A domain name works like an address forwarding service.

All of your Web site content sits on a computer with a unique address. This is called an IP address. An IP address is made up of a series of numbers, such as 123.23.234.45. Your domain name directs visitors to your site using this IP address.

We use domain names instead of IP addresses because most people find it easier to remember a name rather than a series of numbers.

Name servers are the Internet's equivalent to phone books. A name server maintains a directory of domain names that match certain IP addresses (computers). The information from all the name servers across the Internet is gathered in a central registry.

This makes it possible for people across the Internet to access your Web site using a familiar domain name, instead of having to remember a series of numbers.

Besides setting up your Web site, there are a number of things you can do with your domain once you register it.

Sell it. Domain names can be a great investment. If you have registered a domain name that you are not using, maybe someone else can.

Protect your brand online. The more domain names you register, the better. Prevent others from registering a similar domain name to yours—just to steal away your customers.

No. Your domain must be registered through us in order for you to use our system to register name servers for it.

If your domain name is with another registrar, you will need to register your nameservers through the domain's current registrar.

Any public domain registration that you register through us will have your name as the registrant, just as if you had registered it through any other ICANN certified registrar like Network Solutions/Verisign or Register.com. You will be able to change all four contact fields for the domain whenever you want. You can change the name servers for your domain or use the domain to register your own name servers.

ICANN's Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) defines how to resolve trademark-based disputes over domain names (.biz, .com, .info, .name, .net, .org). In accordance with the UDRP, you can dispute a claim to a domain name by following the dispute process.

Unfortunately, we are unable to change or edit the spelling of a domain name after it has been registered. We try to register the domain exactly as you enter it. Should the registration succeed, you will be charged, even if the domain you entered was not what you actually intended to type.

Most registrars allow a grace period after a domain name expires for the registrant to renew it. That grace period can be as short as one to two weeks or as long as one year in some cases. If the current registrant does not renew it within the allotted time frame, then that domain name should become available. The actual grace period is different for each individual registrar. Once the registrar releases the domain name, you will be able to register it through us.

New domains and changes to domains may take up to 4-8 hours for .COM and .NET domains to become effective, and about 24-48 hours for all other domain extensions. This is due to the number of networks involved, and the fact that several different agencies control those networks. This delay applies to all domains and all registrars.

A top-level domain is the part of the domain name located to the right of the dot (" . "). The most common TLDs are .com, .net and .org.

Located immediately to the left of the dot (" . "), the second-level domain is the readable part of the domain name. The registrant defines the second-level domain. It typically refers to the organization or entity associated with the IP address. For example, in www.cnn.com "cnn" is a second-level domain.

Yes, you can register as many domain names as you'd like and choose to have them parked until you find a hosting provider. To do so, register a domain name and select "Parking." If this option is chosen, a temporary Parked Page displays whenever somebody types your domain name in their browser. This temporary page will inform anyone passing by that this is the future location of your site.

Unfortunately, we cannot make any changes to the registrant fields without a legal change of ownership, a court order, or an order by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

If you feel that you are the rightful owner of the domain name, please contact the registrant of the domain name. If you are unable to find a satisfactory solution with the current registrant, you need to settle the issue with a court order. We do not get involved in domain disputes. We cannot make changes to a registrant field without a legal change of ownership or a court order.

When you park a domain name, you're reserving your registered domain until you have created your Web site, found a hosting provider, or sold the domain to a third party. After you park your domain, a temporary Web page displays whenever somebody types your domain name in their browser.

You must change the name server information on your account to unpark, or activate your domain name.

We currently offer these top-level domains: .com, .net, .org

From our home page click on the Domain Names tab. In the Register a new Domain Name search box, type in the domain name you are interested in. Select a top-level domain (.com, .org, .net). Click GO.