A domain name is really just an alias for your IP number address. When you sign up to put a Web site on the Internet, you are given an Internet Protocol Number, or address. All the computers on the Internet can retrieve your site by pulling up this IP number. A domain name will allow you to have a World Wide Web address like www.yourname.com instead of having only a number such as 208.5.118.4.

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InterNIC is the agency which governs the registration of domain names ending with: .com, .net, .org, .edu, .mil, and .gov.

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You become the owner of the domain name after we register it with InterNIC. You are the Administrative and Billing Contact. If anyone tries to move the domain or change any information on the form, the InterNIC will contact you first. We are listed as the Technical Contact on the domain.

InterNIC will charge you $70 which will cover the first two years of use of your domain name. InterNIC will charge you $35 per year each year thereafter.

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You want to select a name that will be easy for your customers or potential customers to remember. The obvious choice would be to use your business name, such as www.acmecorporation.com. But if your company is named The ACME Corporation, you might want to try abbreviating the domain name for simplicity - such as www.acme.com.

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Your domain name can be as long as 22 characters. The domain must consist only of letters, numbers and dashes(-). The www is not part of the actual domain name and is just a standard web prefix.

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You can have as many as you want. You will still be billed the $70 dollars per domain name from InterNIC which covers the first two years.

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InterNIC is the organization that handles the registration and administration of "generic," non-geographic domain names.

Here is what's available now for top level domain names:

• COM - is for commercial, for-profit organizations
• EDU - is for 4-year, degree granting institutions only
• NET - is for network infrastructure machines and organizations
• ORG - is for miscellaneous usually non-profit organizations
• INT - is for organizations established by international treaties, or international databases
• GOV - is for United States federal government agencies
• MIL - is used by the US Military

There are restrictions regarding these domains which can be found at InterNIC's home page and read more about domain registration.

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VPI-Net will handle all domain registrations for you.  When you complete your Web Hosting Service Application we will take the domain name(s) you have requsted and attempt to register them with the InterNIC.  You will be notified via Email of the status of each registration.

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Questions regarding InterNIC Invoicing and Payment Procedures should be referred to Registration Services. You can reach them by calling (703) 742-4777 and selecting option number 1 or you may Email them at hostmaster@rs.internic.net.

Customers wishing to make payment by credit card may call either (888) 771-3000 or (402) 496-9788 (outside the U.S.).

The InterNIC now accepts First Virtual as a payment option for the registration of domain names.

To make a FV payment: http://rs.internic.net/cgi-bin/fv/payment

First Virtual info: http://rs.internic.net/fv

With the tracking number and domain name, a payment can be made with or without a VirtualPIN. If you do not have a VirtualPIN, the process will create one for you.

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In order to change your domain name, you need to submit an order for a new domain name. This can be done by contacting your current sales representative at 1-800-874-6382.  Since this is a new domain name, the InterNIC fees still apply.

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Yes, this is called Domain Aliasing. When you fill in the Web Hosting Service Application you have the option of specifying several Domain Aliases. VPI-Net will automatically redirect any Web Page requests from your Domain Aliases to your main Domain Name.

If you would like to add a Domain Alias to your account simply let us know.

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