Australian Domain Name Registration Services – Concordnet Australia Registration Agreement

Introduction – Australian Domain Registration Tips and FAQ

ConcordNet Australia is the place for cheap Australian domains. Our normal price for a. com.au and. net.au domain is $79 for a two-year registration. It is even cheaper if you buy domains at our wholesale prices. If you combine the purchase of an Australian domain with one of ConcordNet’s website hosting plans the domain will only cost $55. ConcordNet Australia can register a .com or .net domain for the low price of $25 per year. We believe this is the cheapest domain registration offered by an Australian owned and operated company. ConcordNet’s domain registration tips and our Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ are outlined below. They give a basic background to the domain registration system - both for Australian and International domains.

What is the domain name system?

The Domain Name System (DNS) helps users to find their way around the Internet. Every computer on the Internet has a unique address - just like a telephone number - which is a rather complicated string of numbers. It is called its "IP address" (IP stands for "Internet Protocol"). IP Addresses are hard to remember. The DNS makes using the Internet easier by allowing a familiar string of letters (the "domain name") to be used instead of the arcane IP address. So instead of typing 207.151.159.3, you can type www.concordnet.com.au. It is a "mnemonic" device that makes addresses easier to remember.

What is a domain name?

A domain name is therefore an address on the Internet. A domain is the text version of an IP address, the number that points to a particular Web site. Each domain on the Internet is allocated a number (IP address), but as it would be difficult to remember a number for every website, the IP address is entered into an Internet browser in text and then converted by the system to the equivalent number .For example, if the website address www.concordnet.com.au is entered into a browser such as Internet Explorer this is converted to the assigned number 217.160.77.164 By using this number the website page is located and downloaded to your computer. The use of domain names is a convenient way to remember website addresses instead of remembering numbers as we do with the telephone system. There is a difference between a domain and what is called a Universal Resource Locator (URL). A domain is concordnet.com.au. A full URL would be http://www.concordnet.com.au

What does it mean to "register" a domain name?

When you register a domain name, you are inserting an entry into a directory of all the domain names and their corresponding computers on the Internet.

How Many Characters can a Domain Name have?

A Domain Name can have a maximum length of 67 characters. This includes the suffix (the .com counts as 4 characters).

What Signs and Characters can be used in a Domain Name?

You can use only alphabetical characters, numbers, and a hyphen "-“ (sometimes referred to as a "dash"). Domain names cannot begin or end with a hyphen. The "WWW" you often see on the front of domain names is not part of the domain and special characters, such as §, $, %, &,?, = are not allowed.

Are Domains Case Sensitive?

No, domain names are not case sensitive. WWW.DomainName.com is the same as www.domainname.com is the same as www.DOMAINNAME.com - they can never point to different websites.

What is a Top Level Domain?

A Top Level Domain (TLD) is the part of the domain after the last full stop in the name. For example, in the name concordnet.net, net is a Top Level Domain.

Top Level Domains are divided into two categories:

gTLDs: General TLDs such as .com, .org, .net .biz and. info, which are not associated with a particular country or region. They are frequently called International domains.
ccTLDs: TLDs such as .au, .us, or .cc are TLDs are assigned to geographic locations. AU is used for Australian domain names, US for the United States and although technically part of Australia the Cocas (Keeling) Islands use CC as the country code. Antarctica also has its own country code.

For a list of country codes click here: www.concordnet.com.au/domainscc.htm

What are the rules for registration of .com, .net, .org,. info, .biz, .name, names?
The .com, info, name, .net, and .org Top Level Domains (TLDs) are open and unrestricted. Traditionally, however, names in .net have been used by organizations involved in Internet infrastructure activities and .org is frequently used by non-commercial organizations. . biz is reserved for use by businesses. .name is dedicated exclusively to individuals' personal names.

Are There Rules for the Registration of Australian Domain Names?

Yes, a full outline of the rules and policies issued by the Australian Domain Authority (AUDA) for the registration of Australian domain names can be found on ConcordNet’s website at www.concordnet.com.au/domains.htm

If I Buy a Domain Do I Own It?

