What is a domain name?
A domain name is a unique alpha-numeric name used to identify a particular computer (i.e. web server or mail server) on the Internet.

Domain names allow Internet users to type in a name, such as myname.com, to identify a numeric address such as 207.228.225.56. The purpose of domain names is to allow ordinary users connected to the Internet to find web sites and send email to addresses with familiar names such as "myname.com" without having to memorize the numerical addresses that actually locate the computers or servers on the Internet.

Why were Domain Names or web addresses developed?

Domain Names correspond to a series of numbers called Internet protocol numbers that serve as routing addresses on the Internet. IP addresses are hard to remember therefore web addresses were developed to permit the use of easily remembered words.

Why do I need to register a Domain Name?

You should register a Domain Name for a number of reasons:
They are scarce. Good Internet Domain Names are a rapidly diminishing commodity.
They are allotted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
They are important. The Internet Domain Name has become a vital part of corporate identity.
In the 21st Century, your Domain Name will be as important as your trademark and is your online identity in the local and global marketplace.
They are versatile. For example, any email addressed to you at CEO@yourcompany.com can be forwarded to your current email address.

What does a Domain Name consist of?

A Domain Name will consist of two or more words separated by a period. For example: mydomain.com, The first part 'my domain' is called a second-level domain. The second part '.com' is called a top-level domain.

What is a second-level domain name?

A second-level domain name is the first level at which a domain name may be registered. The TLD (.com, .net, .org, etc) is the first level of a domain name but these cannot be registered to anyone.
Located immediately to the left of the dot (" . "), the second-level domain is the "readable" part of the domain name. The second-level domain is entirely defined by the registrant. For example: In cnn.com, "cnn" is a second-level domain name.
Second-level domains can be divided into further domain levels. For example: sportsillustrated.cnn.com. These third-level domains sometimes represent different computer servers within departments.

What is a third-level domain name?

Third-level domain names are often confused with sub domains. Confusion occurs because some hosting companies and registrars classify everything under "sub domains". A third-level domain name is the portion of the domain name to the left of the TLD and the second-level name.
In sportsillustrated.cnn.com, "sports illustrated" is the third-level domain name.
Third-level domain names do not require a separate registration. The owner of the second-level domain name "owns" the third-level names, fourth-level names and so forth.
There is no limit to the "levels" of domain names.

Third, fourth and so on level names are generally used by large corporations and universities to further divide their domains into manageable levels. Management of hundreds or thousands of computers at the second level would be cumbersome so additional levels are created with management delegated further down the line.
To an average web site owner a second or third-level domain name is generally sufficient. Most often third-level names are used to achieve higher search engine placements. For example, if you sell widgets, you may want the domain widgets.yourdomain.com. This is because most search engines will rank a site higher when the search term appears in the domain name.

What is the domain name system?

The domain name system (DNS) enables each machine connected on the Internet to be recognized by a domain name. Every computer on the Internet has a unique IP (Internet protocol) address which consists of a string of numbers. Since the IP addresses can be difficult to remember, the DNS allows a familiar string of letters (the "domain name") to be used instead of the IP address. So instead of typing the IP address' arcane string of numbers you can type, for example, "www.espn.com."

What is a name server?

In the simplest form a name server is a computer that contains a list of domain names and the associated IP addresses. When a domain name is typed in a Web browser's address bar, the name server associates that with the IP address, and the correct Web site — barring any unforeseen difficulties — opens in the Web browser window.

How do I get my own domain name?

All you need to do is decide on the domain name you want, and check its availability. We give you the option of choosing you different available TLD. Select the domain name you want out of available list and follow the instruction.
Once you sign up with us, our order entry system automatically checks your domain name, determines if it is available for registration, then notifies you of the exact procedure to take on every stage.

Registry, Registrar, Registrant. What do these words mean?

What is a Registry?
A registry is a company or organization that maintains a centralized registry database for the Top-Level Domains. Currently there is only one Registry for every Top-Level domain, .com, .net and .org. NSI Registry maintains this Registry.

What is a Registrar?
A registrar is an ICANN accredited company or organization that is authorized to provide registration services for the top-level domains such as .com, .org and .net. Registrars have contractual agreements with their customers. A Registrar submits all newly registered domains into the Registry.

What is a Registrant?
The Registrant is the owner of a Domain Name. The owner may be an individual or an organization to whom a specific Domain Name is registered.
When a Registrant registers a Domain Name and enters a contractual agreement with the Registrar, they are the legal owner of a domain name for a specific period of time. The Registrant is bound by the terms of the service agreement.
For example, Divyesh Patel (Registrant) registers the name 'divyeshpatel.com' through the Registrar who in turn writes the name to the central database (NSI Registry).

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What is a TLD/What does TLD mean?

