What is a domain name?
A domain name is a unique alpha-numeric name used to identify a particular computer (i.e. web server or mail server) on the Internet.
Domain names allow Internet users to type in a name, such as rentaldomains.com, to identify a numeric address such as 207.228.225.56. The purpose of domain names is to allow ordinary users connected to the Internet to find web sites and send email to addresses with familiar names such as "rentaldomains.com" or "domaindeals.net" without having to memorize the numerical addresses that actually locate the computers or servers on the Internet.
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What is a Top Level Domain (TLD)?
A top level domain (TLD) is the suffix that is attached to the end of a domain name. For instance, in the domain name .net, ".net" is the TLD.
There are two types of top-level domains: global and country code. Global Top Level Domains (gTLD) were created to be used by the Internet public, while country code Top Level Domains (ccTLD) were created to be used by each individual country, as they deem necessary.
The global Top Level Domains are as follows:
.com
.net
.org
.name
.biz
.info
.ws
.gov
DomainDeal offers the .com, .net, .org, .biz, .name, .info, .ws and .gov global Top Level Domains in addition to various ccTLDs for registration.
Some examples of country code Top Level Domains available through SuperbRegistrar are as follows:
.us (United Stats)
.ca (Canada)
.bz (Belize)
.cc (Cocos Islands)
.cn,.com.cn,net.cn,org.cn (China)
.co.uk,.org.uk (United Kingdom)
.nu (Niue)
.tm (TradeMark)
.tv (Tuvalu)
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What top level domains (TLDs) do you offer for registration?
SuperbRegistrar is a premier gold partner of an ICANN accredited registrar for the .com, .net, .org, .biz, .name, .info, .ws and .gov domains.
DomainDeal also offers many ccTLDs for registration.
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How much does registering a domain name cost?
Review pricing information. Starts at $9.95
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How do I register a domain name?
The registration process is an easy six-step process that is completed online.
Note: A valid credit card is required to register your domain name
Step 1. Check for domain name availability. During this step, you will perform a WHOIS query to determine if the domain name you wish to register is available.
Step 2. Select the length of term you wish to register the domain name for.
Step 3. Log in. During this step you will create a user name and password 'profile' which is used to identify your account in DomainDeal's domain registration systems. If you are an existing user, you should enter the user name and password you have created to identify your account.
Step 4. Fill in contact information. You must provide us with administrative and organizational information to associate with your domain name registration.
Step 5. Review the information for accuracy. Before you submit your registration for processing, you have the opportunity to review the information you are submitting.
Step 6. Enter payment information and submit your request. During this step you must enter your credit card billing information and submit the registration for processing. Additionally, if you are registering a .com, .net or .org domain name, you must choose the term of registration. If your credit card is accepted, you will receive a confirmation screen.
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What do I need in order to register a domain name?
To register a domain name, you only need to specify the contact information and credit card billing information associated with your domain name. You do not need to specify a NIC handle, DNS server information or an IP Address; DomainDeal will supply default DNS and IP information for your domain name during the registration process, which can be edited at any time after the registration is complete. You can change your DNS at any time after registration.
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How long does DomainDeal's registration process take?
DomainDeal's registration process is done in realtime for TLDs such as .com, .org and .net domain names.
It can take 12-48 hours for a new name to be active and go live. This is called "propagate". Your website will not show up during that time.
The registry only updates the zone files from their database once every 12 hours, and as domain sales increase, so does the queue. VeriSign Global Registry updates at 5:00 am and 5:00 pm EST.
Please know this is under the control of the registry, and DomainDeal does not have any abilities to make this happen faster.
cc-TLD's (Country Code Top Level Domains) - for example, .ro, .dk, .sh etc. may take a few days until they are accessible on the Internet. Registration processing time is determined by the individual country's registry.
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Is it possible for another person to register my domain name after I have registered it?
.com, .net and .org domain name availability is verified by accredited registrars through the SRS (Shared Registration System), a universal database of available .com, net and .org domain names. This system prevents a domain name that is successfully registered through us from being registered through another domain name registration site.
Note: cc-TLD (Country Code Top Level Domain)availability - for example, .ca, .uk, .cn, etc. - are verified using systems (other than the SRS) that only get updated by that country's registry every 24 - 72 hours. Domain names are registered by the country's registry on a first-come first-serve basis. However, in the event that the registry has not yet updated the sources used to verify cc-TLD availability and an attempt was made to register a recently registered domain name, the attempted registration will be rejected by the registry.
We will refund the registration fees for cc-TLD registrations rejected by the registry if the domain name is taken.
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What methods of payment do you accept?
A valid MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express card is currently the only means of payment accepted.
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What can I do with my domain name once it is registered?
You can use your newly registered domain name to sign up for email services, web hosting services, register domain name servers or create a name for an email server. Alternatively, you are not required to do anything with your domain name.
For more information on web hosting and email services, please contact us.
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Once a domain name is registered, who is the legal registrant of the domain name?
When a domain name is registered, the "registrant" contracts the use of the domain name. However, there is no permanent registrant for any domain name. The "registrant" of a domain name is the original administrative contact listed at the time of registration, regardless of whether the administrative contact information has been changed since then. In other words, the registrant of a domain name is the individual whose name and contact information were initially associated with the username and password profile for the domain name.
If the administrative contact information has been changed since the original registration, the most recent administrative contact information entered will be visible in the WHOIS record. However, this information may not be that of the actual registrant of the domain name.
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How many characters and what characters can a registered domain name include?
Domain names have a variety of basic rules. Only alphanumeric (a-z, 0-9) characters and the dash (-) may be used; no spaces, underscores, or non-alphanumeric characters other than dash. Domain name lenght varies by each name; generally domain names should be 32 characters or less, including the extension, though some TLDs allow for longer domains. Once you attempt to register a domain name, an error will be given if it is too long.
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Where can I get contact information related to domain names that are already registered?
To find contact information associated with a registered domain name, you can perform a WHOIS query.