Minds + Machines launches batch of new domains into China

Internet top-level domain operator Minds + Machines Group has received approval from MIIT - the Chinese regulator - for the future release of a new batch of top-level domains (gTLDs) into China - .fashion, .fit, .yoga and .luxe.

The AIM-traded firm noted that it already owned a number of successful domains launched in the region, with .vip registrations now standing at close to 900,000.

It recently reported that manual renewals for registered .vip names in China were running in excess of 75% making it - in its board’s opinion - the top performing mass new gTLD launched in the country to date.

Three of the newly approved strings were based around lifestyle, and came soon after the recent launch of the Chinese version of .shopping, which Minds + Machines reported was performing well.

It added that it believed there would be benefits to the group by introducing the three extensions, already released in the west, into the region over the next 12 months.

Separately, .luxe would be introduced into the region in the fourth quarter of 2018 as part of a broader global launch of the new top-level domain.

“Based on our experience of working with China's major technology companies, notably Alibaba and Tencent Cloud, the provisioning of domain names is viewed as an important mechanism for bringing SMEs into their cloud-based universes for the delivery of future services,” said Minds + Machines chief executive Toby Hall.

“We expect .fashion, .fit,and .yoga to benefit from this trend as well as the from the internationalisation of Chinese businesses as they increasingly look to market themselves overseas.

“Plans are likewise well advanced for the international launch of .luxe and we intend to update shareholders on the formal launch schedule in due course.”