.whoswho

Status:	Delegated
Registry Provider:	Neustar
Type:	Generic
Category:	Technology
Priority #:	1050 - 21st Century Communications Limited
More information:

.whoswho is a TLD in ICANN's New gTLD Program. The applicant is 21st Century Communications Limited doing business as Who's Who Registry.

Application Download

The following is the applicant's complete response provided for question #18:

"18(a). Describe the mission/purpose of your proposed gTLD.

18a. Purpose of the .whoswho gTLD

As a global niche registry for those who have been profiled in one of the Whoʹs Who reference compendia published in countries around the world, the target market of individuals who meet or have met that requirement is in the millions.

In keeping with the goal of expanding consumer trust and choice, providing a gTLD where individuals of accomplishment who do not feel they belong in a .com (commercial) domain, and cannot register in a .edu (educational institutions) although they may have much to share and give back in terms of knowledge and insights.

18(b). How do you expect that your proposed gTLD will benefit registrants, Internet users, and others?

18b. Benefits to Registrants, Internet Users and Others

Ideally, the .whoswho would evolve into a place with a mix of vibrant people going about their lives online, in what would become a “neighborhood” that raised the bar for intelligent discourse and knowledge online. There might also eventually develop a component of legacy sites for individuals who perhaps left their papers and website to an educational institution, or a foundation, or founded an eponymous company or brand.

Registrants will benefit from the opportunity to register a .whoswho domain in the language of their home country. At registry launch, Whoʹs Who Registry will offer, in addition to English in the SLD, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and both simplified and traditional Chinese characters. Eight more are planned for Year 3 of the registry (or perhaps sooner, if introductions can be accelerated).

The entire Internet community will benefit from more detailed information about who the registrant actually is. For this reason, additional fields including Publication Title, Publication Year(s), Name (as listed therein), Publisher Name, Publisher Location, and Publisher Website (if any) will be included in each whois record.

18(c). What operating rules will you adopt to eliminate or minimize social costs?

18c. Eliminate Social Costs

i. Multiple applications for a particular domain will be handled on a first-come, first served basis.
ii. No cost benefit offering is anticipated.
iii. No changes in prices are anticipated over the interim term."

Contract Signed

On 20 February 2014 21st Century Communications Limited received a Registry Agreement signed by ICANN for .whoswho after passing all the required processes needed to become a Registry Operator for the string.

Second Level Domain