Domain Names
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Introduction
Have you ever wondered how typing a name into your Internet browser takes you to a company or individual's Web site? If you have, this article will give you a short overview of domain names, where they came from and how they work. In fact, this information will be beneficial as you register your own domain name. With an understanding of terms like DNS and IP addresses, you'll know exactly what you're doing as you register your domain name and navigate the Internet.
Just as we use street addresses to find a business or home, the Internet uses the Domain Name System (DNS) and Internet Protocols (IP) to find specific Web pages.
In the early 1970's, each computer connected to the Internet received a unique "address", such as 121.245.078.2. This address, known as the Internet Protocol or IP addressing system, allowed all networked computers to be located on the Internet. When someone wanted to access a page on the Internet, they would type in the numbered address of that site.
As the number of users networking together increased, it became necessary to create an easier system than the confusing address system of long strings of numbers. In the mid 1980's, a team from the University of Wisconsin developed the first "name server", which is the addressing system used today. Later the DNS (Domain Name System) was implemented, and the introduction of the first top-level domains (TLDs) made .com, .net., .org domains available.
In the mid 1990's the Internet began to be used more and more by the public. This growth spawned a white paper in 1998 published by the U.S. Department of Commerce. This document established ICANN and the start of competition in the domain registration industry by breaking up the Network Solutions monopoly and allowing private organizations to become domain registrars.
Today, with many alternatives to Network Solutions, you no longer have to pay $70 to register a domain name. And, you can now register domains one year at a time instead of the previously required two years.
We use the registrar OpenSRS, which is a subsidiary of Tucows.com. OpenSRS has been accredited as a domain registrar by ICANN and Nominet. It has also been recognized by the United States Government and Network Solutions.
Some Still Paying $70 For A Domain Name
Even with alternatives, every day thousands of individuals and companies pay too much for domain name registration and lose thousands of dollars as they register or renew their domains with their current registrar.
With the new competition in domain name registration, we offer renewal for $15 on one-year domain registrations -- a savings of up to $20 on each domain off of what most registrars charge. Unfortunately, because so many people don't realize there are alternatives, they continue to hand Network Solutions or Register.com more money than they need to.
Until 1999, Network Solutions held the monopoly on domain name registrations. Anyone wanting to establish an Internet identity had to go through Network Solutions and had to pay their price. In the spring of 1999, the United States Department of Commerce created the non-profit Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to oversee and maintain the introduction of competition into the domain name registration marketplace. As a result, competing ICANN-accredited registrars could register domain names utilizing one shared, central registry operated and maintained by Network Solutions, which was broken up into two new companies.
Because Network Solutions held a monopoly for so long, the benefits of introduced competition have been slow to catch on with customers who are accustomed to the prior standard. Even many savvy Internet users still are not aware of the cost savings available through alternative domain registrars and the greater level of customer support available.
When we register your domain, theEarchitect will be listed as the Registered Owner and as the Administrative, Billing and Technical contacts for the registration. In that way we will be contacted for Internet questions about your account. This will isolate you from an increasing bombardment of mail and email contacts about hosting your account.
If you request, you may be listed as the Registered Owner of the account. But, be aware that you will become inundated by technical requests for your account. We encourage you to let theEarchitect be listed as the Registered Owner in order to isolate you from these intrusions.
If you ever choose to leave theEarchitect.com, you can simply request a transfer to another registrar and move your domain with ease. We can usually initiate this within 24 hours.
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