The Kingdom of Jordan has successfully completed the second step in a three step ICANN process aimed at bringing non-Latin based language scripts to an entire Internet address name.
As part of ICANN’s “Internationalized” Domain Name (IDN) program, Jordan has successfully completed the “String Evaluation” step on its way to having Arabic script used for the top level domain (TLD), which is the last portion of an address name – the part after the dot such as dot-com and dot-org.
“We are exceptionally pleased that Jordan has decided to be among the first countries to embrace our desire to internationalize the Internet with the IDN program,” said ICANN Chief Executive Officer and President, Rod Beckstrom. “This takes us one step closer to seeing Arabic used in the entire Internet address name for entities throughout the Kingdom of Jordan, and we hope that translates to a dramatic increase in Internet users.”
The IDN program is rolling out in stages. During an October meeting in Seoul, South Korea, the ICANN Board approved a “Fast Track” system for a limited number of IDNs. Initially, IDN TLDs will only be allowed on a limited basis where country codes are used at the end of an address name, such as dot-jo (for Jordan) or dot-ru (for Russia). Eventually, the use of IDNs will be vastly expanded to all types of Internet address names.
“ICANN has received a total of 21 requests for IDN ccTLDs (country code top-level domains) through the String Evaluation process, representing 11 languages,” said Tina Dam, Senior Director of the IDN program. “Jordan now joins 11 other countries in passing the String Evaluation phase and moving on to the final stage in the approval of their respective IDN submissions.”
The final step in approval of an IDN ccTLD is called “String Delegation.” This is when a given country or territory submits a formalized application asking that an IDN be brought into the Internet’s domain name system (DNS) root zone and where a final determination is made as to who will operate the domain.
For more details check out www.icann.com