TLD means Top Level Domain. All domains have a TLD and it is the .net, .com, .org, .biz, .info, etc., portion of a domain name. The term TLD refers to any (or all) of the top-level domain names. You may also see references to Country Specific TLD's. Country specific domains are controlled by the country (or company authorized by the country) in which they refer. I.E. .us TLD for United States, .mx TLD for Mexico, .uk TLD for United Kingdom, .in for India.
All domains in all TLD's can be accessed, in the same fashion, using a browser. One of the initial ideas behind differing TLD's was to distinguish between different organization types to make retrieval of information faster. Though some TLD's like .edu (for educational organization) require validation for using the TLD, others like .com (for commercial) can and are used for nearly any purpose.

Who is ICAAN?

Formed in October 1998, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is a non-profit, private sector corporation with a volunteer board of directors. ICANN was formed with the chief responsibility for coordinating four key functions for the Internet: the management of the Domain Name system, the allocation of IP address space, the assignment of protocol parameters, and the management of the root server system.
For a company or organization to operate as a Registrar, they must first obtain ICANN accreditation.

What can I do if the requested domain is unavailable?

If the domain name you want is unavailable you have the following options:
Choose a different TLD. There are several different TLD's to choose from.
Choose a different domain name. Adding or removing just one letter makes your domain name different, and may be available for registration.
You can contact the current registrant to determine if they are willing to sell you the domain name.
If you feel that the domain name should be legally yours because of a trademark violation, etc. see the domain name Dispute Resolution Policy .

How do I check on the availability of a domain name?

You can check on the availability of domain names by going to left bar of our site. Our Who Is server will query the proper TLD WHOIS server to report to you whether the domain name is available for registration or not.

How much does a domain name cost?

Domain names in all TLD's currently registered by us are $15 per year. If you currently use another registrar for domain names you can transfer the domain name to our registration service. The cost for transfer is $15 and includes one additional year of registration.

What top-level domain names can I register?

We currently accept domain name registrations in the following TLD's; .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz, . and .us

What are the limitations for domain names?

Domain names must be 67 characters or less including the top level domain suffix, such as ".com", at the end. A domain name must start and end with a letter or a number and may be composed of letters, numbers, or the dash, "-", character. Underscores are not allowed.
A top level suffix must be an acceptable TLD (Top Level Domain) such as .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz or other acceptable TLD. Some TLD's will require additional proof for compliance to use the TLD. Domains in the .edu TLD fall under this classification.

What do I enter as contact information for my domain name?

Enter your name, address, phone number, email address, company affiliation, etc. Be sure to include accurate and updated information. We rely on this contact information if it needs to reach you with issues concerning your domain name.
You must complete the Registrant part of the contact information form. If you wish to, you can elect to apply the registrant information to the technical, administrative and billing contacts as well.

How do I renew my domain-name registration?

You can renew domain name registrations from the My Account Control Panel. Log in, click on "My Domain Names", then "Display. and select from the list the domain name you wish to renew. Domains names can be renewed for from 1 to 10 years.

How I can book India specific ccTLD Domain Name ( Like .co.in, .net.in etc.)?

We are not offering this services right now, But you can visit and follow the instruction of the following site http://domain.ncst.ernet.in/ . National Centre for Software Technology (Division of Goverment of India) look after this activity in India. From this site you can book .co.in, .firm.in, . ac.in, .gov.in, .org.in, .net.in, .ind.in, .gen.in, .in, .mil.in etc.

How do I change my name servers ?

Access customer arae using a username/password combination. In customer area you can change easily your name server entry. This will take nearly 72 Hores to take the effect.

Will my existing web site go down during a domain transfer?

A step-by-step process is given in the Getting Started Section for transferring your domain to us. In a nutshell, it won't if you follow this procedure:
Sign up with us, Submit a transfer request with your Registrar Upload your pages to our server.
Wait 3-5 days. Once you see your transfer is complete:
Cancel with your previous host During the 3-5 day propagation period you will have two web sites live on the Internet. During this period your visitors will go to one site or the other.

How do I make changes to my domain name record?

Each domain name registrar varies. Contact your registrar or check their web site for details of their procedure. If we are your registrar, changes can be made through your online My Account Control Panel. Login, click on "My Domain Names", in the list of domain names click on the name you want to modify.

Who does a registered domain name actually belong to?

Domain names are not truly owned -- they're leased out on a first-come, first-served basis, and remain with the initial lessee until either a) the lessee does not renew the name, or b) a business with a trademark of the same name demonstrates a greater claim to the name than the lessee can demonstrate. The question is better phrased as 'who can control the domain name'. The answer is the domain's Administrative Contact. This is usually specified by the registrant during the registration process; however, as each registrar may have slightly different policies in this matter, please consult individual registrars web sites for full details.

How much control do domain owners have over their domain?

Domain owners, in general, have full control over their domain names. This means that the domain owner has the power to a) Change admin, technical and billing contacts for the domain. b) Change ownership of the domain. c) Change the name servers that are authoritative for the domain. d) Create sub-users and enable them to change some/all of the options in a, b and c above. e) Change the password that enables a, b, c, and d above. Again, the actual registrar determines the amount of control given to its users.

