Learn about domain names and .co.uk domain registration

The Domain Name System
The Domain Name System (DNS) helps web users to find their way around the Internet. Every computer on the Internet has a unique computer address - just like a telephone number - which is a rather complicated set of numbers. It is called its "IP address". IP Addresses can be very hard to remember and therefore, the DNS makes using the Internet easier by allowing a set of letters to be used instead of the arcane IP address. This set of letters is the domain name. By accessing a website using a domain name, the IP address works on the background to identify the website to help make Internet addresses easier to remember.

Domain Registration
Domain names can be registered through many different companies. Companies that handle domain name registrations are called registrars. Below is a list of registrars

in the United Kingdom currently approved by ICANN. You can register with any of the registrars below.

1. BB Online UK
2. Berkeley Intellectual Property Services Limited
3. British Telecommunications
4. Easyspace Limited
5. Internetters Limited
6. Net Searchers International Limited
7. NetBenefit plc aka NetNames
8. Oxford, Swindon & Gloucester Co-operative Domains Limited
9. Register.com Europe plc
10. SafeNames Ltd.
11. Total Web Solutions Limited
     

During the registration process, you need to provide your contact and technical information. The registrar will then keep records of the contact information and submit the technical information to a central directory known as the "registry." This registry provides other computers on the Internet the information necessary to send you e-mail or to find your web site. You will also be required to enter a registration contract with the registrar, which sets forth the terms under which your registration is accepted and will be maintained.

Country code top-level domains
Two letter domains, such as .uk, .de and .jp (for example), are called country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) and correspond to a country, territory, or other geographic location. The rules and policies for registering ccTLDs vary significantly and a number of ccTLDs are reserved for use by citizens of the corresponding country.

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN ) is the non-profit corporation that was formed to assume responsibility for the IP address space allocation, protocol parameter assignment, domain name system management, and root server system management functions now performed under US Government contract by IANA and other entities. ICANN web site Some ICANN-accredited registrars provide registration services in the ccTLDs, however, ICANN does not accredit registrars or set registration policies for ccTLDs. For details about ccTLD registration policies, you should contact the designated country code manager.

Nominet UK
The Internet was originally established during the 1970's and was known as the Arpanet. By the 1980s a parallel system, the Joint Academic Network (JANET) was set-up in the UK and used by Universities, the Ministry of Defence and research organisations to communicate electronically with one another. By the early 1990s, the emerging Internet Service providers such as Demon, Pipex and BT became involved with the network and started to provide Domain Names to customers on a commercial basis. As the use of e-mail grew, the organisations involved with the network set up a voluntary Naming Committee to vet all applications for Domain Names.

Nominet UK began registering Domain Names on 1 August 1996 and is now officially recognised by the UK Government as the manager of the .uk TLD. 

Nominet UK manages a central database of domain names ending in .uk. The company was established in 1996 and is recognised by the UK internet community as the official manager of the .uk Top Level Domain (TLD). Just as Companies House holds authoritative records for company names, or the DVLA for driving licences, Nominet maintains the database of .uk registered internet names.

Every organisation or individual connected to the internet is uniquely identified by a numerical address that is mapped onto a more memorable name. As a result, most countries have a central Registry - such as Nominet UK - to store these unique domain names.

Nominet is not a governing or regulatory body, but provides a public service for the .uk namespace on behalf of the UK internet community.

Nominet.org.uk, the government licensed registrar in charge of all .co.uk domains, predicts strong growth future growth for the UK domain name market and recently released data that shows that 2004 has been a bumper year for .co.uk registrations, with over 80,000 domains registered every month.

The secondary market is also showing excellent growth with 2004 seeing the first-ever public 5-figure .co.uk sales. Research shows that tens of thousands of UK residents interested in buying domains enter the address 'domain.co.uk' into their browsers every month.

Nominet UK is a not-for-profit company, which means that it has no shareholders, pays no dividends and does not proactively sell Internet services. It charges for Domain Name registrations in order to cover its operational costs. Domain Name registration fees are periodically reviewed.

Nominet UK has over 2000 members who have voting rights and are entitled to input into the way the Company is run. The most active members are Internet Service Providers (ISPs), however anyone with an interest in the Internet may become a member by paying an initial joining fee and an annual subscription thereafter.

Domain registration and Hosting
Most hosting companies offer domain registration. You can always register your domain name conveniently with the host you want to sign up with. These hosting companies are ready to help you register your domain without additional charges. However, be careful and compare with other hosts before you sign up. Some hosting companies offer free domain registration with some hosting terms that you need to agree with and accept.

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