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:: Domain Names ::.

What is a "domain name?

Domain name is computerese for the "www" names you see all over the World Wide Web.  Domain suffixes (.com, org, .net, .gov, etc.) subdivide organizations ( .com = commercial business, .gov=government, etc. ) loosely into categories.  You can find out more about domain names (and especially, whether your name is even available) at the Network Solutions web site. Domain Name Registrars "lease" domain names.  If you give up your name [don't pay the lease] someone else can acquire it.  Before applying for a name that might be used by someone else some day (walmart.com for example ) read the article on intellectual property in the "Related Links" below.

What domain (www) name should I choose?

Your domain name ideally should be the same as your business name.  If your business is entirely online, try to pick a name that is representative of your company's product or service.  For example, Cybermarker, a name I made up, but basically describes web sites (markers or signs in cyberspace).  Ideally, the name would also be easy to remember and spell.

How much does a domain name cost ?

Domain Name Registrars (like Network Solutions, formerly Internic) fees vary from $7.00 per year to $35.00 per year.  Check out the ICANN directory of domain name registrars in our Related Links below for more info.

Why should my business have a domain name?

Mostly because it's more intuitive for a person to remember and type in a name like www.cybermarker.com than some archaic name like http://users.penn.com/~ddave.   Also, this is your online business name, your "street address" in cyberspace, which ideally should be the same as your business name.

Another benefit is "portability."  Most Web Hosts don't charge for transferring your domain name to their server.  If you don't like the service your receiving at your current web host or if you outgrow the host's capability (bandwidth or technically) to do what you want with your web site, you can move your domain name elsewhere.

How do I obtain my domain name ?

Domain names can be obtained [registration fees vary] from any one of ICANN's accredited Domain Name Registrars.  The catch is, that you typically need to provide the web server IP addresses that a Registrar will need at the time of registration.  It is for this reason that Cybermarker recommends choosing a Web Host first and letting them handle the registration process.

As of December 1999, you can register "longer" domain names. Previously, the limitation was 23 characters.  Now you can register names up to 67 characters in length.

ICANN, THE ORGANIZATION THAT CONTROLS THE DOMAIN NAME SYSTEM (and much more) of the Internet has approved seven long-awaited top-level domains (TLDs).  The argument for adding these new domains is that many choice names under .com and other domains have already been purchased. Therefore, new domains are needed to give everyone a fair chance to get the name they want.

In addition to .com, .net, .edu, .mil, .gov and .org. there are seven more dots:

.biz - for businesses and corporations
.info - for information based services (libraries, newspapers)
.name - for personal (individual's) web sites
.pro - for professionals (law, medicine, accounting, etc.)
.aero - for services & companies dealing with air travel
.museum - for museums, archival institutions, exibitions
.coop - for cooperative businesses such as credit unions

Related Links