What's the difference between .com, .net, .org domain names?

Originally, the three letter extension after the dot (or Top Level Domain/TLD) was meant to denote whether the domain name was being used for business (.com) charity/nonprofit (.org) or for a technology based company (.net). However, with the explosion of the Internet (and specifically, the world wide web) as a new business medium, the lines were blurred, companies and individuals alike started cross-registering domains (i.e.. me.com, me.net, me.org) just to protect their interests. Now, .com, .net, and .org names (the generic Top Level Domains) can be used for any purpose.

What is a registrar transfer?

Registrar transfers involve the transfer of an existing domain name from one registrar to another. In the same way you can choose different hosting companies to host your web site, you can choose different registrars.
Many people choose or transfer between registrars for better support, service, pricing or just to maintain all their Internet services through one company.

Can I transfer my domain name registration to RnD info?

Yes. RnD info supports the transfer of .com, .net, .org, .info, and .biz domain names provided the status of the domain permits (see below on reasons that a registrar can decline transfer requests). .name domain names will be supported as the registry permits. The .tv registry does not currently support the transfer of domain names.

Who is the InterNIC?

Prior to September 1999 any references to Inter NIC always referred to an independent organization responsible for maintaining the domain name registry, namely Network Solutions. Since then, the term has taken on a more loosely defined meaning. Generally the term will always refer to the domain name registry process.

What is the difference between a Registry and a Registrar?

A registry provides direct services to registrars only, not Internet end-users. The Registry database contains only Domain Name service (DNS) information (Domain Name, name server names and name server Internet Protocol [IP] numbers) along with the name of the Registrar that registered the name and basic transaction data. It does not contain any Domain Name Registrant or contact information.
A Registrar provides direct services to Domain Name registrants. The Registrar database contains customer information in addition to the DNS information contained in the registry database. Registrars process name registrations for Internet end-users and then send the necessary DNS information to a Registry for entry into the centralized Registry database and ultimate propagation over the Internet.

Can I register more than one Domain Name at a time?

Yes you can. By clicking on the multi search you can register multiple Domain Names (no limit) at once. When you register multiple domains you are eligible for volume discounts.

What Top-Level Domains (TLD's) are offered for Registration?

The Domain Name Registration system allows you to register second-level domains under the following top-level domains:
.com: Recommended for commercial entities. Anyone can register a .com domain.

.net: Originally recommended for companies involved in Internet infrastructure. However today, anyone can register a .net domain.

.org: Originally designed for miscellaneous organizations, including non-profit groups. However today,
anyone can register a .org domain.

How do I know if the Domain Name I wish to register is available?

To find out whether a Domain Name is available just enter the name in the Domain Name Search. We will tell you if the domain name is available.

What are the rules for creating a Domain Name?

The Basic Rules for creating a Domain Name:
They must be between 1 and 63 characters long not including the four characters used to identify the TLD such as .com
They can be made up of letters or numbers. Domain Names are not case sensitive.
The dash symbol (-) is permitted but not at the beginning or end of your Domain Name.
Spaces and special characters are not permitted.

What is the Domain Name Registration Process?

There are five (6) steps to follow to register a Domain Name:
1. Search for a Domain Name using the Search Box.
2. Select the registration term, and provide your contact details.
3. Provide DNS details.
4. Review the information for correctness.
5. Agree to the Service Agreement.
6. Provide payment information and submit your request.

How long does the Domain Name Registration Process take?

The process only takes few minutes as it is all done on-line in real time.

What do I need in order to register a Domain Name?

In order to register a Domain Name you will need to provide the following information:
1. Provide the following personal information for the Domain Name owner, and Administrative, Technical and
Billing contacts. You may choose to simply enter your own details in all contact fields.
In practice if you wish to enter your own details as all 4 contacts above, you only need to enter details
once for owner contact and leave the other boxes ticked to use the same contact details.

a. First Name
b. Last Name
c. Email Address
d. Postal Address
e. Phone Number

2. Create the following to secure your Domain Name account:

a. Username and Password
b. Prompt Question and Answer

3. Provide your Domain Name Server (DNS) information which can be obtained from your Web site Hosting
provider, or choose Free Parking, which will automatically place the correct Name Servers on your domain
record if you also choose us to Host your domain now or in the future.
4. Read and accept our service agreement.
5. Provide your credit card and billing information for payment purposes.

How much does it cost to register a Domain Name?

All our prices for domain names are substantially discounted.
Two levels of pricing are offered:
1. Standard Rate per domain; and
2. Volume Discounts for .com, .net & .org domain names.
Standard prices are advertised on our Web site

Can a private person register a Domain Name?

The top-level domains .com, .net, and .org are available for registration by any individual or organization.
You do not have to be a registered business to register top-level domains.

I don't have a Web Site; Can I still register a Domain Name?

Yes. You don't have to have an existing web site or be a registered business to register a Domain Name. You can register a domain name at any time and start your online identity.

