Domain thing is to get the ending correct

NEW DOMAIN name endings, including .kosher, are being snapped up, according to the internet company co-ordinating the applications.

Charities, governments and businesses must apply to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbersunderaschemewhichallows them to have any word to replace .com or .co.uk at the end of a web address.

But some key terms, including .jewish and .israel are still available. Israeli websites have so far not taken the opportunity to register new domain name endings in Hebrew, with the new system allowing addresses in characters other than Roman letters. But many Arab addresses have been registered and .arab has been snapped up by the League of Arab States.

OK Kosher, an American kashrut certifier which grants licences for food companies such as Kraft and Tropicana, has applied to use the .kosher domain name. To date, Teva Pharmaceuticals is the only Israeli corporation to have registered its interest, applying to use .teva at the end of its web address. One unknown company has applied for .shiksha and the Jewish Leadership Council has missed its opportunity to apply for the suffix .jlc, which has been taken by a Swiss company.

Experts have warned that the process could make addresses harder for people to remember. Applicants had to pay £118,800 initially, and will pay £25,000 a year to keep the suffix.