Generic top-level domainsDNSSEC
Overview
.ibm is a brand generic top-level domain (gTLD) for International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). Introduced through ICANN's New gTLD Program, the string is intended to provide an IBM-branded, trusted namespace that clarifies and differentiates IBM business units, products, services and applications.
History
- Applied for under ICANN's New gTLD Program (Reveal Day noted during the application process).
- Registry agreement with ICANN signed on 31 July 2014 after passing Initial Evaluation.
- Delegated to the DNS Root Zone on 1 October 2014 (implementation date).
- TLD type: gTLD; subtype: brand. Registry listed as ARI Registry Services in registry metadata; status: Delegated.
Usage and Audience
- Intended primary users: IBM corporate entities, verified IBM employees, business units, product teams, geographic divisions, customers, vendors and business partners.
- Typical uses: internal and externally-facing IBM services and applications, clear product or service identifiers (for example: software.ibm, smarterplanet.ibm, smartcloud.ibm).
- The TLD is positioned as a trusted IBM-only space rather than a general public namespace.
Registration Rules
- Operates as a closed registry.
- Initially there will be no registrants other than IBM Corporation; access is to be provided only to verified IBM Users.
- IBM does not intend to sell .ibm domain names for public registration or host third-party websites under the TLD; however, certain .ibm URLs may point to content hosted on third-party servers.
SEO and Brand Impact
- Designed to strengthen and preserve the IBM brand by providing clarity and authenticity across IBM's digital presence.
- Intended to create a trusted namespace to reduce customer confusion and help prevent piracy, phishing or other misuse of the IBM brand.
- Allows IBM to differentiate between marketing sites and consumable applications or services under a recognizable, brand-controlled TLD.
Notable Cases or Examples
- Example labels discussed in application materials: software.ibm, smarterplanet.ibm, smartcloud.ibm.
- IBM's broader domain footprint noted in the application: a large domain portfolio (259 domain names, including 223 ccTLDs) and trademark registrations in many countries, underscoring the brand rationale for a dedicated gTLD.
Operator
International Business Machines Corporation
Whois
% IANA WHOIS server % for more information on IANA, visit http://www.iana.org % This query returned 1 object domain: IBM organisation: International Business Machines Corporation address: New Orchard Road address: Armonk NY 10504 address: United States of America (the) contact: administrative name: Engineering Manager organisation: International Business Machines Corporation address: North Castle Drive address: Armonk NY 10504 address: United States of America (the) phone: +1-914-765-4227 fax-no: +1-914-765-4390 e-mail: ngtld-ibm@cscinfo.com contact: technical name: Engineering Manager organisation: International Business Machines Corporation address: 1228 Euclid Ave., 9th Floor address: Cleveland OH 44115 address: United States of America (the) phone: +1.7204309191 fax-no: +1.8454913606 e-mail: ngtld-ibm@cscinfo.com nserver: A.NIC.IBM 2001:dcd:1:0:0:0:0:9 37.209.192.9 nserver: B.NIC.IBM 2001:dcd:2:0:0:0:0:9 37.209.194.9 nserver: C.NIC.IBM 2001:dcd:3:0:0:0:0:9 37.209.196.9 nserver: X.NIC.IBM 156.154.172.82 2610:a1:1074:0:0:0:1:82 nserver: Y.NIC.IBM 156.154.173.82 2610:a1:1075:0:0:0:1:82 nserver: Z.NIC.IBM 156.154.174.82 2610:a1:1076:0:0:0:1:82 ds-rdata: 9955 8 2 8bd095c8717fc998d47cb36565c650ccade45531991bc5956e121e803f8b5fc9 whois: whois.nic.ibm status: ACTIVE remarks: Registration information: http://www.ibm.com created: 2014-09-25 changed: 2023-11-30 source: IANA