How much time do I have to wait after requesting registration of my Domain Name?

After you have registered your Domain Name and paid for it, it is reserved immediately. From then on,
it is attributed to you and is not available for purchase by anyone else for the term of the registration.The Domain Name then has to be technically available. This will happen within around 24 hours later, assuming you have provided the correct technical parameters such as valid DNS servers.

How do I know if I have registered a Domain Name successfully?

You will receive a confirmation email from confirming your registration details .

Why does my recently registered Domain Name still appear to be available when I go to another Domain Name registration site and perform a WhoIs search?

WhoIs searches through other web sites do not always update in real time.
If you check your Domain Name after you have completed the registration process for a .com, .net or .org
Domain Name, your WhoIs Domain Name and Contact Information is available online immediately.
If you are querying or searching for your newly registered .com, .net or .org Domain Name's availability
through another Domain Name registration web site and receive a message "No match for domain 'tonismith.com'" it may simply be an indication that the registration web site you are visiting is not displaying the WhoIs information of competing accredited registrars. It does not mean that your Domain Name is still available for registration. If you were to actually attempt registering your new Domain Name through a competing registrar's site, you would receive a message stating, "tonismith.com is not available". This is an indication that the SRS (Shared Registration System) has an entry on file for the Domain Name (i.e., the Domain Name is already registered).

What should I do if I never received a confirmation email?

Please send an email to us with your Domain Name and date of registration.

Who is the owner of a Domain Name?

The legal owner of a Domain Name is the individual or company whose name is listed at the time of registration. The owner or registrant remains the owner of a Domain Name regardless of whether the administrative contact has been changed since then. The only way to legally change the ownership of a Domain Name is to undergo a Transfer of Domain Name. To review the Transfer of Domain Name Policies, please see our Web site

Who are the contacts for a Domain Name?

When you register a Domain Name you are required to nominate the administrative, technical and billing contacts for your domain. These contacts can be individuals other than the owner.
Once you have nominated your domain contacts, each contact will receive an email with their member ID. They will be prompted to visit the Web site where they have an option to change their password.

Who is the Administrative Contact?

This person is authorized to make decisions on behalf of the owner and perform most domain management functions on behalf of the owner. The administrative contact is also the person or organization that answers legal questions about the Domain Name. Generally the owner or an authorized person from your company is the administrative contact.

Who is the Technical Contact?

The person or organization that makes technical decisions about the Domain Name. This is the person who handles the technical aspects of your domain, such as hosting your web site as well as making decisions regarding IP addresses, and authoritative name servers for the Domain Name.

Who is the Billing Contact?

The person or organization that is invoiced for registration and renewals. This is the person who is responsible for initial and recurring billing for the Domain Name. Keep in mind that it is very important to keep your billing information up to date.

Why do my Domain Name contacts need to become members?

The domain contacts need to become members to be able to access the domain management functions and make changes to your Domain Name. Otherwise their access privileges will be restricted. For example, the Billing contact will need to renew the Domain Name. They need to login to be able to do this.

How do I change administrative, technical or billing information?

Go to Manage Domains and login to your account with your Username and Password. Select modify contact details and then click the Modify Contacts button to to edit the contact details.

How do I change the email addresses for my Domain Name contacts?

If the email addresses associated to the administrative, technical and billing contact are no longer valid or aren't functioning, authorization is required from the Domain Name owner to change the information. The owner must login to Manage Domains and change the email addresses for the administrative, technical and billing contact respectively.
I am not sure whether I am a contact for any Domain Names. How do I check?
If you are unsure whether you have been nominated as the administrative, technical or billing contact for any Domain Names registered, please go to WHOIS lookup to find out.

How long does a registration last?Can it be renewed?

Currently the initial registration period is 1 year. The maximum registration period is 10 years.

Can I automatically renew my Domain Name?

Yes. The user has the option to renew a Domain Name from 1 to 10 years at a time. Go to Manage Domains and select renew registrations. Select the Domain Name you wish to renew, enter your payment details and click the renew button

How do I renew my Domain Name?

When your Domain Name registration comes up for renewal, the person listed as the billing contact for that Domain Name will receive an email. That person will have 30 days to renew the Domain Name's registration. Following the expiration date, the name will be held as registered for a grace period of 30 days. After this period the domain name will be available for registration by interested parties.
Alternatively you can renew your Domain Name through Manage Domains. Go to Renew Registration, select the domain you wish to renew. At this point you must also indicate the number of years for which you wish to renew. You can renew Domain Names from 1 to 10 years at a time You are then required to enter your payment details and click the renew button.

Managing Your Domain

How can I make changes to my Domain Names?

Go to Manage Domains. You must login with your username and password to use this. This function will enable you to effectively manage your domain name and make many changes. E.g. changing contact details. You will then be able to choose from a number of possible actions and be given specific instructions online on how you can complete any changes you need to make.

How do I view a complete list of all the names that I have successfully registered?

