All About Domains --
Registration, Management, Pricing, Legal Information, etc.
What follows is not a "technical" discussion, but is intended as a laymen's
guide to understanding about Internet domain names and how to register them.
Please note: This information is presented as a
collapsible outline for easy skimming. Click on any topic to see the related
information.
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All About Domains:
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What is a Domain?
- One dictionary definition of the word "domain" is as follows: "A
territory over which rule or control is exercised." How does this
apply to you and the Internet?
Having ownership of a domain is akin to having control over an address on
the Internet. Having an address does not mean you have a house (web site)
built, or that you can even receive mail at your address, but it begins
those possibilities by giving you a piece of property where you can setup
a house (web site) and a mailbox.
When you want to go to an address where a house (a web site) has been
built, you use a browser (like a vehicle) with access to the Internet (the
road ways) to go see it. That address typically looks something like this:
http://www.netEffx.com and is typed into your browser's address
bar.
You obtain a domain by asking to register a "domain name" with a Registrar
like netEffx, Inc. A "domain name" is a way of referring to a
domain's address in simple terms. For example, instead of saying
37845 Gateway Road, Small Town, State, USA 33333. You say, the Smith
House. The first part of the address: http://www
is not something you request, it is a standard prefix that tells the
browser what kind of transportation to use to get to an address. The last
part of the address, like YourName.com, is what you ask a registrar
to register for you.
More technically, "A domain name is the essence of your company's online
identity. It is the address your customers use to find information about
your products and services on the web. Domain names allow Internet users
to type in a name, such as netEffx.com, to identify a numeric
Internet Protocol (IP) address such as 207.15.12.173. The purpose of
domain names is to allow users connected to the Internet the ability to
find web sites without having to memorize the long, numerical (IP)
addresses that actually locate the computers or servers on the Internet" -
Abstract from ItsYourDomain.com
The suffix of every domain, like .com, indicates what group it belongs to.
There are a limited number of such groups. These groups are established by
Internet authorities. You must choose a suffix that applies to your use of
the domain. The suffixes you will be allowed to choose from include:
.com - Appropriate for Commercial Businesses
.biz - Alternately appropriate for any business
.us - Appropriate for any United States organization
.info - Appropriate for a domain that is used to relate
information.
.org - Appropriate for any non-profit organization
.net - Appropriate for those providing some kind of Internet or
networking service
and a
multitude foreign
nation/language suffixes. See below, "Establishing an International
Identitiy."
See "How Do
I Choose a Domain Name?" below.
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What does it mean to "register" a domain name?
- There is a central registry of all domain names on the Internet. This
registry tells browsers where to find information associated with your
domain, e.g. your web site. For your domain name to become a part of the
registry, it must be added to that registry. "Registering" a domain name
means you are associated with that domain name for the period of the
registration, and tells the central registry where to direct browsers
looking for your domain. "Registering" a domain name also means you own
it. No one else can register the same name.
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How Do I Register a Domain Name? Quick Help.
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The only way to register and start using a
domain name is to use the services of a domain name registrar like
netEffx, Inc. By using the below you will be walked through a series of
short questions to register your domain. Registering a domain
typically takes less than two minutes. Domains are registered by
year-long terms. There is a discount for registering domains for more than
a year at a time. (See "Pricing"
below.) When you go through the registration process you will
be asked to provide some contact and technical information. This
information is stored in an Internet registry, which other computers can
access to find your domain. The information required is not extensive and
a reasonable amount of privacy may be maintained if the application is
filled out with care. Please be careful to be honest when filling out this
application. Your ability to retain ownership of the domain, or actually
build a web site at that address may be compromised if a Registrar finds
false information on the registration application.
- Quick Help
Step 1-
Enter a Domain Name in the box below
Use only letters, numbers, or dashes ("-"). Domain names cannot begin or
end with a dash. Names cannot be more than 67 characters including the
extension. For example, ".com"- counts as 4 characters.
