A Top Level Domain (TLD) represents the last part of a domain name. Typically, it’s the letters that occur immediately after the last dot in internet domain names. These TLDs can broadly be classified into two categories: generic (gTLD) and country code (ccTLD). The “.com”, “.org”, and “.net” TLDs are examples of gTLDs, and country-specific endings like “.uk” for the United Kingdom, “.fr” for France, or “.jp” for Japan are examples of ccTLDs.
Currently, “.landrover” does not exist as a top-level domain. It’s essential to note that top-level domains cannot be created by individuals or organizations on a whim; they have to be registered with and approved by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
ICANN had opened up applications for new TLDs in 2012, and companies like Google and Amazon made use of this opportunity. They applied for TLDs related to their brand, like “.google” and “.amazon”. However, Land Rover did not apply for a “.landrover” TLD during this round.
The rationale behind a brand applying for its own TLD, like “.google”, mainly lies in marketing and brand protection. With their own TLD, brands can have specific Internet addresses like “mail.google” or “drive.google”, which is potentially easier for their users to remember. It also further underlines their digital presence.
Should Land Rover wish to have “.landrover” as a TLD, they would need to apply during the next application window opened by ICANN. As of now, no future rounds have been announced. Given the high costs involved (a reported $185,000 just for the application during the 2012 round) and technical complexities, this would be a significant decision for Land Rover to make.
This information is based on ICANN’s resources, which were used to construct this answer. Since “.landrover” does not exist as a TLD, there are no specific examples to give.
Sources:
1. ICANN factsheet: https://archive.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/factsheet-new-gtld-program-oct11-en.pdf
2. Guidebook about new GTLDs from ICANN: https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/agb/guidebook-full-04jun12-en.pdf
3. New York Times Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/14/technology/new-internet-domain-names-may-be-golden-opportunity-for-brands.html
4. Business Insider Article: https://www.businessinsider.com/icann-top-level-domain-application-2012-6
5. ZDNet Article: https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-amazon-lead-top-level-domain-rush/
