How to get a domain name?

The domains .id.au and .name are specifically designed for individuals rather than companies or organisations

.id.au

At a local level the .id.au domain allows individuals or families to register subdomains. The id.au domain was designed to help maintain consistency in email addresses over time.

As of 1 July 2002, individuals can register their own domain name under the .id.au domain through an auDA accredited registrar. The basic format of the web address would be yourname.id.au. Registration is open to individuals who are Australian citizens or residents. Domain names must be derived from the registrant's personal name. Licenses need to be renewed every two years.

For more information on the .id.au domain name and various registrars, visit AusRegistry.

Alternatively, individuals can register domain names under one of the existing third level domains which are named after Australian flora and fauna (eg dropbear and waratah). Your domain name in the dropbear subdomain would be yourname.dropbear.id.au

Each of the existing third level domains has different registration requirements. For example, some are free while others charge a fee. Some allow a very long period of registration (up to ten years) whereas some have a shorter period. Most require the applicant for the domain name to have some sort of connection with Australia. Some require these connections to be more stringent (eg having residency in Australia).

For more information, visit http://www.id.au.

.name

The .name domain is intended primarily as a space for individuals to set up personal or family sites. As the .name domain is a world-wide standard in the same way as .com or .org, it is predicted to become the global standard domain for personal websites and e-mail addresses.

Unlike .com and .net addresses, .name sites will contain two names separated by a period, designed to allow several people to register personal domains that share a common family name, your web address would be yourfirstname.yoursurname.name and your e-mail address would be yourfirstname@yoursurname.name . You are also able to create numerous subdomains (eg sport.yourfirstname.yoursurname.name).

As .name sites will be able to be registered for up to 10 years and will be renewable, potentially once you have successfully registered your .name, the site could be yours for life. The cost of registration will depend on the length of time for which you wish to register the .name.

Global Name Registry is the entity appointed by ICANN to operate the .name domain space. For more information on .name and a list or registrars, visit www.gnr.com. For even more information on registering a .name in Australia, go to Melbourne IT.


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End Notes