NicGrab.com - End user domain faqs

What is a domain name?
A domain name is essentially a signpost on the Internet. Every website you've ever been to, and every email you've ever composed, has used a domain name in its address. People register domain names in order to 'stake a claim' to a particular name -- whether for business or personal reasons. Once a domain name is registered to a person or company, it is that person's to use exclusively as long as they continue to pay the yearly renewal fee. Our domain name is opensrs.org, and we also own opensrs.com and opensrs.net

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After I've chosen an OpenSRS Registration Service Provider, what's involved in getting my domain name?
Most OpenSRS Registration Service Providers have built a domain registration process that you initiate from their web site. Once you've applied for the name, the Registration Service Provider accepts payment, processes the order with OpenSRS, and then the domain name is registered to you. This process can generally be completed within one business day, but it will vary by Registration Service Provider.

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Once I have a domain name, how can I make changes to it?
You can make changes to your domain name by using the OpenSRS management interface at: http://manage.opensrs.net. Bear in mind you'll need your domain's username and password to make the desired changes. If you don't have a username and password or have forgotten them, please contact the company that registered the domain for you on your behalf.

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How do I change ownership of my domain name? (ie. I want to sell it or give it to someone else)
You can simply give your username and password to the new owner, and allow them to change the contact information using the Manage Domain interface. They should also change the domain's profile to a new one with a unique username and password.

To change the contact information:

In the Manage Domain interface, click on Organization link and update the information

To change the domain's profile:

Log into the Manage Domain interface
Click on "Manage Profile" and then select "Change Ownership of Domain". Fill out the username/password of the profile you want to add this domain to, or create a new profile and provide a username and password. If you are moving the domain to an existing profile, click on "Move to existing profile" and type the name of a domain that is already in the profile into the "Previously registered domain" field. Click on "Change Owner" and the domain will be in the new profile.

* It is important to remember that anyone with the profile login information can change all info for all domains in the profile, including ownership.

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What is the role of OpenSRS?
OpenSRS is a domain registrar that competes with other domain registrars (Network Solutions, Register.com, etc.) in the domain name market. What makes us unique is the fact that we are strictly wholesale, providing services to Registration Service Providers who in turn sell domain names to people and companies worldwide. Because we focus on 'business-to-business' relationships, we're able to avoid the costs of supporting a base of end users, and consequently, can offer our services at a significantly lower price than our competitors.

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What's the difference between an OpenSRS registered domain name and a Network Solutions (NSI) registered domain name?
There's no difference between a name registered with OpenSRS and a name registered with Network Solutions. Network Solutions is currently better known because they ran the first domain registration business without competition for a number of years.

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Registry? Registrar? Registrant? What do these words mean?

Registrar: A "Registrar" (or "Domain Name Registrar") is an organization like OpenSRS or Network Solutions that has control over the granting of domains within certain TLDs (top level domains, like the generic .com/.org/.net or country-specific .ca/.us/.mx etc.).
Registry: The 'Registry' is the backend that registrar's have shared access to. Each registrar writes new names to a central registry database, from which the authoritative root (essentially, a table of all domain names on the Internet) is built.
Registrant: A registrant is the person or company who purchases a domain name. For example, Jessica Smith (registrant) registers the name jessicasmith.com through OpenSRS (registrar) who in turn writes the name to the central database (Registry).

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How can I get in touch with an OpenSRS Domain Registration Service Provider?
You can reach a Registration Service Provider by emailing our helpful sales staff (sales@opensrs.org) who will make sure to expedite your request as quickly as possible.

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Why can't I get domains at wholesale prices?
You can! OpenSRS is a service for organizations that register at least 25 or more domain names a year. In order to register domains at wholesale prices using OpenSRS, you will need to:
- Complete and return our contractual agreements
- Install our Perl-based tool on a Perl-capable machine
  (Quickstart customers can start registering domains via our Web interface before they've completed the installation on their own server)
- Pass a certification test (the RITE test - RSP Integration and Testing Environment)
- Pre-pay:
  - $250 (US dollars) for Full Access (if you're using the OpenSRS client software scripts)
  - $500 (US dollars) for Quickstart (if you are just using the Web interface to start while preparing the scripts)
If you want an easier process for registering domain names, we encourage you to visit a retail domain name Registration Service Provider that regularly handles single registrations. Contact an OpenSRS Domain Registration Service Provider by clicking here. For more information on becoming an OpenSRS Registration Service Provider, please visit:
http://www.opensrs.org/gsguide2.shtml

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I can't get hold of my Registration Service Provider. I call, I write, and I still don't get an answer. What do I do?

