Domain names - look at your options: NetRegistry

Australian businesses have been urged to 'shop around' when re-registering their domain names this year.

55,000 Australian internet domain names would come up for their two year renewal from 1 July to end of August 2004, according to a press release from NetRegistry, a domain name, website hosting and e-commerce service provider.

Larry Bloch, CEO of NetRegistry, said that 'Business owners who had registered their website names for a period of two years often don't realise how much the industry has changed during this time. Now that their domain name registration is coming up for renewal, it is important for business owners to understand the options available to them.'

According to NetRegistry, the deregulation of the industry two years ago meant that domain name owners could now transfer their registration for free to any licensed registrar at any time.

'People should go about domain name renewal as they might go about renewing their green slip; shop around for the best deal, understand what the company you are choosing is offering and make an informed decision,' said Bloch.

NetRegistry has issued a series of guidelines for companies registering domain names in the coming months. The guidelines advise businesses to make sure their domain name supplier is auDA approved by visiting the auDa website; find out what is included with the registration and check for hidden costs; and look at customer support and account management issues, which can vary for different businesses.

All online businesses should have a strategy in place for renewal and domain name management, NetRegistry advised.