A complete overhaul of the way in which people navigate the internet worldwide has been given the go-ahead in Paris.
Until now only about 200 various words like .nz, .au or .com have been allowed at the end of a web address, but the rules are changing to allow domain names that end in any word.
The internet's regulator, ICANN, voted unanimously to relax the strict rules on domain name system, ending web addresses with the so-called "top-level" domain names, such as .com or .nz
"It is going to have a long term impact on the diversity and the range of the real estate of the internet that people are going to use for decades," says Paul Twoney, ICANN President.
Internet New Zealand says the changes have been in the pipeline for a while, with local businesses expected to reap the benefits.
The decision means that companies could turn brands into web addresses, while individuals could use their names. For example, web addresses could soon look like http://www.technology.onenews
"You can see companies being able to choose domains that are just more relevant to their business, so if they put their domain name in their branding or whatever it will just look more in line with what they actually do," says Jordan Carter, Internet New Zealand.
Internet searches will become simpler the world over.
"If .com is the shopping mall of the internet and you walk through and find the different shops, what we want to do is to create a rodeo drive, if you will, with flagship stores along the way and those stores are obviously easier to get to," explains Adrian Kinderis, CEO AusRegistry International - domain name provider.
A registering process will still apply with anyone wanting to register a new domain name will need apply to the internet coordinators ICANN. They will need to prove they can run the register for the domain name and it will cost around a $100,000 in fees.
Racist and abusive names will not be permitted and it's still undecided on whether words involving sex will make the cut.
A second proposal, to introduce domain names written in scripts, such as Asian and Arabic, has also been approved.