OpenSRS, as a wholesale domain registrar, likes to leave customer service issues between the Registration Service Provider and the end user. However, if you have tried repeatedly to contact your Registration Service Provider, using all traditional means (including telephone and email), to no avail, please contact compliance@opensrs.org. The compliance department will normally respond to your query within 24-48 hours. Our compliance officer will not necessarily deal directly with your issue; our first step is to try to contact the RSP ourselves to get the issue resolved. Failing that, we can take action to remedy almost all situations. NOTE: Please do not contact the OpenSRS compliance officer unless you have exhausted all other means of contacting your RSP.

If the company you have chosen as your Registration Service Provider has gone out of business, Tucows will ensure that you are notified and allowed to chose another Tucows RSP before your domain name is due for renewal.

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I can't get any technical support from my Registration Service Provider?
Technical issues are best dealt with between you and your Registration Service Provider; however, if you cannot contact your Registration Service Provider, please review Question 10 of this FAQ.

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I forgot my login name and password.
Your login name and password (used to make modifications to your domain name record) can be obtained from your Registration Service Provider.

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How do I resolve a payment dispute with a Registration Service Provider?
As a wholesaler, OpenSRS has very little to do with Registration Service Provider billing issues. However, if you feel that unsavoury business practices are at the root of the dispute and that contacting OpenSRS is your only recourse, please review Question 10 of this FAQ.

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Who does a registered name actually belong to, the end user or the Registration Service Provider?
Domain names are not truly owned -- they're leased out on a first-come, first-served basis, and remain with the initial lessee until either a) the lessee does not renew the name, or b) a business with a trademark of the same name demonstrates a greater claim to the name than the lessee can demonstrate. The question is better phrased as 'who can control the domain name'. With OpenSRS, the answer is the domain's Administrative Contact. This is usually specified by the registrant during the registration process; however, as each Registration Service Provider may have slightly different policies in this matter, please consult individual Registration Service Provider's websites for full details.

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How much control do domain owners have over their domain once they've signed up through an OpenSRS Registration Service Provider?
Domain owners, in general, have full control over their OpenSRS registered domain names. This means that the domain owner has the power to:
a) Change admin/technical and billing contacts for the domain.
b) Change ownership of the domain.
c) Change the nameservers that are authoritative for the domain.
d) Create sub-users and enable them to change some/all of the options in a, b and c above.
e) Change the password that enables a, b, c, and d above.
As an end-user, it's unlikely you'll care to bother with such details. If this is the case, there are many Registration Service Providers opt to offer these services as a 'value-add' to their registration service. Please review individual Registration Service Provider policy pages for information on how they deal with domain authority.

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I heard the "WHOIS" at Internic is not in real time. How is this different from the WHOIS function at OpenSRS?
WHOIS is a tool that permits people to access information about a particular domain name. Internic updates their WHOIS data twice every 24 hrs. This means the data it presents isn't as up-to-date as it could be. For example, if a domain name has transferred ownership, it's possible this fact wouldn't be available to you for up to twelve hours. In contrast, with regard to names we host, OpenSRS WhoIS information is updated in real time. If you need to be certain that your domain name information is correct, we recommend you use the OpenSRS WHOIS.

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What's the difference between .com, .net, .org domain names?
Originally, the three letter extensions after the dot (or Top Level Domain/TLD) were meant to denote whether the domain name was being used for business (.com) charity/non-profit (.org) or for a technology based company (.net)d company (.net). However, with the explosion of the Internet (and specifically, the world wide web) as a new business medium, the lines were blurred, and companies and individuals alike started cross-registering domains (ie. Me.com, me.net, me.org) just to protect their interests. Now, .com, .net, and .org names (the generic Top Level Domains) can be used for any purpose.

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Does OpenSRS register in any other top level domains (.ca, .us, .co, .uk, etc.)?
Currently, OpenSRS offers registrations in the .com, .net, .org gTLDs, and the .co.uk, .org.uk, and .ca ccTLDs through its Registration Service Providers.

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What's the difference between a ccTLD and a gTLD?
A gTLD is a generic Top Level Domain. These are top level domains that are NOT affiliated with any country and can be registered by anyone for a fee. Currently, these are .com, .net, and .org. ccTLDs are Country Code Top Level Domains.These are the two character top level domain names affiliated with various countries around the world. Many ccTLDs are closed or restricted, requiring proof of residency in the country in question. Others are not restricted, and can be purchased much like gTLDs.

Currently, OpenSRS offers registrations in the .com, .net, .org gTLDs, and the .co.uk and .org.uk ccTLDs through its Registration Service Providers.

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This is fascinating. Where can I go for more information on the domain name space?
For a detailed account on the evolution of the domain space as a business phenomenon, please visit http://www.icann.org.

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