Domain names - buying

[AJI]

If I were to create a domain name, do I have to buy the right to use it? Even if it currently does not exist?

I have looked on the internet about it and can only find pages relating to domain names that have already been set up and seller websites are charging anything from pence per month up to big dollar per month.
But if I wish to have a domain name with a .com suffix then is it just a case of registering it and on we go?
(is there a cost for registering a new domain name?)

Cheers for any help.

[illmonkey]

You buy the rights to the name for as little as £2/year. Usually its for 2 years.

The domain then needs pointing to a host, who looks after all of the files. Hosts start from (free, but really) £1/month.

Some companys will sell you hosting and offer a free domain, or a "deal".

123-reg.co.uk is a good place to just register a domain for very little, if its something you want to reserve for a few years time.

If you plan on using it straight away, try to get a domain and hosting together, they'll point the domain to the right place, then you can get developing the site and just upload it. 1and1.co.uk offer fairly good deals.

Any more help required, feel free to ask.

Edited by illmonkey on Friday 4th September 15:19

[AJI]

Thanks for the reply.

Just want to ask about this line:

illmonkey said:

You buy the rights to the name for as little as £2/year. Usually its for 2 years.

So a company somewhere already owns all possible domain names? And I have to rent the rights to that name from them?


I will check out the websites you mention.
Cheers.

[eps]

Register1, the domain name registrant of choice on PH. Excellent value, first class service. There's a PHer on here as well, who is connected with them.. Jamie Beeston. Do a search (if it works

[eps]

AJI said:

Thanks for the reply.

Just want to ask about this line:

illmonkey said:

You buy the rights to the name for as little as £2/year. Usually its for 2 years.

So a company somewhere already owns all possible domain names? And I have to rent the rights to that name from them?


I will check out the websites you mention.
Cheers.

No, it costs a few pounds to register the URL with a company such as register1, 123-reg etc... .co.uk are typically cheaper than .com names. They have to be centrally registered, so there is admin, etc.. to handle setting up names that don't yet exist.

[illmonkey]

AJI said:

Thanks for the reply.

Just want to ask about this line:

illmonkey said:

You buy the rights to the name for as little as £2/year. Usually its for 2 years.

So a company somewhere already owns all possible domain names? And I have to rent the rights to that name from them?


I will check out the websites you mention.
Cheers.

No, sorry, I didn't explain the correctly.

Domains are not owned by anyone currently (in a way). So you buy one, its assigned to you for the time you pay for. After that, anyone can buy it. So if you forget to pay, it'll go back into "available" mode. You'll have no rights over anyone else, unless you reserve it again before it expires.

People make a living from buying (just) expired domains they selling them back to you, or the highest bidder. So don't miss the renewal!

[mcflurry]

eps said:

Register1, the domain name registrant of choice on PH. Excellent value, first class service. There's a PHer on here as well, who is connected with them.. Jamie Beeston. Do a search (if it works

x2 and all that jazz

[marshalla]

illmonkey said:

AJI said:

Thanks for the reply.

Just want to ask about this line:

illmonkey said:

You buy the rights to the name for as little as £2/year. Usually its for 2 years.

So a company somewhere already owns all possible domain names? And I have to rent the rights to that name from them?


I will check out the websites you mention.
Cheers.

No, sorry, I didn't explain the correctly.

Domains are not owned by anyone currently (in a way). So you buy one, its assigned to you for the time you pay for. After that, anyone can buy it. So if you forget to pay, it'll go back into "available" mode. You'll have no rights over anyone else, unless you reserve it again before it expires.

What you actually pay for is the right to have the name associated with IP addresses in DNS through an entry in the "WHOIS" databases. DNS isn't free - the registration fees pay for some of the maintenance of the servers and other infrastructure (at least in theory).

Nothing to stop you setting up your own DNS and putting any domain you like into it - it's just that no-one without access to your server will be able to resolve your FQDNs unless you pay for access to the "real" Internet DNS.

[Quick silver]

marshalla said:

illmonkey said:

AJI said:

Thanks for the reply.

Just want to ask about this line:

illmonkey said:

You buy the rights to the name for as little as £2/year. Usually its for 2 years.

So a company somewhere already owns all possible domain names? And I have to rent the rights to that name from them?


I will check out the websites you mention.
Cheers.

No, sorry, I didn't explain the correctly.

Domains are not owned by anyone currently (in a way). So you buy one, its assigned to you for the time you pay for. After that, anyone can buy it. So if you forget to pay, it'll go back into "available" mode. You'll have no rights over anyone else, unless you reserve it again before it expires.

What you actually pay for is the right to have the name associated with IP addresses in DNS through an entry in the "WHOIS" databases. DNS isn't free - the registration fees pay for some of the maintenance of the servers and other infrastructure (at least in theory).

Nothing to stop you setting up your own DNS and putting any domain you like into it - it's just that no-one without access to your server will be able to resolve your FQDNs unless you pay for access to the "real" Internet DNS.

Surely there must be a way for individuals to register a domain name on the WHOIS database with out having to go through a registration company?........how difficult can it be?

