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Question: What is the Global Domain Name Expiration Process?

This question relates to category Domain Names

Answer:

This applies to domains with the extension, .com, .net, .org, etc.

If a domain name owner either decides they no longer want the domain name or simply forgets to renew it, the domain name goes though the following Domain Name Expiry & Deletion process:

  • Day 0                     Domain name is not renewed (expires)
  • Day 1 - 40             Domain Name Grace period
  • Day 40 - 45          Domain Name Pending Delete period
  • Day 46                   Domain Name Purged from Registry and becomes available

Day 0     When the domain expires, all the related web services (email, website, etc) are removed from the global domain name system (DNS) meaning that all website requests and emails will bounce. When this happens, it does not mean that the domain is available for registration.

Day 1 – 40            At this point the domain status in the Whois Database changes to “domain expired” which means that the domain is in a suspended from being used by any parties. This provides the original owner a 40 day grace period during which the domain is available for renewal by the original owner only. Again, all services including website and email are offline.

Day 40 - 45          After 40 days have lapsed the domain name is moved to a “Pending Deletion” status. When a domain name is in this phase, no one can touch it. Not the original owner, and not new interested parties. This is simply a cooling off period during which ICANN (the international global domain name registry) has to option to intervene if need be.

Day 46                   On day 46 the original domain registrar is ‘obliged’ to delete the domain name from their registry. In reality, what occurs is that the domain registrar places the domain into its own proprietary expired domain auction system.

Registering a ‘global’ domain name at Day 46
Due to the short supply of really cool domain names, demand has increased considerably for expired domain names. This is especially so for Global Domain names. If you’re interested in a domain name which you think another party might be interested in, things can get very competitive.

New services have sprung up in the past year or so servicing this particular niche. They are known as Expired Domain Catchers, or Dropped Domain Catchers, or similar.

If you think the domain name you are interested in is not likely to be of interest to any other party, simply check periodically on Day 46 at www.redalto.com.au/domains to see if the domain has become available yet.

Otherwise, we suggest to sign up with “all” the major Expired Domain Catch services for global domain names.

If you require any assistance with this process please contact us. We provide a service where we can manage this process for you.

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  • Author: Redalto Domains Manager
  • Created on: 28 Apr 2010
  • Views: 877
  • Last modified: 28 Apr 2010

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