Domain Names
The domain name is an internet address which leads to a specific website. Usually the internet protocol (IP) address consists of digits grouped by three and separated with dots, but they also can be depicted in text format. For example Host1Plus.com can be opened using the specific numbers, but for the simple users Host1Plus.com is easier to memorize and type.
Domain name has a specific ending. There are few types of domains:
- Top Level Domain (TLD) which is in the root folder.
- Generic Top Level Domains (gTLD) which ends in .com, .org and .net.
- Country Code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) which ends in abbreviation of the country, for example .nl for Netherlands, .de for Germany, .co.uk for United Kingdom etc.
- Sponsored TopLevel Domains (sTLD) which ends in generic institution or purpose abbreviations such as .gov, .edu, .mil, .aero, .xxx, .mobi, .jobs etc.
- Internationalized country code top-level domain (IDN ccTLD or ccIDN) which uses the non-Latin characters in the domain name, for example domain name in Chinese signs.
The domains are managed by special authority – Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which is responsible for registering new sponsored domain names and observing the domain usage rules and regulations worldwide.
When First Domain Got Introduced
The history of a domain name starts in 1963 when ARPANET was developed. Each computer in the network had its unique host number which was saved in host.txt file which was requested every time other computer wanted to connect. This was the start of an IP address which later got depicted in digits separated by dots. In 1983 the Domain Name System (DNS) has been invented and developed. 
This date can be considered as a start of modern internet as we know it, because the hostnames could be managed both in digits and letters.
The first domain ever was nordu.net, which was used for scientific purposes in 1985 as a root domain. Few months later the public DNS registration was introduced. The first public domain was symbolics.com. Other domains which were registered few days later were bbn.com, think.com, mcc.com, dec.com and northrop.com. They can be called pioneers as they were used for educational and scientific purposes rather than commercial use.
What domains Host1Plus Offers
Host1Plus offers not all the domains. Some domains have particular restrictions of registration, therefore not all of them can be purchased via Host1Plus as a domain reseller. All the domains are owned by the national domain registration authorities. Top level domains and generic domains are owned by ICANN.
Host1Plus offers the following domains:
Country code Top Level Domains (ccTLD) for the following countries:
- .lt Lithuania
- .nl the Netherlands
- .be Belgium
- .de Germany
- .es Spain
- .co.uk United Kingdom (commercial)
- .org.uk United Kingdom (organizational)
Sponsored Top Level Domains (sTLD):
- .biz for business
- .info for informational websites
- .name for personal websites and profiles
- .eu for European websites
- .mobi for mobile websites
Generic Top level Domains (gTLD):
- .com – commercial websites
- .org – organizational websites
- .net – community websites
All these domains have different prices, which are regulated by each country DomReg agency or ICANN, therefore they may be different from time to time.
Host1Plus has a special domain registration page, where everyone can look up the domain name first if it is already taken and whom it belongs to if taken. If the domain is not taken by anyone, it can be registered easily. The payment for the domain name is instant.
Host1Plus also offers such tools as bulk domain search when visitors can check if few domain names are available.
How to Choose The Right Domain
The right domain means a lot as it is a brand name. If you choose it wisely, it may become a brand name and give you lots of value. If the domain name will not be appropriate or will not correspond to your activity, there may be some serious harm for your business and reputation. There are three main tips for choosing a right domain:
- Select the short domain because people will need to type it. The good domain is Yourcompany.com; the bad is YourCompanyprovidesThisServiceintheCity.com
- Select easy to memorize domain even if it is not your company name. Good example is PlasticWindows.com or meaningless short name zinko.com; bad example is ghtrtybnm.com
- If you provide specific service, you can try ordering the domain name which is related to the service. This is good for SEO as domain name already contains the searchable keyword. Good example is the same PlasticWindows.com which will probably be found quite easily if someone searches for “plastic windows”; bad example is meaningless words or just a collection of letters and digits.
Some brands derived from the internet websites, therefore you should thing a lot before registering the domain.
How to Get Free Domain
Host1Plus usually provides the paid domains as we are just resellers of the different domain names. The prices of the domains vary from $10.25 per year to $32 per year (most expensive are .be domain names for Belgium). However there is a way to get free domain.
Another way to get a free domain is to order the Maxi shared hosting plan and make a payment for at least 12 months. This hosting plan will provide unlimited disk space and you will be able to use your new domain for free for the first year.
Please note, that free domain registration is provided for the first year only. Next year the renewal fee will be applied, which is the same as domain registration fee.
