Overview
- .softbank is a brand generic top-level domain (gTLD) delegated under ICANN's New gTLD Program.
- It is intended as a branded namespace for SoftBank Group, to host official websites, services and resources that promote the SoftBank brand identity and authenticity.
History
- Applied for as part of ICANN's New gTLD Program (application details disclosed during reveal day on 13 June 2012).
- Delegated to the DNS Root Zone on 16 January 2016.
- Registry operator/manager: SOFTBANK CORP.
- Back-end registry services provided by Verisign.
- Classified as a brand gTLD and listed with status: Delegated.
Usage and Audience
- Intended primary users: SoftBank Corp., consolidated subsidiaries and licensed companies within the SoftBank Group.
- Purpose: to provide credible information, services and online business presences that promote trust, convenience and utility for consumers.
- Typical second-level names are planned to reflect the names of licensed companies, names of goods and services, or strings that explicitly demonstrate intended usage.
- Context from the applicant: SoftBank Group is a diversified communications and internet company (applicant cited its group size and consumer reach as part of the rationale for the TLD's use).
Registration Rules
- Operates as a restricted registry: SOFTBANK CORP. creates and controls .softbank domain names.
- Eligibility limited to SoftBank and consolidated subsidiaries or affiliates that meet criteria set by SoftBank ("licensed companies").
- Second-level domains are intended for administrative and official use in accordance with SoftBank's website quality management standards; names are intended to match licensed company names, goods, services, or strings showing explicit usage.
SEO and Brand Impact
- The .softbank gTLD was proposed to strengthen brand integrity, authenticity and consumer trust by consolidating official SoftBank online properties under a controlled namespace.
- Applicant materials emphasize SoftBank's high brand recognition (marketing presence, retail footprint and corporate sponsorships) as part of the TLD's strategic value for brand positioning.
Operator
SoftBank Group Corp.
Whois
% IANA WHOIS server
% for more information on IANA, visit http://www.iana.org
% This query returned 1 object
domain: SOFTBANK
organisation: SoftBank Group Corp.
address: 1-9-1 Higashi-shimbashi
address: Minato-ku Tokyo 105-7303
address: Japan
contact: administrative
name: Chief Operating Officer
organisation: GMO BRAND SECURITY Inc.
address: Cerulean Tower 26-1 Sakuragaoka-cho
address: Shibuya-ku Tokyo 150-8512
address: Japan
phone: +81.357841069
fax-no: +81.334625040
e-mail: registry@brightsconsulting.com
contact: technical
name: Director
organisation: GMO Registry, Inc.
address: Cerulean Tower
address: 26-1 Sakuragaoka-cho
address: Shibuya-ku Tokyo 150-8512
address: Japan
phone: +81-3-5456-1601
fax-no: +81-3-3780-5239
e-mail: newgtld@gmoregistry.com
nserver: A.GMOREGISTRY.NET 2001:dcd:1:0:0:0:0:4 37.209.192.4
nserver: B.GMOREGISTRY.NET 2001:dcd:2:0:0:0:0:4 37.209.194.4
nserver: K.GMOREGISTRY.NET 37.209.196.4
nserver: L.GMOREGISTRY.NET 2001:dcd:4:0:0:0:0:4 37.209.198.4
ds-rdata: 34384 8 2 7a7cde44c2c68ce4d0440e7f9f01a1a0358ede57a9e007ae01ff94cb0506513a
whois: whois.nic.softbank
status: ACTIVE
remarks: Registration information: http://softbank.com/
created: 2015-12-23
changed: 2023-06-20
source: IANA
