The domain name info is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) in the Domain Name System (DNS) of the Internet. The name is derived from information indicating that the domain is intended for informative Internet resources, although registration requirements do not prescribe any theme orientation.
The info TLD was a response to ICANN's highly publicized announcement[citation needed], in late 2000, of a phased release of seven new generic top-level domains. The event was the first addition of major gTLDs since the Domain Name System was developed in the 1980s. The seven new gTLDs, selected from over 180 proposals, were meant in part to take the pressure off the com domain.[1]
The info domain has been the most successful of the seven new domain names, with over 5.2 million domain names in the registry as of April 2008. After the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York switched to the easier to remember mta.info website to lead users to latest information on schedules and route changes on the area's transportation services. Even in 2013, a website, Current Score info, was formed to provide current score of Football and Cricket across India. ICANN and Afilias have also sealed an agreement for country names to be reserved by ICANN under resolution 01.92.[2] info is an unrestricted domain, meaning that anyone can obtain a second-level domain under info for any purpose, similar to the com, net or org domains. This is in contrast to TLDs such as edu or coop. Info is the only top-level domain that was explicitly created and chartered for unrestricted use, though various other TLDs became that way as a de facto situation. Info stands for information in about 37 languages, and is a neutral name.
Afilias, the registry operator of both the info and aero top-level domains, has been aggressive in its marketing of the domain, with significant registrar incentives and outreach events.