The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers has given the OK for countires and territories to apply to show domain names in their native language, reports PCWorld.

To maintain compatibility with the existing infrastructure, the sequence of letters and numbers stored in the DNS will begin with xn. There a couple of language restrictions:

1. It must be an official language of a country or territory.
   
2. It must have legal status or at least "serve as a language of administration."
   

Also, notes Times Online, countries can only request one suffix per each official language, and the suffix must reflect the name of the country or its abbreviation.

ICANN will begin accepting applications Nov. 16. Registries will cost $26,000, which can be paid in local currency. ICANN also is asking for an annual contribution fee of 3 percent of a registry's revenue.