-- Domain Name Expansion Now Well Under Way As Largest
Applicant Moves Actively Into Marketplace; "Sunrise" Period
Approaching
BELLEVUE, Washington,
Nov. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/
-- Donuts Inc., a registry for new generic top-level domains
(gTLDs), took major strides this week toward broadening choices in
the domain name system (DNS) and will introduce seven gTLDs.
Further, Donuts now has received signed Registry-Registrar
Agreements (RRAs) from some of the world's largest registrars,
dramatically expanding registration availability.
The Internet's addressing system is significantly widening
choices beyond current offerings, such as .COM. Donuts has applied
for hundreds of these new extensions—the initial set will be
followed by weekly launches of other gTLDs.
The company said its "Sunrise" period for the first seven Donuts
names—the window during which trademark rights holders have
exclusive access to registrations—will begin November 26, and close January 24, 2014. Donuts will forego a
traditional land-rush and move directly to general availability to
all registrants on January 29, 2014.
Donuts' gTLDs are available for registration by anyone without
restriction.
The first gTLDs opening for Sunrise are:
.BIKE
.CLOTHING
.GURU
.HOLDINGS
.PLUMBING
.SINGLES
.VENTURES
Leading Registrars Will Distribute Names
Donuts has signed registry-registrar agreements (RRAs) with some
of the world's most prestigious domain name registrars with
worldwide reach, who will make the names available during Sunrise
and general availability. Signatories include:
- GoDaddy
- 1&1 Internet, part of United Internet (GR: UTDI)
- Web.com (NASDAQ: WWWW)
- Tucows (NYSE MARKET: TCX)
- Host Europe Group
- Key Systems
- CSC Digital Brand Services
- MarkMonitor, part of Thomson Reuters
- NetNames, part of Net Benefit PLC (LSE: NBT)
- Gandi
- united-domains AG
- Melbourne IT (ASX: MLB)
- 101domain.com
Donuts co-founder and Executive Vice President for Sales and
Marketing Dan Schindler said,
"Having top-tier registrars such as these prepared to bring our new
gTLDs to their customers is a significant step forward for anyone
looking for better, more relevant identities for their products,
services, companies, and other interests."
GoDaddy Vice President Domains Rich Merdinger echoed Schindler.
"Domain names are 21st century real estate and, as a registry,
Donuts has the broadest selection of names about to hit the
market," he said. "This is a historic time for the Internet and
this new era of domain names provides new opportunities for anyone
looking to get online. GoDaddy looks forward to helping small
businesses take advantage of this new online real estate."
Donuts has focused efforts as well on registrar services in
Europe and elsewhere. A critical
new partner for that market with its clear European Market
leadership, its high profile in North
America and with its further worldwide reach, is
1&1 Internet. "Donuts is coming to the
market strongly with a large and varied set of gTLDs that will
be highly relevant to our customers in allowing them great new
potential for capturing traffic and developing their digital
branding", said Richard Stevenson, Head of PR at 1&1
Internet. "Donuts' new gTLDs will be some of the very
first available and comprise some of the most exciting options
for website owners to consider."
Web.com, one of the largest of United
States-based registrars, also applauded the milestone. "We
look forward to working with Donuts to ensure the successful launch
and promotion of its gTLDs to our small business customer base,"
said Web.com Senior Vice President Bob
Wiegand.
About Donuts Inc.
Donuts is a domain name registry that is widening competition and
choice in Internet identities through hundreds of new top-level
domain name choices, securely operated in multiple languages and
character sets. Donuts is headquartered in Bellevue, Wash., with offices in Southern California, Washington, D.C. and London. For more information, please visit
www.donuts.co.