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What is a Domain Name? A Domain Name is a string of letters
and/or numbers before and after a "." ( sounded a "dot") representing an
alphanumeric representation of an address on the internet. Also know as
".com", or URL (Uniform Resource Locator); these easy to remember addresses
channel webpage requests and email to numbered around the world. (like
41.452.43.111). The names are easier to remember than the numbers.
What is a registry? A Registry is the one and only company
that keeps a list of which domain names are tied to which nameservers. The
registry collects fees from registrars, who collect fees from registrants. At
one time Network Solutions was the registry for .com, the company is now called
Verisign Global Registry Services.
What is a registrar? A registrar is the company that
interfaces with customers, called registrants who own the domain names. The
owner of a domain name has an account at a registrar. Any lookup in a whois
database will show the account information of the account owner as the owner of
the domain name. In additional, the owner can setup administrative, technical
and billing contacts for each domain name. At one time Network Solutions was
the only registrar, and the registry operator. This monopoly ended in 2000
when competition was brought ot the registrar level. Prices have dropped from
$35 to $6-15. Network Solutions is now a separate company from the registry and
competes with other registrars with no advantage per se.
How are websites built on domain names? At each registrar,
the account owner chooses "nameservers" for each domain. The nameservers (DNS)
control where each and every lookup of any address on that domain is sent to
either retrieve a webpage or receive an email. This is also tied into hosting.
What is hosting? Originally many internet websites were on
computers directly connected to the internet. In many cases the owners of a
website didn't have or want to operate their own servers. They contracted with
registrars and other hosting company's to "host" their pages. By setting the
nameservers for a domain to the servers recommended by the hosting company, all
traffic to each domain name is sent to the hosting company to receive first the
home page and then any other selected pages.
Which registrar should I use? There are over 400 registrars,
we use the top 10 who provide the best security and pricing.
Can I move my name between registrars? Yes. A transfer
process exists where the registry is notified that the domain name is being
moved form one registrar to another. This is accomplished by paying the
gaining or new registrar an annual fee which extends the length of the current
registration by one year. The contact and owner of the domain name are sent an
email asking them to confirm the intent to transfer and asking for a specific
code called an EPP code. Only the owner of a domain name can access the EPP
code. The old registrar then moves the record of the name to the new
registrar.
What is a push? To change the owner of a domain name it can be moved between
accounts at the same registrar for no fee and without any delay or code
request. The registry still maintains which registrar is responsible for the
name, and the registrar then switches the name between accounts. This is the
fastest way to acquire a name.
What if my name is stolen? A Process exists called a UDRP where an
arbitrator can force a registrar to move the name back to a rightful owner.
this process is also used when a trademark owner think they have a case to
retrieve an inappropriate registration.
How do I buy a domain name? Our company owns a premier
portfolio of domain names we would like to develop. In many cases before we
develop these names we receive and sometimes accept offer to buy these names.
We collect payment via company check, credit card or Paypal. We also use escrow
services like Escrow.com and pay part of the fee if the transaction is over
$2500. On transfers over $10,000 we prefer to do a separate legal agreement and
we split attorney fees. Upon receipt of payment, we create an account at the
registrar where name currently resides and move the name into an account for
the new owner. We send the new owner a password for the account which the new
owner is then encouraged to change to one only he/she knows. The new owner
then receives the renewal notices, sets up the maneuverers or can move to any
other registrar. |
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