Go to Manage Domains and select User Summary from the menu. You will see a list of all the domains you have registered and who your domain contacts are.

How do I change contact, billing or administrative information and DNS (Domain Name Server) information?

Making changes to different aspects of your account is a relatively simple process. Go to Manage Domain and login with your username and password. Select modify contact details from the menu and click on a modify contact button. Once you have made a change you will receive a confirmation email.

What is a Member ID?

Each member is provided with a unique key called the Member ID we use e-mail address for the Mebmer.
A Member ID is generated for the Domain Name owner as well as the administrative, technical and billing contacts. Knowing the Member ID of a domain contact provides the owner a shortcut during the registration process.

When is the Member ID created?

The member ID for the owner is created automatically during registration for a Domain Name. After the registration process is complete the owner will receive an email with the member ID along with their registration details.
The Administrative, Technical and Billing contacts that were nominated by the owner are also emailed their member ID's. They may visit the Web site to change their password if they wish.

Do I already have a Member ID?

If you are the Owner, Administrative, Technical or Billing contact for a Domain Name you will have a member ID as well as a username and password. If you have forgotten your member ID or are not sure if you have one then go to member ID lookup to find out.

What is the purpose of the Member ID lookup?

Member ID lookup will perform a lookup on all Member ID's if you enter either a last name or a company name. If a match is found, a Member ID, Registrant name and email address will be displayed.
Knowing a your member ID can help you:
It provides you a shortcut during the registration process; and If you have forgotten your password knowing your Member ID and answering your prompt question will
retrieve it.

What is the purpose of a Username and Password?

Your username is unique. All members are asked to provide a username and password.
You need a username and password for two (2) reasons:
1. To maintain the security of your account. It will ensure that no unauthorized parties can access your Domain Name information. To access Member Management and Manage Domains Functions that will enable
you to effectively make amendments to your Domain Name. E.g.. changing contact details etc.
2. You can only access member management and domain management once you have entered your username and password.
The username and password is a secure method of keeping your domain name details private

What is the purpose of the Prompt Question?

In addition to a providing username and password, members are also asked to provide a prompt question and answer. This adds an extra level of security to your Domain Name information.
Only you should know the answer to your to your prompt question. In the event that you forget your password your prompt question will be asked. If you answer it correctly your password will be emailed to you and you will gain access to your Domain Name information.
For example:
Prompt Question: What is my favorite color?
Prompt Answer: Blue.

Can I change my Password and Prompt Question?

Yes, Login to your account and go to member services. Select change password from the menu. You will then be able to change your password and prompt question.

What if I've forgotten my Password?

Go to Remember Password. Your password will be emailed to you if:
You know either your Member ID or Username; and
You can answer your prompt question.

Will my name and contact information be publicly available?

All registrars are required to create and maintain a database containing all information on customer's Domain Names. This information is available to the public on a Who Is site. Customers can query this database online by conducting a Who Is search.
The information we are required to display in a Who Is Result page:
The Domain Name
The IP addresses of the Primary and Secondary Server
Original Creation Date of Registration
Expiration date of Registration
Name and Postal Address of the Registrant
Name and Postal Address of Technical Contact
Name and Postal Address of Administrative Contact

What is the difference between the Who Is information and the Domain Search functionality?

The Who Is information provides detailed information about an existing registered Domain Name in the registrar's database. It displays all relevant information pertaining to the Domain Name. If a query is entered for a domain name that does not exist in the registrar's database, the query will check for the existence of Domain Names in other Registrars databases through the Inter NIC Who Is service, and the results are displayed.

The Domain Search will simply check on the availability of registering a Domain Name. If a Domain Name is taken it will not display the Domain Name information

What is a DNS (Domain Name Server)?

A DNS or Domain Name Server is an integral part of the Domain Name System. It is the system of computers and databases connected to the Internet that are responsible for doing the following:
Translating your Domain Name into an IP (Internet Protocol) address. A Domain Name is a lot easier to remember than a bunch of numbers.
Specifying the mail servers responsible for email distribution for your Domain Name

What is an IP (Internet Protocol) address?

Domain Names correspond to a series of numbers called IP (Internet Protocol) Addresses. An IP address is the communications protocol used to exchange data over computer networks. IP addresses allow large, geographical networks of computers to communicate with each other quickly and economically over a variety of physical links. An IP address is the numerical address by which location in the Internet is identified. It consists of four sets of numbers, each of which range from 0 to 255 separated by dots.
Example 178.18.19.240.

Where can I obtain my Domain Name Server (DNS) information?

Your ISP should be able to give you this information. If you have a windows machine, you may be able to obtain this information using IPCONFIG or WINIPCFG from a DOS command or prompt. If you do not have Name Servers or do not know what they are, you can automatically elect to have the default DNS Servers listed. This is called Free Parking.

What does a DNS (Domain Name Server) do?

The DNS ensures that data, which is sent to a specific address, arrives at that address and no other.
In order to send data to a web address on the Internet, it must have associated with it a unique IP Address.
The DNS provides the association between a Domain Name and its IP Address.

