All websites require a "domain name", which is the
internationally-registered base address for the website. For example,
"merlinpacific.net" is our own domain name, directly related to our
business name of Merlin Pacific IT. We can assist you in registering
your domain names, or if you already have some, we can centrally manage
them all for you and provide you with a single point of contact and a
single annual invoice for them.
Domain names start at just US$15 per year, depending on the "Top Level
Domain" or TLD that you pick. The TLD is supposed to indicate the type
of organisation that the name belongs to, for example everyone is
familiar with the TLD of ".com" as used by Google (google.com).
But there are other TLDs ;
.net, .biz, .info for the default country of the USA
.com.us if you want to specifically state a USA connection
.name for family name domains
.co.uk for United Kingdom business domains
.vu for Vanuatu domains
Note that prices vary according to the TLD.
for full details.
To register a new domain name ;
Firstly find out whether it has already been registered. This can
be done reasonably quickly and easily through any of the domain
registration websites (see Enom.com as an example). You will also note our discounted prices.
If your domain name is available, email us and we'll do the rest!
Be aware that initial registration of the domain names requires 2 years
payment in advance, this is standard domain registration practice.
An add-on service that you may be interested in is Privacy Protection.
Although not available on all TLDs (eg. it's not available for .uk),
for an additional US$10 per year the details of who 'owns' the domain
name can be shielded. Normally, all domain names must publish details
of the registrant (owner) plus an administrative and technical contact.
These may reveal details you want kept private or may be used by
spammers. Purchase Privacy Protection and valid but anonymous shielding
details will be provided instead.
Finally, you should know that domain names do not need to be billed
annually in advance, you can pay in most instances for up to 10 years.
If you are certain you want to keep a domain name, you may want to
pre-pay for as long as possible.