05-02-08, 07:37 PM
Domain name hosting is hard to get wrong, so choosing a provider tends to come down to two factors: cost and extras. We think you should look ahead and consider a third issue, though: how easy will it be to transfer out?
Domain names are pretty cheap. A .co.uk domain can be had for as little as £2 a year, while .com domains begin at around £4. If you want to leave at the end of the first year, it could cost you more in admin fees than you originally paid. They are normally this cheap for a reason?
Many domain resellers don't even list transfers to other providers, or the cost involved, among their services. Don't worry, though, they're obliged to offer it to customers — it's your property, after all. Well, we hope it's your property. Ensure that you're listed as the domain name owner, as some less scrupulous outfits have been known to register addresses in their own name.
Sign up with hosts who are upfront about domain transfers.
The transfer process is easier than some hosts let on. In the case of .co.uk domains, you must contact your new host and ask them for their IPS TAG. Chances are that this will be listed in their on-site documentation, because every host likes a client who transfers in.
Next, get in touch with your current host, telling them your intention to transfer the domain. Instruct them to change the current IPS TAG to the new one provided.
GTLD domain names, you'll need to request that the domain is unlocked, and ask for the administrative contact email address set to one you can monitor. There are also other factors to consider when transfer a .GTLD.
For a domain name to be eligible for a GTLD transfer it must have been registered with its current registrar for at least 60 days and must not expire within the next 15 days.
The shared registry system requires that when a domain name is transferred between registrars successfully, its registration period be extended for a period of 12 months. Your new ISP will charge you for one years domain renewal when you initiate a transfer and its existing expiry date will be extended by 12 months once the transfer is complete. These fees will depend on your new registrar.
After all that hassle, you may decide that it's easier to stay put.
Domain names are pretty cheap. A .co.uk domain can be had for as little as £2 a year, while .com domains begin at around £4. If you want to leave at the end of the first year, it could cost you more in admin fees than you originally paid. They are normally this cheap for a reason?
Many domain resellers don't even list transfers to other providers, or the cost involved, among their services. Don't worry, though, they're obliged to offer it to customers — it's your property, after all. Well, we hope it's your property. Ensure that you're listed as the domain name owner, as some less scrupulous outfits have been known to register addresses in their own name.
Sign up with hosts who are upfront about domain transfers.
The transfer process is easier than some hosts let on. In the case of .co.uk domains, you must contact your new host and ask them for their IPS TAG. Chances are that this will be listed in their on-site documentation, because every host likes a client who transfers in.
Next, get in touch with your current host, telling them your intention to transfer the domain. Instruct them to change the current IPS TAG to the new one provided.
GTLD domain names, you'll need to request that the domain is unlocked, and ask for the administrative contact email address set to one you can monitor. There are also other factors to consider when transfer a .GTLD.
For a domain name to be eligible for a GTLD transfer it must have been registered with its current registrar for at least 60 days and must not expire within the next 15 days.
The shared registry system requires that when a domain name is transferred between registrars successfully, its registration period be extended for a period of 12 months. Your new ISP will charge you for one years domain renewal when you initiate a transfer and its existing expiry date will be extended by 12 months once the transfer is complete. These fees will depend on your new registrar.
After all that hassle, you may decide that it's easier to stay put.
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Webnetics UK Ltd.