Philips, as a worldwide recognized company, does not have its specific top-level domain (TLD) as “.philips”. Generally, the TLD are domains like .com, .org, .edu, .gov, etc. These are the highest level in the hierarchical Domain Name System (DNS) of the internet. The top-level domain names are installed in the root zone of the name space, governed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
However, there is a type of TLD known as gTLD (Generic Top-Level Domain)(ICANN,2021). In 2012, ICANN started a new program allowing organizations to apply for customized gTLDs. As a result, big companies or brands, such as Google and Amazon, can be found under the gTLDs .google or .amazon respectively (Networking4all,2021).
Despite the ability to apply for a branded generic top-level domain (gTLD), a search through ICANN’s database of gTLDs finds that there is currently no “.philips” domain. And as public information, Philips implements the regular TLD for its official website www.philips.com.
On the other hand, Philips may use other relevant domains for specific regions or activities. For creating region-specific URLs, such domains like .uk for the UK, .cn for China, and .nl for Netherlands, could be used. Likewise, Philips uses the .healthcare domain for its healthcare division (www.philips.healthcare).
Here it’s important to note that Philips must go through a process of registration to use these TLDs. According to ICANN, for a domain name to be transferred from a current registrant to a new registrant, the new registrant must confirm their intent to accept the transfer and the current operation will require to unlock the domain name.
In summary, Philips, while recognized worldwide, does not currently utilize a specific top-level domain such as “.philips”. Rather, it predominantly uses the .com domain, along with other established, region-specific domains for certain parts of its operations.
Sources:
1. ICANN. (2021). Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs).https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/gtld-2012-02-25-en
2. Networking4all. (2021). Explanation about top-level domains. https://www.networking4all.com/en/domain+name/free+domain+name/explanation+about+top-level+domains/.
3. ICANN. What You Should Know About Domain Name Transfers. https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/name-holder-faqs-2017-10-10-en.