What is "Parking"?

"Parking" is what many people do when they don't have a use for their domains yet or do not have name servers. In order to register a domain though, you must have a name server to put it on. You can automatically elect to have the default DNS servers listed. Parking your domain is free.

What DNS servers do I list as authoritative for my Domain Name?What is the Primary and Secondary server?

When registering a Domain Name you must list a primary and secondary server. If you do not have name servers or do not know what they are, you can automatically elect to have the default DNS servers listed. This is called Free Parking.

The two host computers on which your Domain Name is hosted. The server information consists of a Name Server and IP address.

Do I need to provide different billing information for each Domain Name or is one Billing Contact enough?

Billing information associated with each Domain Name can be different or identical. You can assign the same billing contact to all Domain Names or one billing contact for all.

What if I have changed my mind and I don't want a Domain Name anymore. Can I get a refund?

No. Your payment cannot be refunded. Under the service agreement, you own the Domain Name for the term you specified in the registration process. To refer to the Service Agreement see our Web site

What is the Service Agreement?Who is the legal owner of a Domain Name?

To view the Service Agreement see our Web site

What if the Domain Name I wish to register is already taken and I have rights or legitimate interests in respect of the Domain Name?

The owner of a Domain Name is the individual or company whose name is listed at the time of registration. The owner or registrant remains the owner of a Domain Name regardless of whether the administrative contact has been changed since then. The only way to legally change the ownership of a Domain Name is to undergo a Transfer of Domain Name. To view the policies for a Transfer of Domain Name see our Web site

What is the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy?

The Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) was adopted by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) on October 24, 1999 and is incorporated by reference into the Service Agreement. All ICANN accredited Registrars are required to abide by the terms or the UDRP. It sets forth the terms and conditions in connection with a dispute between you and another party over the registration and the use of an Internet Domain Name registered by you.
Under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy, actual resolution of a dispute will occur, and result in continued use, deletion or transfer of a Domain Name registration.

Who are the approved Providers for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy?

Complaints under the UDRP are submitted to any approved dispute resolution service provider. These providers are ICANN approved and listed at http://www.icann.org/udrp/approved-providers.htm
The providers will process a dispute in accordance with the UDRP.

What are the rules for submitting a dispute?

Each dispute resolution provider must process a dispute in accordance with the Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the "Rules of Procedure"), which are available at http://www.icann.org/udrp/udrp-rules-24oct99.htm. These rules must be adhered to for .com, .net and .org Domain Name disputes.

Does the reseller/registrar have any involvement in the dispute proceedings?

No, the reseller/registrar does not play a role in the dispute resolution process. It is strictly between a Domain Name holder and another party (the complainant).

If the parties are not satisfied with the dispute resolution provider's decision can that decision be appealed?

No. The verdict reached by the resolution provider is final. However, either party may file a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction against the other party, which automatically stops the implementation of the provider's decision.

Transferring a Domain Name

Can I Transfer my Domain Name to another party?

Yes. Presently only transfers of Domain Names between members are accepted. This means that both the current and new Registrant must be a member.
A Transfer of Domain Name is the only legal way to change the owner of a Domain Name. Changing Administrative, Technical and Billing contact information does not change the ownership of a domain name.To view the policies for the Transfer of Domain Name process see our Web site

Which Registrant initiates the Transfer of Domain Name?

Only the current Registrant or owner can initiate the Transfer of Domain Name to another member.

What are the various types of transfers?

The following transactions are considered transfers and therefore must go through a Transfer of Domain Name:
From a person to a person
From an organization to an organization
From a person to an organization
From an organization to a person

What are some of the reasons why the ownership of a Domain Name would be transferred from one party to another?

There are many reasons why Domain Names are transferred. These could include:
The result of a court order
A contract between two or more parties
A purchase agreement
Dissolution of an entity
Voluntary transfer

How much does it cost to transfer a Domain Name and who is responsible for the fee?

There is no transfer fee. The Transfer of Domain Name is treated as new registration. Firstly the new owner must become a member. They must then register the Domain Name for a minimum term of twelve (12) months and pay the relevant fee at the current rate

Can the Transfer of Domain Name be performed on-line or is paperwork required?

The Transfer of Domain Name process is performed on-line. No manual printing out and signing of forms is required.

How secure is the Transfer of Domain Name Process?

The transfer process is very secure. The following checks have been put in place to ensure that an unauthorized transfer does not occur:
1. The current Registrant must obtain the new Registrant's member ID before proceeding with the transfer;
2. The transfer is also protected by a secure password nominated by the current Registrant that must be confirmed by the new Registrant;
3. Both parties must confirm their intention to proceed with the transfer;
4. The registrar's Administrator can overrule and deny the transfer if there is valid reason.
To view the policies for a Transfer of Domain Name see our Web site

How long will it take for a Transfer of Domain Name to be complete?

