Individual Web Names Kick Off

The first Internet address suffixes created exclusively for individuals join the familiar “.com” and “.org” domain names today. Operators of “.name” are hoping individuals will be lured by e-mail and Web addresses featuring their own names.

The London-based Global Name Registry, which in 2000 proposed and won rights to administer the suffix, also is exploring expanding “.name” to mobile phones and other personal devices later this year.

The Global Name Registry began allowing pre-registrations in earnest last month for “.name” suffixes. For duplicate names requested as of Dec. 17, one was selected at random. The first batch of 60,000 names was to be activated today.