So you want your own domain extension, huh?
Sometimes you're not satisfied with the .com extension, or the .net or the .org or the whatever country you are in extension. You would rather have company.companyabbreviation instead of companyname666.com because the other .com is registered already. Well, after some research, there seem to be four options, which I will present you from the most impossible to the easy way. The first one is:
1. Become a country
Now don't get whiney about this, there are lots of ways to get your own country. After doing this, you should only contact the ICANN and they'll present you a number of possible extensions for your country. Easy game. After doing this, you should be a proud owner of your very own ccTLD.
2. Become really, really rich
Yes, becoming rich is a good option too, you can apply to the ICANN for only US $50,000. There is one downside though, the application can be rejected.
The application fee is non-refundable and ICANN's only obligation upon accepting the application and fee is to consider the application.
No good! To read all about requesting your own TLD at the ICANN, click here. This is actually the way most "special" TLD's get registered, like .asia.
3. Invent your own class or organization
Damn it's hard to explain this, it basicly means you belong to a certain group that fits in its very own group, for example .com is intended for commercial organizations where .net is for network infrastructures. If succesful, you'll have your own gTLD.
4. Join an alternative DNS root
This one is possible for everyone, actually. No more ICANN things here, just your own extension to be filled into a form and it's registered. This is really possible, it's extremely easy but has also a big disadvantage: (most) users will have to download/install special software to connect to the alternative DNS root. There are some ISP's out there that actually connect to the alternative roots too by default, but 99% of them just connect to the ICANN servers and to nothing else. For a list of alternative roots, click here or here. Not all of them are free though.
Other interesting links: