Top Registry
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| Type: | Private |
| Industry: | Internet, Registry |
| Headquarters: | BangNing Technology Park ,#2 YuHua Avenue, Yuhuatai District, Nanjing 210000 |
| Country: | China |
| Employees: | 600 (2014) |
| Website: | [1] |
Introduction
Accredited by ICANN, .Top domain registry is a new generic top level domain (gTLD) operation and management agency, mainly responsible for making relevant policy concerning gTLDs as well as its technological operation. '.Top' domains were officially delegated in ICANN's new gTLD program on August 4th, 2014, and can be registered by anyone since November 18th, 2014. '.Top' aims to be a new high-end and innovative domain system.
Background
Application for ICANN New gTLDs
In the evening on June 13th 2012, ICANN revealed the worldwide applicants list of new gTLDs after receiving 1,930 applications by June 13th, among which 911 applications from North America, 675 Europe, 303 Asia-Pacific region, 24 Latin America and Caribbean area, and 17 Africa. There were 66 geographical domains and 116 international but not Latin gTLds with application fee of USD185,000 per new gTLD.
Development of .Top Domains
On June 20th, 2011, ICANN officially announced that the application for gTLD was to be open in 2012.
On April 11th,2012, the application for .Top was submitted online.
On June 9th, 2012, .Top was successfully on the ICANN public list.
On March 20th, 2013, .Top passed initial evaluation.
On March 20th, 2014, .Top officially signed a contract with ICANN.
On August 5th, 2014, .Top entered the root zone of ICANN new gTLD.
On October 15th, 2014, .Top embraced its sunrise period.
On November 18th, 2014, .Top could be registered openly, and the registration volume exceeded 10,000 at the first day.
On March 5th, 2015, .Top was supported on the sedo.com which is the biggest platform trading domains in the world.
Advantages of .Top Domains
（1）As an English word suffix, .Top can be used worldwide with high recognition.
（2）With high-end brand property, .Top can be used to improve brand positioning and promote the brand value.
（3）Chinese moral of top is "顶级（top-level）" of which the homophone sounds like "突破（breakthrough）".
（4）.Top is applicable to worldwide industries and enterprises.
（5）.Top, with high recognition, is in conformity with the intrinsic value of brands and easy to remember.
（6）A short,creative domain is the most effective tool for network marketing.
Popularity
Since the open registration day November 18th, 2014, .Top domain has attracted large numbers of international and domestic investors as well as terminal enterprises, and is developing at good momentum with its registration ranking 10th among all new gTLD. Users from more than 100 countries and regions are using .top to build websites. TOP Registry is operated by Jiangsu Bangning Group in Nanjing, China. TOP officially became a gTLD on 4th Aug. 2014.
Summary
.Top is short, easy to type and remember, positive and upbeat. Anyone can register .Top domains.
.Top gives the website visitors a feeling that they are visiting a top website, contacting a top organization, sharing top ideas, enjoying top services and buying top products.
Official website of TOP Registry http://www.nic.top/en/
Accredited registrars and marketplaces http://www.nic.top/en/partner.asp