ICANN: 1,600 new top level domain applications submitted

Applications down slightly from 2012 round.

ICANN announced today that it received 1,600 applications for top level domain names by the deadline yesterday. That’s down about 17% from the total in the 2012 expansion round.

Eleven hundred of the applications also include replacement strings that applicants can switch to under certain circumstances.

The organization stressed that the final number of applications won’t be known until after the payment deadline, which is in about a week.

If all applicants pay, ICANN will add about $360 million to its coffers. Some of that will be refunded when applicants drop out or lose their contention sets.

In mid-September, ICANN will announce when “Reveal Day” will be, which is when it publishes a list of all applications. It said that, barring extraordinary circumstances, that date should be no later than nine weeks from the application deadline.

A mid-October reveal would be interesting timing. ICANN holds its Annual General Meeting in Bali later that month. Once reveal day happens, applicants aren’t allowed to communicate with other applicants about partnering or otherwise settling contention sets. That could make for some awkward cocktail parties.