March 26, 2008
Worldwide Launch of General .Asia Domain Registration 9:00pm Tonight
- GMO Internet Inc.
Tokyo – March 26, 2008 – GMO Internet official ICANN*1 domain registrar, onamae.com announces the opening today of first-come-first-served general registrations for the .asia domain. Registration opens worldwide at 9:00pm this evening.
*1: ICANN (The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) American non-profit organization responsible for the global management of Internet domain names and IP addresses. It also holds the authority to designate official domain registration companies.
Popularity of .Asia Domain
Registration of the .asia domain was first opened in October 2007. During the initial Sunrise*2 registration period, despite applications being accepted only from trademark holders and others that met specified conditions, over 30,000 registration applications were received from over 130 countries and economies worldwide. During the following general advance registration period, Landrush*3, over 260,000 applications were received in the first 24 hours and by the end of the period over 470,000 applications had been received. This is evidence of how popular the domain has become worldwide. We expect in the future that the .asia domain will be highly sought after by globally-oriented corporations based in Asia and product websites seeking to improve brand value by positioning themselves as a global brand.
*2: Registration application period for government institutions and trademark rights holders. There are strict regulations governing the application for domain names and in some cases supporting documents showing actual use of a trademark are required.
*3: Early first-come-first-served general registration period. Registrations open to all businesses and individuals in the Asia Pacific region with no restrictions on domain name.
Differences between Previous Registration Phases and the Current General Registration Phase
The major difference between the current general registration phase for the .asia domain and the prior Sunrise and Landrush phases is that the current phase operates on a first-come-first-served basis.
During the Sunrise and Landrush phases, when multiple applications were received for registration of the same domain name, an auction was held to determine the registrant. However, when general registrations open, preference will be given to the first applicant and no applications will be accepted once a domain name has been registered. This is the system employed for the registration of many currently available domains. Under this system it is imperative that domains are registered as early as possible, both of course to secure a domain and to prevent against the danger of that domain being used for inappropriate purposes.
General Registration Outline
Opening Date
Wednesday March 26, 2008
9:00pm (scheduled)
Registration Fees
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1 year
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2 years
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3 years
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5 years
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10 years
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3,800 yen
(3,990 yen inc. tax)
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7,140 yen
(7,497 yen inc. tax)
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9,980 yen
(10,479 yen inc. tax)
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15,600 yen
(16,380 yen inc. tax)
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28,500 yen
(29,925 yen inc. tax)
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Note:
・The .asia domain is not covered by Whois
・At the time of registration proof that registrant or administrator in charge is a business/individual located in the Asia Pacific region is required.
Reference
Please refer to the onamae.com .asia page for further details.
How to Apply for a .Asia Domain
1. Conduct a search for your preferred domain name at the onamae.com web site. (URL：http://www.onamae.com/)
2. If a circle is displayed in the search results your preferred domain is available. Click on the domain and then click Register this Domain.
3. Complete the application details and submit the application fee
4. Your .asia domain registration is complete.
Onamae.com Service Features
● A fast registration service that provides a vast range of domains to meet customer demands and expectations.
● An official domain registrar that can provide a wealth of website, mail magazine and other domain related information.
● In addition to the domain registration service we also provide the onamae.com Broad Server web hosting service for seamless implementation from domain registration to application.
Onamae.com continues to provide services that fulfill customer demands and expectations at the same time we aim to inspire our customers and make them smile.
Media Inquiries
GMO Internet Inc. Group PR Team
The GMO Internet Group
The GMO Internet Group is a leading force in the Internet industry offering one of the most comprehensive ranges of Internet services in Japan. We hold top domestic market shares in domain registration, web hosting and payment processing and we provide a host of other services including e-commerce solutions and Internet advertising to individual and corporate customers. Striving to redefine the industry and foster a vibrant Internet culture, the GMO Internet Group is continuously working to inspire enthusiasm in our customers and put smiles on their faces.
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Company Name
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GMO Internet Inc. http://www.gmo.jp/en
(TSE First Section Code: 9449)
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Address
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Cerulean Tower, 26-1 Sakuragaokacho, Shibuya ku, Tokyo, JAPAN
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CEO
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Masatoshi Kumagai
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Business Description
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- Internet Use Support (Infrastructure)
- Internet Advertising Support (Media)
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Capital
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12,631,970,000 yen
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