[tribbles]

Quick silver said:

Surely there must be a way for individuals to register a domain name on the WHOIS database with out having to go through a registration company?........how difficult can it be?

Well, you could set yourself up as a registrar - but that'll be even more paperwork

[Meeja]

Quick silver said:

marshalla said:

illmonkey said:

AJI said:

Thanks for the reply.

Just want to ask about this line:

illmonkey said:

You buy the rights to the name for as little as £2/year. Usually its for 2 years.

So a company somewhere already owns all possible domain names? And I have to rent the rights to that name from them?


I will check out the websites you mention.
Cheers.

No, sorry, I didn't explain the correctly.

Domains are not owned by anyone currently (in a way). So you buy one, its assigned to you for the time you pay for. After that, anyone can buy it. So if you forget to pay, it'll go back into "available" mode. You'll have no rights over anyone else, unless you reserve it again before it expires.

What you actually pay for is the right to have the name associated with IP addresses in DNS through an entry in the "WHOIS" databases. DNS isn't free - the registration fees pay for some of the maintenance of the servers and other infrastructure (at least in theory).

Nothing to stop you setting up your own DNS and putting any domain you like into it - it's just that no-one without access to your server will be able to resolve your FQDNs unless you pay for access to the "real" Internet DNS.

Surely there must be a way for individuals to register a domain name on the WHOIS database with out having to go through a registration company?........how difficult can it be?

But for literally the cost of a pint to have someone else do all of the work, would it be worth it?

[philthy]

illmonkey said:

If you plan on using it straight away, try to get a domain and hosting together, they'll point the domain to the right place, then you can get developing the site and just upload it. 1and1.co.uk offer fairly good deals.

....and very st service !
I made the mistake of using them, and wouldn't go back if they paid me to use one of their servers.
I moved to register1, and the difference is black and white.

[Quick silver]

Meeja said:

Quick silver said:

Surely there must be a way for individuals to register a domain name on the WHOIS database with out having to go through a registration company?........how difficult can it be?

But for literally the cost of a pint to have someone else do all of the work, would it be worth it?

I have 40 or so domains, some are .com & I can assure you that collectively they amount to more than 'the cost of a pint'.........how many people on here service their own vehicles I wonder?

[Kinky]

Lets face it, if you're going to register a domain name; then the only sensible choice is Register1 - the PHers domain registrant of choice

And their service is by far the best I've ever experienced

[Quick silver]

Kinky said:

Lets face it, if you're going to register a domain name; then the only sensible choice is Register1 - the PHers domain registrant of choice

And their service is by far the best I've ever experienced

How much to park .co.uk & .com?

[Meeja]

Quick silver said:

Kinky said:

Lets face it, if you're going to register a domain name; then the only sensible choice is Register1 - the PHers domain registrant of choice

And their service is by far the best I've ever experienced

How much to park .co.uk & .com?

Jamie!!!!

[Kinky]

Quick silver said:

Kinky said:

Lets face it, if you're going to register a domain name; then the only sensible choice is Register1 - the PHers domain registrant of choice

And their service is by far the best I've ever experienced

How much to park .co.uk & .com?

Why not check out their website? The clue is in the name.

[tinman0]

Quick silver said:

Meeja said:

Quick silver said:

Surely there must be a way for individuals to register a domain name on the WHOIS database with out having to go through a registration company?........how difficult can it be?

But for literally the cost of a pint to have someone else do all of the work, would it be worth it?

I have 40 or so domains, some are .com & I can assure you that collectively they amount to more than 'the cost of a pint'.........how many people on here service their own vehicles I wonder?

You can register with Nominet for the .uk stuff, then you pay £5 per 2 years for the .uk domains. Not sure what their membership fee is now - used to be £400, with £100 per year subscription membership.

The .coms would be require an Icann membership and application, which I think now involves putting up a $2m bond or something stupid. Plus you need to employ a minimum of 5 full time people, and you would still pay Icann $5-8 per domain per year, on top of a properly hosted technical solution. You are talking the best part of $3-4m in set up.

Personally, I'd stick with a registration company.

[JamieBeeston]

Meeja said:

Quick silver said:

Kinky said:

Lets face it, if you're going to register a domain name; then the only sensible choice is Register1 - the PHers domain registrant of choice

And their service is by far the best I've ever experienced

How much to park .co.uk & .com?

Jamie!!!!

£5.48 +vat including a renewal of all .com .net .org .uk

Prices on the site

[Quick silver]

JamieBeeston said:

Meeja said:

Quick silver said:

Kinky said:

Lets face it, if you're going to register a domain name; then the only sensible choice is Register1 - the PHers domain registrant of choice

And their service is by far the best I've ever experienced

How much to park .co.uk & .com?

Jamie!!!!

£5.48 +vat including a renewal of all .com .net .org .uk

Prices on the site

That's a tad confusing, I looked at domain parking & it gives the impression that it's completely free:

Domain Parking:
If you do not require a web hosting package at the moment you can benefit from Register1's FREE Domain Parking Services. You can add email forwarding and Banner-free web forwarding for NOTHING!

Edited by Quick silver on Saturday 5th September 23:54