Step 2- Choose an Extension
Pick your extension, ".com", ".net", or ".org". To protect your online
identity, you may want to secure all available extensions.
Step 3- Click GO!
Click the "GO!" button to begin your search. You may search as often as
you like at NO CHARGE. If your domain is available, you may register it
using our secure online registration form.
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There are many laws that regulate the
registration of domain names, such as registering a copyrighted name or
registering a domain name for the sole purpose of blocking someone else
from using it. Check with a competent new media attorney if you have any
concerns about using a specific domain name.
See also:
"How Do I Choose a Domain Name?" below.
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Why Should I Get a Domain?
- One dictionary definition of the word "domain" is as follows: "A
territory over which rule or control is exercised." How does this
apply to you and the Internet?
Having ownership of a domain is akin to having control over an address on
the Internet. Having an address does not mean you have a house (web site)
up, or that you can even receive mail at your address, but it begins those
possibilities by giving you a piece of property where you can setup a
mailbox and a house (web site). A "domain name" is a way of referring to a
domain's address, which is actually a long series of numbers, in simple
natural language terms like netEffx.com.
In more practical terms, having a domain name together with a
web site
host allows you to create a
web site
for public or private access through the Internet. For businesses and
organizations this has become a defacto communications tool and separates
those committed to serving the public from those organizations too small
or incapable to provide such access. Moreover, skillfully marketed, a web site may add a new source of income
to an organization. Web sites may also provide private communications
between an organization and its clients or between two or more
organizations referred to as business-to-business (B2B). In short, anyone
thinking about establishing a presence on the Internet should register a
domain name. You don't have to utilize it right away. You can reserve it
for your future use. Domains are being registered at the rate of more than
900,000 per month! Reserving a domain gives you a vehicle for
disseminating information through the largest broadcast medium of our
time.
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How Do I Choose a Domain
Name?
- A domain name may use only letters, numbers, or dashes ("-"). Domain
names cannot begin or end with a dash. Names cannot be more than 67
characters including the extension or suffix. For example, ".com", the
extension, counts as 4 characters.
Generally a domain name will reflect the purpose of the web site that will
be built. For instance, an organization name, the name of a hobby, or the
name of a cause. Please remember that the first part of the address:
http://www is not something you request; it is a standard prefix that
tells the browser what kind of transportation to use to get to an address.
The last part of the address, like YourName.com, is what you ask a
registrar to register for you.
The suffix of every domain, like .com, indicates what group it belongs to.
There are a limited number of such groups. These groups are established by
Internet authorities. You must choose a suffix that applies to your use of
the domain. The suffixes you will be allowed to choose from include:
.com - Appropriate for Commercial Businesses
.biz - Alternately appropriate for any business
.us - Appropriate for any United States organization
.info - Appropriate for a domain that is used to relate
information.
.org - Appropriate for any non-profit organization
.net - Appropriate for those providing some kind of Internet or
networking service
and a
multitude foreign
nation/language suffixes. See below, "Establishing an International
Identitiy."
Because many domain names are already in use it may be a challenge to find
something appropriate for your purpose. The following netEffx, Inc. tools
can assist you in searching for an available domain name.
The Word WizardTM will combine your word with the
most popular categories on the web. Choose your word; decide if you want
your word to be before or after the category. Presto! You have valuable
domains in a fraction of the time.
Need help finding a great domain name? netEffx,
Inc.'s DomainTwistTM combines your words with the most popular words used
on the Internet. Then, the twist shakes them up to help you find available
domains.
With the netEffx, Inc. WhoIs tool you can check
whether a domain name is currently registered and if it is registered who
the owner is.
See also "Establishing an International Identity Online / Multilingual
Registrations" below.
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Why Should I Register My Domain With netEffx, Inc.?
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Affordability - Wholesale
Pricing
netEffx has spent the last 5 years working to
make quality web services within the financial means of everyone. To that
end, you will see that our registration prices are
very affordable.
