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Some straight talk about domain names

Blue Bullet What are domain names?

Computers (servers) on the Internet are identified by their Internet Protocol (IP) address. IP addresses have a numeric form (e.g. 209.134.128.29) and are often associated with a domain name address (e.g. www.yourdomain.com, cnn.com, umn.edu, ftp.netscape.com).The last part of the domain name is called the top level domain. Aside from two letter country code top level domains, there are only seven top level domains:
  • COM - commercial entities
  • EDU - four year colleges and universities
  • NET - organizations directly involved in Internet operations, such as network providers and network information centers
  • ORG - miscellaneous organizations that don't fit any other category, such as non-profit groups
  • GOV - United States Federal Government entities
  • INT - organizations established by international treaties or international database sites (Rarely used)
  • MIL - United States military
COUNTRY CODES - a two letter abbreviation for a particular country. Examples: "UK" for United Kingdom, "FR" for France, "US" for the United States.

The .US domain, for local, regional, or state agencies, is administered by The US Domain Registry at the Information Sciences Institute of the University of Southern California (USC-ISI) in Marina del Rey, California, under the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). They have an excellent WWW resource at the URL: http://www.isi.edu:80/in-notes/usdnr/

The name before the period (a period is called a dot in Internet-speak) and the 3-character top level domain together must be no more than 26 characters long. That is, the second-level domain can be up to 22 characters in length. The only valid characters for a domain name are letters, numbers and a hyphen "-". Other special characters like the ampersand "&" or an exclamation mark "!" are NOT permitted.

Blue Bullet What is my domain name?

For many internet users, your address automatically is a subset of your access provider's address, e.g.,: www.accessprovider.net/~company-xyz. Many companies would prefer their address reflect their own name. This is now possible with a "virtual domain name", a service available with most access providers. Thus, even though your true address is www.accessprovider.net/~company-xyz it appears to someone on the Internet that the address of your web site is www.company-xyz.com!

Blue Bullet O.K. Fine. Why would I want a domain name for my company or organization?

  • Common Answer: Many organizations find it useful to have an e-mail address or URL that is similar to their company name. In some ways, a domain name is similar to a customized license plate. A domain name allows you to receive e-mail at a customized e-mail address. If your organization's name is Example, Inc., you could register the domain name EXAMPLE.COM and your e-mail address could be user_name@example.com. Your customers would also be able to access your organization's WWW site by visiting "www.example.com" with their Web browser. These are just a few of the most common uses for a domain name.
  • Our Best Answer: This is a very inexpensive way to market the name of a firm, organization or product. No other vehicle, can reach a global audience with the modest costs associated with a domain name registration and implementations of domain use listed above.
  • VERY Important to know: A domain name that suits the identity of an organization can be as useful as a state or federal trademark. In today's information economy, some organizations obtain trademarks, service marks, or create brand names only after obtaining a domain name. Some companies create their dba around a domain name. This allows a company name or identity to be the access method!

Blue Bullet How do I obtain a domain name?

Unless you have 2 domain name servers attached to the internet, you obtain a domain with the help of an Internet service provider. Domain names are purchased from the Network Solutions. The cost is $35/year with the first two years fees due upon issue. Once issued, the domain name is yours as long as the annual fee is paid. However, the Network Solutions will honor claims by persons or organizations holding valid federal trademarks on a name. Obtaining a domain name from the Network Solutions is straightforward although a little confusing the first time. If you have an Network Solutions "handle" the process is greatly facilitated. The Network Solutions requires an administrative, technical, and billing point of contact; the company name and contact information; and information on the primary and secondary servers of the access provider. After registering, you receive an e-mail of your registration which must be forwarded to the Network Solutions's Hostmaster. Once the domain name is registered, the Network Solutions requests you put it into use within 90 days.

Blue Bullet How do I get help registering?

Infinity AccessNET can register a domain name for potential clients. Registering with Infinity AccessNET does not obligate a company to develop their web site with us or have their email served by us. The contacts can be amended with the Network Solutions and the server IPs can also be modified. Likewise, anyone who has already registered their domain name using the services of another web site developer or access provider can switch. Infinity AccessNET will make such modifications at no charge. If you want Infinity AccessNET to register or re-register a domain name, contact our operations staff

Blue Bullet I am not really ready to have email or a web site. Why should I get a domain name now?

Easy. So you can have the domain name that you want when you are ready. There are over 1.6 million domain names already taken. They are going at the rate of 100,000 to 120,000 per month! These domain names are, in almost all cases, on a first-come first-served basis. We have seen the heartbreak of a domain being taken by someone else just days before it was requested. If you think you have decided on a suitable domain name or are curious if a given name is taken, call us NOW.

Blue Bullet Hey! Someone else has the domain name I really wanted. What do I do now?

Well, the first thing you should do is call us. We can help you with other choices, and help you understand your options. It IS possible, but rather unusual to find the domain you really wanted can be obtained for some consideration from the current owner. Please do not hesitate to ask us to share our experience before negotiating with the current owner over domain name(s).

Contact us for pricing, consultation, and sound advice on today's domain name challenges.

Last Updated: Wednesday, 19-Nov-2003 11:09:19 CST

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