The maximum time a Transfer of Domain Name will take is up to ten (10) days.
The registrar's Administrator has up to five (5) days to explicitly approve or deny the transfer.
If approved, the new Registrant has up to five (5) days to either accept of reject the transfer.

Are both parties kept informed of what the current status of the transfer is?

Yes. Regardless of which stage the process is at both parties are provided on-line status reports. These are viewed alongside the Domain Name in the User Summary screen. Both parties will also receive confirmation emails from the registrar's Administrator.

How long does the registrar's Administrator have to reject the Transfer of Domain Name and if soon what grounds?

The registrar's Administrator has only five (5) days to explicitly approve or deny the transfer. To view the Transfer of Domain Name Policy, which includes grounds for rejection see our Web site

If the registrar's Administrator rejects the Transfer of Domain Name will the current Registrant be notified?

Yes. The registrar's Administrator will notify the current Registrant via email if they reject the transfer.

If the new Registrant rejects the Transfer of Domain Name will the current Registrant be notified?

Yes. If the new or incumbent Registrant rejects the pending transfer, the domain transfer request will be aborted. The current Registrant will be kept informed of the status of the transfer request throughout the process.
Transfer from another Registrar

What information do I need in order to initiate a Registrar transfer for my Domain Name registration?

The Registrant will need to become a member before they can login and initiate the transfer process.
Please refer to the procedure for the Transfer from another Registrar.

How long will it take for my Transfer from another Registrar to be approved?

The Transfer from another Registrar process can take up to ten (10) days for the process to be complete.
The Registrant (who initiates the transfer) has up to five (5) days to confirm the request is legitimate; and The relinquishing Registrar has up to five (5) days to explicitly approve or reject the transfer;The transfer approval process is dependant on the approval of the above parties

How secure is the Transfer from another Registrar Registrar Process?

The transfer process is very secure. The following checks have been put in place to ensure that an unauthorized transfer does not occur:
1. The request to transfer must be verified and approved by the registrar's administrator before the transfer process proceeds.
2. A confirmation email will be sent to the owner and administrative contact simultaneously to verify that the request is legitimate.
3. The relinquishing Registrar must have given their approval before the transfer is complete.
To view the policies for a Transfer from another Registrar see our Web site

How long does the losing Registrar have to either accept or reject the Transfer?

The relinquishing Registrar has only five (5) days to explicitly approve or deny the transfer.

Is the Registrant kept informed of what the current status of the transfer is?

Yes. Regardless of what stage the process is at, the Registrant is provided an online status report.This is viewed alongside the Domain Name in the Domain Summary screen. The Registrant will also receive a confirmation email.

What are the restrictions of transferring a domain name?

The domain name must have been registered for more than 60 days.
The expiration date must be more than 10 days away (preferable to be at least one month away).
The current admin contact must confirm the transfer request from the email account listed in the admin contact's Who Is information.
The current registrar must not deny the transfer request

What are the reasons current registrars can deny a registrar transfer request?

Current registrars can deny transfer requests for any number of reasons, including, but not limited to: 60 days have not elapsed since the initial registration of the domain name. Situations described in the Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy. A pending bankruptcy of the current registrant. Dispute over the identity of the current registrant

My domain name is about to expire, can I still transfer it?

That depends on the current registration's expiration date. Close to the expiration date, domain names cannot be transferred between registrars. Specifically, a registrar cannot process transfers within 10 days of a domain's expiration date.

Am I charged for registrant updates, Who Is information updates?

No. You may change any information associated with your domain name record at any time, without cost. You can change your information by logging into your My Account Control Panel.

What does it mean to park a domain name?

Essentially, to park a domain name means to reserve your registered domain and "park" (point) it someplace. A parked domain does not have its own content. Generally a domain that is parked will display an "Under Construction" page.
Clients having one hosted domain may elect to park additional domain names to their web site. Web site owners wishing to protect their Internet identify often register several TLD's of their domain name. (i.e. yourdomain.com, yourdomain.net, yourdomain.biz, etc). Our clients may park any number of domain names to their one hosted account.

What does it mean to forward a domain name?

Forwarding a domain name enables you to direct incoming traffic from your domain to an already existing Web site. Thus, when someone attempts to access your site, he or she is automatically redirected. Typically, this option is selected by users who are registering a new domain, but are already hosting their files elsewhere. When the domain name is forwarded, the destination address, not your domain name, is displayed in the browser's address bar. This can be avoided by choosing to forward with masking

What does it mean to forward with masking?

If you decide to forward with masking, visitors are effectively kept from knowing they have been redirected. Forwarding with masking secures that your domain name remains in a visitor's browser's address bar when the visitor is being redirected. That way, the actual destination address is concealed from the user who only sees the domain name from which he or she is being forwarded. If you are using regular forwarding, the destination address, not your domain name, is displayed when the visitor is redirected.

How do I manage my domain name account?

Log in to the My Account Control Panel. You are presented with a list of options available to you.
Back to the Top

How do I find my domain name's expiration date?

