Over 4,000 apply for .in domain

NEW DELHI: The recently extended .in country code Internet domain name registry services has received 4,122 applications from registered Indian trademark holders during the initial sunrise period. The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) had set up the services. Sunrise applications were being accepted from January 1 to January 21, 2005, and are now being processed during the 'silent period' from January 21- February 16. The date for the opening of real-time registration for the general public is slated for February 16, 2005.






Owners of registered Indian trademarks or service marks who wished to protect their marks were given the opportunity to apply for .in domain names before the general public. Till date, National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) has appointed six registrars for .in registry across India. In addition The National Informatics Center (NIC) is the registrar for gov.in domains, ERNET is the registrar for res.in and ac.in domains, and an agency to be identified by the Ministry of Defense would be the registrar for mil.in domains. NIXI is in the process of appointing more registrars.





For the first time, domains are available at the second level such as "name.in". Registrations at the third level in the globally popular zones of domain registration like .co.in and .org.in are also available. The entire process of registration will be online and is expected to be completed in less than 24 hours from the receipt of the request from a registrant. The Registrars, following a competitive pricing policy and best market practices, will offer registrations. The minimum fee charged by the .in registry would be Rs 250 and Rs 500 per year for registrations at third and second levels, respectively.