Since the approval of the first new generic top-level domain in 2000, a lot has happened. Here is a small chronological overview of activities, both internationally and in Berlin.

Developments at ICANN

It was in 2000 that ICANN first made the application for a top-level domain possible. From the numerous applications, 7 new top-level domains were approved, for example including .info .biz and .museum. At that time, a regional top-level domain had no chance of success as in practice ICANN only permitted generic top-level domains. In 2004, ICANN opened a new window for applications and called on the Internet community to apply for new top-level domains. In this round of applications - apart from .travel .jobs and .mobi - regional top-level domains were approved too, for the first time. Applications for .cat (Catalonia) and .asia were also approved at the end of 2005 as was the regional top-level domain .eu under which to date more than 2 million domains have been registered.

Development at dotBERLIN

• Summer 2004 – We develop our idea for .berlin and evaluate its feasibility against the background of ICANN wanting to approve new top-level domains.
• End of 2004, start of 2005 – We use the ICANN meetings in South Africa and Argentina to make first personal contacts to ICANN and other representatives of the international Internet community.
• Early in 2005 – First presentations on the top-level domain .berlin to Berlin companies and associations, with extremely positive feedback.
• July 2005 – Foundation of dotBERLIN GmbH & Co. KG, as the future operating company responsible for the top-level domain .berlin. At the ICANN meeting in Luxemburg, ICANN, the press and other participants first see .berlin as a potential new top-level domain.
• Autumn 2005 – Development of guidelines for the registration, reservation and delegation of .berlin working together with the Internet community and some legal specialists.
• December 2005 – following an invitation from ICANN, dotBERLIN presents the concept of .berlin at the meeting in Vancouver.
• January 2006 – dotBERLIN presents .berlin to Berlin’s commercial Internet companies at Berlin’s chamber of trade & commerce (IHK). The Internet providers see .berlin positively as providing new business opportunities.
• March 2006 – dotBERLIN can again present the progress made to the ICANN meeting in Wellington and for the first time organises an evening for all German-speaking participants in the meeting.
• Early 2006 – dotBERLIN succeeds in acquiring a succession of partners and sponsors who provide substantial support for .berlin.
• May 2006 – dotBERLIN establishes an advisory board with top-class representatives of commercial Internet companies from Germany and Berlin, from the city marketing company as well as representatives from science and culture.
• June 2006 – At the ICANN meeting in Marrakesh, for the second time dotBERLIN organises a German evening attended by the ICANN director Hagen Hultzsch, ICANN ALAC chair Annette Mühlberg, DENIC head Sabine Dolderer, IGF secretary Markus Kummer, representatives of the European and German government, scientists, journalists, advisors and representatives of the registrars and registries.
• September 2006 - dotBERLIN has been invited to speak as panelist at the ICANN-Studienkreis together with the representatives of the initiatives for .nyc and .sco about an extended namespace for the internet.
• 2nd half of 2006 – dotBERLIN continues to assist with the production of guidelines for ICANN, for GNSO and the governmental advisory committee GAC, for new top-level domains.
• 2007 - dotBERLIN participated in the three annual ICANN meetings (Lisbon, San Juan, Los Angeles). dotBERLIN has been invited to speak at CENTR, ICANN-Studienkreis, the 2nd Internet Governance Forum, Eurocities and several other occasions.  

Perspective at dotBERLIN

• Second half of 2008 – ICANN is expected to announce the dates for the next application window for new top-level domains.
• First half of 2010 – We expect .berlin to be approved and .berlin domains can then be registered by companies, private individuals and organisations.