The top-level domain (TLD) ‘.vivo’ is a branded TLD, meaning it is owned and operated by a specific company for its own use – in this case, the multinational telecommunications corporation Vivo.
Vivo, a Brazilian company, is a part of the Telefonica Group, one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world. Vivo provides mobile services, broadband internet, and telecom services in Brazil and is one of the country’s leading providers of these services. As Vivo is a corporate entity, it owns and operates the ‘.vivo’ TLD for use in its digital properties.
However, as per the data from the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the ‘.vivo’ TLD has not been delegated, meaning it’s not currently in use or operational for browsing on the internet. ICANN is the responsible body for drawing the policies and procedures that govern the domain name system, including top-level domains.
The business behind a branded TLD is to enhance the brand’s digital presence, reinforce its digital identity, and provide a secure space for the brand’s digital assets and consumers. For instance, Barclays Bank uses ‘.barclays’ instead of ‘.com’ on their system to create a more secure online environment for their customers. Likewise, Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, uses ‘.google’ as one of its TLDs.
In Vivo’s case, owning and maintaining the ‘.vivo’ TLD can provide their digital products, like websites, email services, apps with a unique identifier, and a robust security infrastructure. As a non-delegated TLD yet, Vivo might intend to use the ‘.vivo’ domain in the future as part of its digital strategy, like strengthening its online customer security or launching a new digital product or service.
Sources:
1. ICANN – URL: https://lookup.icann.org/lookup
2. Vivo – URL: https://www.vivo.com.br/
3. Telefonica – URL: https://www.telefonica.com/
4. Google Registry – URL: https://www.registry.google/
5. Barclays – URL: https://home.barclays/
6. Netcraft – URL: https://news.netcraft.com/archives/category/domain-names/
Please note that while top-level domains (TLDs) are a significant part of the Domain Name System (DNS), their use should be guided by the specific policies and procedures laid out by ICANN. Misuse of TLDs can lead to reputational damage and legal issues. Moreover, it is essential to consider the strategic implications of owning and using a branded TLD for an organization’s digital identity.
