Wednesday 16 April 2014
Forty business leaders from across London have endorsed the new Dot London internet domain. In an open letter published today the heads of some of the capital’s most recognisable brands, business organisations, charities and SMEs say they are backing Dot London and call on other businesses to do the same.
In the letter the business leaders say: “For the first time in a generation London businesses have an opportunity to claim a web address that associates them with London, one of the greatest cities on earth, and make their web address more relevant and memorable”
They add: “It is hard to imagine that 25 years ago few of us had heard of the internet. Now we take it for granted: doing business, watching films and buying groceries.” However, they warn that as the internet changes so businesses must evolve to stay relevant to their customers.
London will become one of the first cities in the world to launch its own domain when names go on sale April 29. It marks the start of a three-month period during which Londoners will be given priority in reserving a new Dot London web address. Trademark holders will also be given priority during the period.
More than 200,000 London businesses have indicated they are likely to register a Dot London domain according to a poll of London based SMEs conducted in January ¹
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who is supporting Dot London, said: “There is enormous interest in Dot London from businesses right across the capital, not just from high street brands but from the small businesses that are the lifeblood of London’s economy. London leads the world in technology and our businesses are among the most dynamic and innovative anywhere so it is no surprise that so many see Dot London for the great opportunity it presents them.”
West Ham United Vice-Chairman Karren Brady CBE, said: “As the traditional London Club, with roots formed at the heart of the East End in 1895, a move to become the first football club to use the Dot London domain is a natural fit for West Ham United.”
“We are a Club that is rightly proud of our heritage and tradition, having been formed as the works team of the Thames Ironworks Shipbuilding Company. Our move to the Olympic Stadium, situated in the new epicentre of the Capital – Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – in 2016, is therefore one that is befitting of our being innately linked with London, its history and its people.”
“Our new domain of whufc.london will provide the perfect platform for the Club’s bespoke microsite dedicated to our stunning new home and London’s most iconic sporting arena.”
The arrival of Dot London is part of a huge expansion of the internet which will see ICANN, the global internet body, release more than 1,000 new internet domains as alternatives to .com or .co.uk. Commentators have hailed it as the biggest change to the internet since the advent of the World Wide Web.
Deborah Meaden, the entrepreneur and Dragon’s Den investor, said: “Successful business leaders are always looking for opportunities to stay one-step ahead of the competition. Changes in technology, like the expansion of the internet and the release of the new Dot London domain, present a real opportunity for companies to gain a competitive advantage, to innovate, to refresh their brand and become more relevant to their customers.”
Gordon Innes, Chief Executive of London Partners, the Mayor’s official promotional organisation for London, said: “We want Dot London to become the internet address of choice for Londoners. For the first time, businesses, organisations and individuals across the capital will have an internet address which has a clear association with our city’s global brand. The new city domain will offer short, memorable and instantly recognisable web addresses for businesses, and particularly London SMEs, to use to trade, innovate and collaborate.”
Another business backing Dot London is the New Covent Garden Market. Jan Lloyd, Chief Executive Covent Garden Market Authority, said: “We are very excited about the prospect of applying for a Dot London web address. This year marks the 40th anniversary of New Covent Garden Market and we are working on plans to provide a new market here at Nine Elms, creating a new food and flower centre for London. Our plans for the website for our new market will put London at the heart of our web address.”
With less than two weeks before Dot London domains go on sale preparations are underway to make the first Dot London websites live. As part of a pioneer programme being run by Dot London, dozens of websites will be made live early as a showcase for the new domain. A number of companies will be able to make their sites live in time for the launch on April 29. They include: The London Symphony Orchestra, Fortnum and Mason, The Commitments, and TechHub (for a full list of pioneer sites going live see Notes to Editors).
One of the SME pioneers that will go live early with a new Dot London website is The AllStars Collective, which works with some of London’s leading musicians. Paul Pacifico, Chief Executive of The AllStars, said: “London is a centre of excellence for popular culture and contemporary music. We are one of only a handful of net exporters of music in the world and London has become the base for many of the global icons in music. We are proud to fly the flag for London with a new Dot London domain and we look forward to making a real hit with our new web address.”
More information about Dot London is available at http://dotlondondomains.london
Notes to Editors
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The Dot London floral display was created by New Covent Garden Market florist, NB Flowers using 1,600 carnations and 250 bunches of box hedging.
¹ YouGov conducted an online poll of 1,001 Small business decision makers in London between 10th – 21st January. Firms polled all had between 0-49 employees. The survey was conducted online.
26 per cent of respondents said they were likely to register a Dot London domain. There are 839,000 SMEs in London according to ‘Business Population Estimates 2013’ which is published by the Department of Business Innovation Skills. 26% of 839,000 = 218,140. Figures are calculated by London Partners.
First pioneer websites to go live include:
meantime.london
remoracleaning.london
wingstravel.london
symphonyorchestra.london
techhub.london
absolutelymagazines.london
thecommitments.london
whufc.london
fortnumandmason.london
metrobank.london
standard.london
scoffandbanter.london
exterionmedia.london
conventionbureau.london
londonandpartners.london
theallstars.london
About Dot London:
London Partners has set up a subsidiary, Dot London Domains Ltd to operate the new registry. It has procured a Registry Services Provider, Minds + Machines, which is working in partnership to set up and operate the domain. Dot London will operate on a commercial basis and any surplus profits will be re-invested for the benefit of London.
There are guidelines set out by ICANN for new top-level domains that cover areas such as disputes, complaints, the protection of trademark holders and law enforcement.
More information can be found at http://dotlondondomains.london
About Minds + Machines:
Minds + Machines is the Registry Services Provider for Dot London. The company works internationally with commercial organisations, cities, not-for-profits and entrepreneurs to secure and operate new Internet domains, known as top-level domains (TLDs). Minds and Machines Ltd is a wholly owned London-based subsidiary of Top Level Domains Holdings Ltd, which is quoted on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
More information can be found at http://mindsandmachines.com
About ICANN:
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) manages internet domains. It was founded in 1998 and is responsible for the internet’s system of unique identifiers and ensures the internet’s stability and security.
More information can be found at http://www.icann.org
Contact
For interview requests please contact:
Martin Greig, Media PR Manager: mgreig@londonandpartners.com / +44 207 234 5789 / +44 7920 759019
Or Tamzen Isacsson, Head of Media and PR
+44 7917 372965 / tisacsson@londonandpartners.com
Twitter:
@dotLondon
#dotlondon