Domain names are registered on a first-come, first-served basis, and like a phone number, no one can actually own a domain name. When you register a Domain name you only own a license to use the domain – you do not gain title to it. However, for all practical purposes the end result is the same. A domain name remains under the control of the lessee as long as (a) the lessee pays the renewal fee when due and (b) the domain name does not infringe a current trademark or legal right of anyone else to register the name.

When you complete the order form to register a domain name you should pay special attention to the company or organization field. It is this field that determines the “ownership” of the domain.

How Can I Tell if a Domain is Available?

You can use ConcordNet’s free Domain Name Search facility to search what is called the “WHOIS” database to see if the name you have selected is available. The WHOIS databases contain contact and registration information for every domain registered with the individual Domain Registrars.

What is Domain Hosting or Parking?

When a domain is registered a unique record is created for that domain and it has to be parked on Servers until the registrant want to use it. All domains registered with ConcordNet are parked on our Servers for free.

What if the Domain I Want is Already Taken?

Unless the domain owner is in violation of your current copyright or trademark, then you have no choice but to offer to purchase the domain from the owner, and failing that, you will need devise a different domain name.

Do I Need to Have a Website to Register a Domain?

No, you do not need to have a website when you register a domain. You can register a domain name with ConcordNet and park the domain on our Servers for free until you want to use it for a website or email service.

What does it Cost to Register a Domain?

Each organisation that registers domains sets the price it charges, and prices can vary significantly. ConcordNet offers discounted domain name registration with International domains (.com, .net. org) starting from $25AUD for a one-year registration. The Australian Domains (.com.au, net.au) can be registered for 2 years with prices starting from $69AUD. If an Australian domain name is registered in conjunction for a website hosting sign up the price is then discounted to $55AUD for a two year registration.

How Do I Register a Domain Name?

If you would like to register a domain with ConcordNet you can go to this location, and then complete and submit our domain registration form. If you would to register a domain and also signup for website hosting click here

How long does it take to register a Domain?

It usually takes 24-48 hours after your application for registration has been submitted. ConcordNet does not confirm that a domain has been registered until
it has been approved by the Domain Registrar and the domain appears on the “whois” database.
Domain registry databases can take between 24-48 hours to be updated so even though your domain has been registered it may still show up on WHOIS or "domain checkers" as being available. Global domain names tend to take the longest to show up as being registered.

When I Register a Domain are my address, email address and Phone Number Available to the Public?

Normally, yes. The public have access to that information by using the domain “lookup” service that gets the information from the “whois” database. ConcordNet does offer a service for the registration of International domains (.com, .net, .org .biz) that will hide your contact information from the public.

Are Domain Registration Fees Refundable?

No. Once you submit an application for the registration of a domain name the fees involved are not refundable and the registration cannot be reversed. Also if you register a domain for a specific period and you cancel the domain before the expiry date the unused portion of the registration fee is not refundable. Customers should check their applications before they submit it to ensure the intended spelling of the domain name and the extension (.com.au, .com etc.) are correct.

Is There a Registration Agreement?

Yes. You must read and accept the terms and conditions of the ConcordNet Registration Agreement before you signup to register a domain. A copy of the Agreement can be found here.

What is a Good Domain Name?

Good" is always subjective, but there are some general rules to go by when looking for a useful and quality domain.

Make sure your domain has a TLD that is appropriate for its intended use. If your business is going to market products globally it may be appropriate to have a global domain, such as .com, .biz or .net. If available, it is a good idea to cover all “the bases” when you register a domain, not only register the .com but also the .net, .org and .biz to block others from using the name.
If the main market for your products and services are in Australia then it is again a good idea to register a. com.au or. net.au domain. Much of your business could come from the “Search Engines” like Google or Yahoo and the way the search is structured users can now search globally or just within Australia. If the person searches and uses the Australian search option then only websites with Australian domains will be shown.
Make sure to keep the name relatively short and memorable.
Test your desired name out. Get opinions from co-workers and friends. After all, it's all these people that you want to get to your site when it's finished, and their novice opinions can sometimes be the best answer to the question "is this a good domain name?"