Domain Name Information

Internet Domain Registration - Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions on Domain Name Registration


Here are the top ten most frequently asked questions regarding on Internet domain name registration:

Q1. Which characters are allowed in Internet domain names?

A: For normal ASCII domain names, the letters a-z, the numbers 0-9, and one special character, the hyphen or dash "-". Note that domains cannot start or end with a hyphen. For the new tested IDNs (Internationalized Domain Names), the full range of Unicode characters are available. This allows nearly all of the languages on the planet to be represented within domain names, including Thai, Arabic, Lao, Hebrew, French, German etc.

Q2. How many characters can a Internet domain name have?

A: Generic domains (gTLDs) can have 63 characters in the second level, plus the top level domain, .com, .net etc.

Q3. How long can I register a Internet domain name for?

A: In most cases, you are allowed to register a Internet domain name for period of one to ten years. Longer periods are not currently allowed by the registry.

Q4. How long do Internet domain registrations take to make & process?

A: Typically ten minutes or so. Once you have chosen the name and paid the fee, most registration systems will register your name in near real-time.

Q5. Do I "own" a domain name I register?

A: Not really, it is more like a rental agreement. But importantly, you have the exclusive right to renew the agreement with the registry at the end of the initial registration period, so effectively you can keep the name as long as you want.

Q6. Why does my Internet domain name still show as unregistered in a WHOIS tool?

A: WHOIS tools are meant to show the nameserver / contact information for domain names held by a particular ICANN registrar. They are typical not updated in real-time and thus are not good indicators of current domain registration status.

Q7. How will I know if a Internet domain registration attempt has been successful?

A: WHOIS tool takes anything up to 48 hrs to be updated so can't be relied on. A better indicator is whether you receive a confirmation e-mail from the domain registrar. You could also try registering the name again. By doing so, the registrar will do a "live" availability check on the name, which will indicate to you whether the name has been registered or not. This is not the same as a WHOIS look-up.

Q8. How long do domain names take to be active after registration?

A: Approximately 24 - 48 hrs, though because nameservers work as a distributed network, it can take up to 72 hrs or more before your domain name is accessible to all Internet users worldwide.

Q9. Can I register a Internet domain for later use?

A: There is no problem in registering domain names first, and using them later on. In fact, it is estimated that among 80% to 90% of all domain names are "idle".

Q10. Can I get a refund if I make a mistake & register the wrong name?

A: Nearly all domain registrars operate a strict no refund policy. This is because they are charged a non-refundable fee by the registry to perform the registration.

John Leong is the webmaster at Internet Domain Registration Guide where you will find the latest news and information on domain name registration.


MORE RESOURCES:

Microsoft To Support Chinese Domain Names
ChinaTechNews.com, China - 4 hours ago
Microsoft (MSFT) says the Internet Explorer 7 browser will fully support Chinese domain names and the company has announced that it will further make its ...


Malta features highest .eu domain names per citizen
MaltaMedia, Malta - Aug 5, 2006
By MaltaMedia News. More evidence of irregularities in the registration of .eu domain names has been uncovered in a study by internet monitoring group Ipwalk. ...
Malta tops list of .eu domain names per citizen di-ve.com
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Contractor UK
74,000 .eu domain names 'out of service'
Contractor UK, UK - Jul 30, 2006
The Belgium-based regulator set up to oversee Europe’s top level domain has suspended 74,000 .eu domain names and sued 400 registrars. ...


Domain Names Frozen During Investigation
All Headline News - Jul 30, 2006
(AHN) - An estimated 74,000 ".eu" names were frozen this week over suspicions that the domain names had been illegally stockpiled and then sold at a profit. ...


World Wide Web Seems to Be Running Out of Addresses
Lakeland Ledger, FL - 10 hours ago
... Or at least there are a finite number of one-word domain names that make sense. So says Dotster Inc., a Vancouver, Wash., company ...


How To Buy Expired Domain Names That Have A Huge Flow Of
Domain informer, IL - Jul 31, 2006
... a domain name. The tactic is purchasing expired domain names that have an existing flow of traffic flowing into them. The amount ...


Scandal suspends thousands of .eu domain names
VNUNet.com, UK - Jul 26, 2006
EURid, the authority operating the .eu top level domain, has suspended 74,000 .eu domain names and sued 400 domain registrars for breach of contract. ...


.eu domain operator suspends 74,000 names
iTWire, Australia - Jul 25, 2006
... in its registration process, EURid, the non profit organisation operating the Internet top level domain .eu, has suspended 74 000 .eu domain names and has sued ...


Thousands of .eu domain names abused
EUobserver.com, Belgium - Jul 25, 2006
The European internet domain name authority, EURid, has suspended 74,000 .eu domain names and taken legal action against 400 registrars for abusing the service ...



BBC News
Hearing planned on domain names
BBC News, UK - Jul 26, 2006
A public hearing on the future control of internet domain names is being held by the US Commerce Department. The US government currently ...

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