Computer and telecommunications companies are banding together to set up a new registry that will issue domain names for mobile devices. Nine top computer, telecoms and handset companies say they will jointly set up a new Internet names registry company that will issue domain names for wireless devices, in an attempt to boost mobile services.
The new registry company, which has to yet be approved by Internet regulator ICANN, would use a new, yet to be decided, top level domain, which will be the mobile equivalent of the .com domain. The initiative is led by the world"s largest software company Microsoft, the world"s biggest mobile telecoms operator Vodafone and leading handset maker Nokia. The new Internet domain registry company will also involve US computer makers Sun Microsystems and Hewlett-Packard, operator France Telecom"s Orange, Hutchison Whampoa"s operator 3, South Korea"s Samsung Electronics and the GSM Association.