Log in to the My Account Control Panel. Click on "My Domain Names", then "Display". The expiration date of all the listed domains is displayed.
If your domain is registered through a different registrar use our Who is Lookup function to obtain information about your domain.

How do I forward or redirect a domain name to my current Web site?

To forward or redirect visitors from your parked domain to an already existing Web site, select domain name forwarding. If you prefer to conceal the destination for the address from the visitor and only display your domain name, you can choose forwarding with masking.

Will my name and contact information be made publicly available?

Information about who is responsible for domain names is publicly available to allow rapid resolution of technical problems and to permit enforcement of consumer protection, trademark, and other laws. The registrar will make this information available to the public on a "Who is" site. It is, however, possible to register a domain in the name of a third party, as long as the third party agrees to accept responsibility — consult your registrar for further details.

What can I do if I have misspelled my domain name?

Your domain name registration is submitted as soon as you complete the registration process. The registrar is required to pay the registration fee at that time. Therefore, your domain name cannot be changed after you complete the registration.
You will have to register the correct spelling if you want that domain name. We cannot offer any refunds for misspelled domain names.

What if someone has my trademark registered?

If you can prove that the trademark in question is yours, you may be able to bring a dispute against the registrant. For more information on how to bring a dispute against another party, please see the Dispute Resolution Policy.

What is .info?

info is the Internet's first unrestricted top-level domain since .COM, which began use in 1985. Intuitive, easy to use, and universally recognized, .info domain names are your opportunity to reach a worldwide audience with information about you, your ideas, or your organization.

What .info domain names are available for registration?

Domain names or 3 or more characters can be registered in the .info domain.

Who can register a .info domain name?

There are no restrictions on who may register .info names. .info was created for general use around the world. Use your .info name for business, personal use, your organization — whatever you like.

Are there restrictions on how a .info domain name may be used?

No. .info domain names may be used in any manner the registrant wishes. However, please read our Registrant Agreement on the general terms under which you must agree to use a .info domain name.

How do registrations, renewals and transfers of .info domain names work?

Domain names of three characters or longer can be registered at the second level.
A .info domain name can be registered for 2 to 10 year terms.
Renewal
.info domain name registrations may be renewed in one year increments anytime prior to expiration for up to ten (10) years, provided that the expiration date of a domain registration is not more than ten (10) years in the future. A renewal that would set the expiration date further than ten (10) years in the future will lead to the expiration date being set to ten (10) years in the future. Any remaining time will be forfeited.
Transfers See the General Domain Name FAQ for transfer questions.

What are the limitations for domain names?

The .info Registry has adopted the following restrictions:
The maximum length per domain level is 63 characters (not including the TLD)
The minimum length of the second level is three (3) characters
Only characters in the range A to Z, 0 to 9 and hyphen are allowed
Names can not begin or end with a hyphen

What is .biz?

biz is the new generic top-level domain (gTLD) created exclusively for business or commercial purposes.

What .biz domain names are available for registration?

Domain names or 3 or more characters can be registered in the .biz domain.

Who can register a .biz domain name?

For purposes of the .BIZ Registration Restrictions (“Restrictions”), “bona fide business or commercial use” shall mean the bona fide use or bona fide intent to use the domain name or any content, software, materials, graphics or other information thereon, to permit Internet users to access one or more host computers through the DNS:
To exchange goods, services, or property of any kind; In the ordinary course of trade or business; or
To facilitate (i) the exchange of goods, services, information, or property of any kind; or, (ii) the ordinary course of trade or business.
Registering a domain name solely for the purposes of (1) selling, trading or leasing the domain name for compensation, or (2) the unsolicited offering to sell, trade or lease the domain name for compensation shall not constitute a "bona fide business or commercial use" of that domain name.

Are there restrictions on how a .biz domain name may be used?

Registering a domain name solely for the purposes of (1) selling, trading or leasing the domain name for compensation, or (2) the unsolicited offering to sell, trade or lease the domain name for compensation shall not constitute a "bona fide business or commercial use" of that domain name.
For illustration purposes, the following shall not constitute a “bona fide business or commercial use” of a domain name:
Using or intending to use the domain name exclusively for personal, noncommercial purposes; or
Using or intending to use the domain name exclusively for the expression of noncommercial ideas (i.e., registering abcsucks.biz exclusively to criticize or otherwise express an opinion on the products or services of ABC company, with no other intended business or commercial purpose).

How do registrations, renewals and transfers of .biz domain names work?

Domain names of three characters or longer can be registered at the second level.
A .biz domain name can be registered for 2 to 10 year terms.
Renewal
.biz domain name registrations may be renewed in one year increments anytime prior to expiration for up to ten (10) years, provided that the expiration date of a domain registration is not more than ten (10) years in the future. A renewal that would set the expiration date further than ten (10) years in the future will lead to the expiration date being set to ten (10) years in the future. Any remaining time will be forfeited.
Transfers
See the General Domain Name FAQ for transfer questions.