General
What is a domain
name?
All computers on the
internet have a unique identity number. These numbers are usually long and
hard to remember. The internet allows a user-friendly name to be created
and used instead of the number. This name is called a domain
name.
Why do I need a
domain name?
There are many good
reasons for registering a domain name. If you have a business your
customers will look for you using your trading name. Register your domain
name you make it easy for your customers to find you and buy your products
and services. Certain search engine computers also give a higher ranking
to keywords embedded in domain names. Once registered a name cannot be
duplicated. It is yours forever, providing you continue to pay the local
fees in the country concerned.
OK, I've
bought my name, what can I do with it?
Project a professional image of your company with new e-mail
addresses using your domain name! All you need is an existing e-mail
account, for example fred@virgin.net. Just tell us what this is
and we'll re-direct all e-mail sent to your domain name to this address.
For example you could choose
TheBoss@yourcompany.co.uk, or
sales@yourcompany.co.uk as your new e-mail addresses. This looks
great on letterheads and adverts.
Can I transfer
the name to my own ISP?
Yes, free of charge, but they may charge you to map it to their
server, particularly if it is to point to any free space you received with
your internet account. Remember they may also charge you ongoing fees for
maintaining the name.
Which name should I
go for, .COM or .CO.UK?
Generally speaking companies with offices and trade relationships
worldwide generally prefer the .com domain name. It projects a global
image, carries more "kudos", but remains relatively anonymous in that it
doesn't immediately reveal your whereabouts. The majority of .com domain
names are registered to US companies. If you have a .COM then, people
might assume you are based in the US.
All domain names are visible on the internet anywhere in the world.
In other words if you register .co.uk it still allows you to trade around
the world, the same as if you'd registered .com. The Netscape web browser
is also set up so that if someone forgets to add the domain extension, the
browser assumes it to be ".com" and looks for .com by default.
What happens if my .co.uk domain is DETAGGED?
You need
to go to the UK Registering Authority site,
www.nominet.org.uk and complete
the 'change to another ISP' form. The fee is £15+vat. If you would like to
use our services, insert our ISP Tag, VIRTUALISP in the change form. We
can then take over the domain, renew the registration and set up hosting
if required.
Registration Requirements
Do I need an internet
connection to have a domain name?
No. All you need is a name that is not already issued. Once
registered we keep it safe for you on our name servers forever more. When
you want to start using the name however, you may wish to get an internet
connection in order to exchange e-mail with your customers, or to
associate the name with your company's web site.
Do I need Web Space
to have a domain name?
No. All you need is a name that is not already issued. Once
registered we keep it safe for you on our name servers forever more. When
you want to start using the name however, you may wish to get an internet
connection in order to exchange e-mail with your customers, or to
associate the name with your company's web site.
Legal
Someone else has my
name, what can I do?
There are other names you can choose from. If your choice in co.uk
has gone and you are a limited company you might try .ltd.uk. Note however
the domain name has to exactly match your company name at Company's House.
You could also try uk.com. This is an alternative domain available from
Nomination. Availability in these name spaces can be checked on our name
site.
If
you were looking for a .com, you might possibly consider .net, or .org.
The naming authorities in most countries have dispute procedures to
deal with these situations.
With .COMs if you are a large company and your "famous trademark"
has been registered by someone else, you may qualify for arbitration under
the new ACP (Administrative Challenge Panels) run by the WIPO (World
Intellectual Property Organization). If you are not a large company you
still stand a good chance of getting your name back if it is a registered
Trade Mark.
With .co.uk's, Nominet has its own dispute procedures.
What is a
"Cyber-Squatter"
A
cyber squatter is a person or organisation who purchases domain names in
the hope of selling them on for more money. People have reportedly made,
or stand to make fortunes having purchased famous names like win95.com or
21stcenturyfox.com. Deliberately purchasing names protected by trademark
is unwise for legal reasons, but some great bargains can be had by buying
names like www.window.co.uk which has an immediate commercial
interest to double glazing companies for example.
|