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Reliable Service Guarantee
netEffx, Inc. is dedicated to supporting the
success of organizations through unsurpassed technology consulting,
service and supply. Our Registration, Hosting, Web Development and
eMarketing services are superb earning us the praise of many high profile
clients.
We are hear to help you.
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Tools to Make Your Work
More Profitable
When you register a domain name with netEffx,
Inc. you are given access to a password protected Domain Management
Control Panel. This control panel provides many features to organize,
manage, simplify and enhance your online work.
See "Domain Management Control Panel" below for details.
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Easily Transfer Existing Domains and Save!
Its easy to
transfer your existing domains to netEffx and you'll save big when
renewing your domain in the future. You'll also be given access to to a
password protected Domain Management Control Panel. This control panel
provides many features to organize, manage, simplify and enhance your
online work. See "Domain
Management Control Panel" below for details. See also,
"How Can I Transfer My Existing Domain...?"
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How Can I
Transfer My Existing Domains to netEffx, Inc.?
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Transferring a domain name to netEffx is a similar to registering a
new domain. By clicking
here you will be taken through a series of short questions to transfer
your domain. The transfer fee is only $13.00 which includes one whole year
of service! This is a special price so you may get to try our great
services.
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Establishing an
International Identity Online / Multilingual Registrations
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I've got my domain name, now what?
- There are many uses for your new domain name. Some people want to have
a personal or business website; others want to establish an email address;
and still others want to hold onto their domain for future use.
If you would like to have a Website, please contact us. We provide
everything from simple hosting services to sophisticated eCommerce
development.
If you would like to establish an email account based upon your domain
name like, yourName@yourDomain.com please contact us.
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Domain Management:
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Domain Management Control Panel (Requires Customer Account.)
The Domain Manager is an exclusive tool for the use
of members only. To become a member you must register at least one domain
name with netEffx, Inc. The Domain Manager allows you to easily manage all
of your domains in one place and provides additional features for handling
your domain/web presence. The following are some of the features found in
the Domain Manager. (See also "Registrar Tools" below.)
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URL Forwarding
This service allows you to have a new domain name point to an already
existing domain. This may be useful if marketing a site under several
different names is desired. This service may be added from your Domain
Manager after your domain has been setup in our system either by
registration or transfer.
All-At-Once Multiple Registration Cart
The Multiple Registration cart is an exclusive tool for the use of members
only. To become a member you must register at least one domain name with
netEffx, Inc. Existing customers click here to login to the multiple
registration cart...
You can search and register a maximum of 60 domains at one time. At the
bottom of the search box you will see the total domains remaining. Note:
Each domain will default to one year of registration.
Note: This system may become slow to respond between 12pm and 2pm CST,
please avoid this time period if you have trouble.
Email Forwarding
This service allows you to forward email from any
domain you register with us to another email account. Useful for having all
your email sent to one place, but retaining the appearance of having email
specific to your domain. This service may be added from your Domain Manager
after your domain has been added.
Domain Registrant Lock
This service provides protection against an
unauthorized transfer of your domain. This service may be added from your
Domain Manager after your domain has been registered.
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Registrar Tools:
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Pricing:
- Some registrars will offer discounts if you register for more than one
year, but no registrar has the authority to sell more than a 10-year
registration contract for any domain name.
The following prices include all fees associated with registering your
domain name including Internic fees and parking fees for the period indicated.
Our commitment to low prices reflects our commitment to making web services
affordable and is a reflection of the efficiency of our leading-edge automated
technology. We pride ourselves on providing competitive prices as well as
superior customer service.
netEffx, Inc. accepts all major credit cards as payment including: Visa,
MasterCard, American Express and Discover. If you don't have a credit card,
you can contact us
to arrange to prepay for your domains via cashiers check or money order.
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Registration Period: |
Price: |
|
1 Year |
$26.00 |
|
2 Years |
$46.00 |
|
1 Year Renewal |
$21.00 |
|
Transfer Price |
$13.00 |
|
URL Forwarding |
$7.00 |
|
Email Forwarding |
$12.00 |
|
Enable Lock |
$2.00 |
|
