic.cam
Twitter:	@dotCAMregistry
More information:

.cam is a new generic top level domain name delegated in ICANN's New gTLD Program. AC Webconnecting Holding B.V. was the sole applicant and managed the TLD until February 9th 2021, when the management role has been transferred to CAM Connecting SarL.

Applicant

• AC Webconnecting Holding B.V. - The contact person is Andrei Dumitriu (info@nic.cam). All information available on www.nic.cam.

History

Initially, there were 3 applicants : Demand Media (United TLD|United TLD Holdco Ltd.), Famous Four Media (dot Agency Limited) and AC Webconnecting Holding B.V..Verisign submitted a separate String Confusion Objection to the ICDR against each of the applicants for .cam, on the basis that Internet users would confuse the string with the popular .com string. In two of the three objections submitted, the panelist assigned to the case ruled in favor of the applicant, meaning the objection was dismissed. However, Verisign prevailed in the objection against Demand Media's application. Demand Media appealed the decision and finally won. After an auction process, AC Webconnecting Holding B.V.remained the sole applicant for the new gTLD.

On February 9th 2021, AC Webconnecting Holding B.V. assigned CAM Connecting SarL as the legal entity operating .CAM gTLD.

Semantic Origin & Current Meaning

The .CAM top-level domain has its roots in technical and industrial applications:

Computer-Aided Manufacturing: Historically, .CAM was primarily used as a file extension for Computer-Aided Manufacturing. In industrial settings, particularly in CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machining, .CAM files contain toolpaths and other instructions for manufacturing processes.

Computer-Aided Machines: More broadly, .CAM has stood for Computer-Aided Machines, encompassing a wider range of automated and computer-controlled equipment beyond just manufacturing. This interpretation extends the concept to various fields where computers guide or control machinery, including robotics, automated testing, and more.

While maintaining strong ties to its technical roots, the current usage and meaning of the .CAM domain have expanded:

Technology and Manufacturing: The domain retains its relevance to its original technical meanings, appealing to:

• Manufacturing and industrial automation firms
• Technology companies specializing in computer vision or machine learning
• Educational institutions offering courses in computer-aided design and manufacturing
• Research organizations focused on advancing computer-aided technologies

Camera as a Heuristic: In contemporary usage, .CAM has become a simple and memorable heuristic for "camera." This intuitive association is based on cognitive ease rather than a direct acronym or abbreviation. It makes the domain particularly suitable for websites related to:

• Photography
• Videography
• Webcams
• Other visual media applications

Pioneers

• Poly.cam, LiDAR scanning, photogrammetry and gaussian-splatting.
• Opendata.cam, open-source computer vision framework to quantify the world.
• Deeplive.cam, open-source tool for real-time face swapping and one-click video deepfakes.
• Clay.cam, real time computer aided monitoring and aggregation of online information and news.
• My.cam, is a social platform that facilitates webpage creation and social media aggregation.

See other examples of .CAM websites on www.nic.cam.

Partners

• Davos Klosters Resort Webcams are available directly on davos.cam.
• DEVISUBOX, European leader for jobsite supervision use construction.cam to display its main projects.
• Light Labs Inc., the innovative 16 lens cameras manufacturer use light.cam to show its camera in action.

Top-Level Domain