The top-level domain (TLD) “.android” falls under the category of Brand TLDs, and is sponsored by Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc. A top-level domain is the last segment of a domain name; it follows immediately after the “dot” symbol. The “.android” TLD is part of the domain name system (DNS) operated by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), which is the organization responsible for assigning numerical internet protocol addresses and managing the top-level domain names.
Now diving into the technical description, let’s note first that a domain name is represented by a series of character strings separated by dots. In www.android.com, “.com” is the TLD, and “android” is the second-level domain. But as we are talking about “.android”, that would make “android” a TLD in unique uses, predominantly by Google for its Android OS related websites.
.activation.microsoft.com, where “.android” appears as the TLD, is specifically a brand TLD, part of a class of TLDs which emerged through ICANN’s new generic TLD program in 2011. These brand TLDs enable organizations to use their own brand as a TLD, creating a self-owned internet space with their control.
To make a TLD operational, it must be delegated to a designated operator and loaded into the Root Zone of the DNS. This process is overseen by ICANN in collaboration with VeriSign, the Root Zone Maintainer, and the U.S. Department of Commerce. It involves a series of technical verifications and configurations to ensure that the TLD will function correctly and securely. The DNS data of a TLD includes NS records that point to the domain’s authoritative nameservers, and a DS record that facilitates DNSSEC security.
However, it is important to note that you cannot register a domain with the “.android” TLD. Google Inc, which owns the “.android” TLD, restricts its usage to entities affiliated with the company. This is the case with many brand TLDs, as they are often used for internal purposes or to maintain a cohesive brand identity online.
To sum up, the “.android” TLD is a Brand TLD owned and operated by Google Inc. It exists as a part of Alphabet Inc’s strategy to create a digital space for Android, one of their core products. It is regulated under ICANN and integrated into the Root Zone for correct functioning.
Sources for this answer include explanations on DNS structure from Cisco and technical aspects of TLD registry from Verisign. Information about brand TLDs is derived from ICANN. Domain name management information is from Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).
