Google won the right to operate two new generic top-level domains - .SEARCH and .MAP. Their fate was supposed to be decided on the ICANN auction April 29. However, Google obviously preferred not to wait this event and decide the matter privately.
The competition was rather serious. Amazon applied for both of them, Donuts and Famous Four Media applied for .SEARCH. Nevertheless, Google was persistent this time (and most probably generous – the winning bids as usual are never disclosed). This is understandable, since these domains represent two key services for Google – search and maps.
Domain .MAP is to be used as open domain, which means that anyone can register names in it. As of .SEARCH, initially Google planned to use it only for its own purposes. However, after ICANN’s Governmental Advisory Committee and some other organizations objected, Google changed its application. At the moment it plans limited registration, which means that only resources that offer search services and meet certain technological standards set by Google may register.
