Creative Communication > News > Domains for Everyone!

NEW TLD's soon!

By mid 2001, the next generation of top level domains will be available for registration. They include: .pro (which will be restricted to lawyers, doctors, and CPA's), .info, .biz, .name, .museum, .aero, and .coop. Rates should be similar to what people are paying for the .com .net and .org addresses today.

Dot CA's for Everyone!

The rules just got easier for obtaining a .CA web address. Now any organization or individual with a ‘Canadian presence,' can easily register the ‘dot CA.'

The number of names registered was slim in comparison to the better known .COM, .NET and .ORG designations, which anyone with $20 US dollars can register (contact us). A new organization called CIRA was just introduced to act as regulator in the world of the dot CA, and supervise the opening up of the registration process.

Prior to the fall of 2000, the Canadian name registry was operated by the University of British Columbia. With the introduction of CIRA, a couple dozen companies are now able to offer dot CA domain registrations. Wide open competition means the UBC registry (Webnames.ca) faces stiff competition. Registrations are priced anywhere from $30 to $53 Cdn. for a year long term. (Individual registrars must pay CIRA $20 from each registration and they pocket any surplus above that).

The rules for the consumer have changed as well. Previously, dot Ca was as inaccessible as it was unattractive to business and organizations. In recent history, strict regulations dictated only those with federal incorporation or a trademark were able to register. Those organizations could then only register one single .CA (another limiting device on the availability and appeal of the domain). Now, anyone with a ‘Canadian presence' can register the dot CA as many times as they like.

The .CA was also unattractive to many people otherwise duped into believing the .COM was the only domain worth owning. Those who are registering a name these days will find that millions of names have been taken, every common word is gone, and the English language has been transformed and butchered in pursuit of phonetic spellings and funky ways of getting new domain names. Though foreign interests that do business in Canada can register a .CA, the obvious attraction is for strongly CANADIAN folks to take advantage to a hitherto elusive commodity.

The .CA name had been co-ghettoized by the corporations with the means to register their own name.ca, but who chose to add ‘Canada' to their names and end with the .COM or use Canada.Company.COM, or the ever-popular Company.com/Canada. A few brave corporate souls graced their ads and promo materials with a .CA address. They had foresight though, and anyone who thinks the .COM was the all-purpose affix has quickly realized the importance of registering the new Canadian domain. Cyber squatting name whores are currently registering every common word and combination in the .CA realm. Don't delay. Get thee to the registrar and GET YOUR NAME .CA today.

You can find a complete list of registrars and information at the CIRA web site.

If you are a client of Creative Communication we will register your .CA for $40 Cdn. per year.

Go to our REGISTER page for more info regarding the registration process. We've done the research so you don't have to. Follow our guidelines for a hassle free experience.

In Brief...

Dot TV?
The nation of Tuvalu has made their country code available to anyone willing to pony up the $50 US it requires. This will generate more of a frenzy than any previous country domain for the obvious reason. Stand back of the dust as the siege sets in...

Dot COM alternatives.
A recent report said 98% of the words in the English dictionary had been registered as dot com's. If your name is gone, there are options. Try the .NET or .ORG variations, which are often overlooked when people register their names. Canadians and residents of the greater Toronto area will be considering the .CA and .TO (Republic of Tonga) options respectively.
Also try the webword list if you're stuck and need a workable dot com solution.

DOT DOC?
Get ready for a slew of new name alternatives. By mid 2001, we should be able to register the .pro extension. Doctors would use .med.pro. Other variations will include law.pro and cpa.pro. Register.md administers the dot MD code, and has exclusive rights from the Republic of Moldova. The $200 US price tag for annual ownership is steep, but their clientele should be able to afford it. Register has a monopoly which could result in future problems with price gouging though, so consider the possibility of registering your name as a dot com with 'md' on the end. (e.g. BillSmithMD.com).
This type of address will also appeal to people who live or do business in Maryland, or have the initials MD.

If Creative designs or hosts your site we can register a dot com for only $20 Cdn!