NEW YORK (AP) — Microsoft Corp., Nokia and other leading high-tech companies want a new Internet domain name that's tailored for mobile services.
A name such as ".mobile" would let mobile Web users easily identify sites built for their smaller screens, and that would encourage new wireless applications and services, proponents say.
Tuesday is the deadline set by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers for proposals to augment ".com," ".fr" and more than 250 other existing domain names.
Applications cost $45,000 and are limited to suffixes set aside for specific industries or interest groups. Citing confidentiality, ICANN spokesman Kieran Baker could not comment on the number and types of applications received until after the deadline.
New domains could be approved as early as this year and would be the first major additions since 2000.
Other companies joining the mobile proposal include Vodafone, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd., Sun Microsystems Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co.