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Internet users can soon look up website
addresses easily with just numbers, and website owners can use their
favourite numbers as their website addresses. |
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This is because pure numeric domain names
will be introduced by the Singapore Network Information Centre (SGNIC)
to link websites to businesses, organisations and even personal pages. |
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While alphanumeric domain names already
exist, (eg, www.in2015.sg), fully numeric ones like www.123.sg have not
been allowed till now. |
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The restriction stemmed from the early days
of the Internet, when there were concerns that pure numeric domain names
(eg. 10203010.com) could be confused with Internet Protocol addresses (eg.
10.20.30.10), especially with the early operating systems and software
used back then. |
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With the rapid advancement in technology,
today’s operating systems and software are more intelligent and
resilient in differentiating and working between domain names and IP
addresses. More registries around the world have also started to permit
the use of pure numeric domain names, including China and South Korea. |
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SGNIC, the national registry for domain
names, will now also allow pure numeric domain names in all the seven .sg
categories (ie. .sg, .com.sg, .net.sg, .org.sg, .gov.sg, .edu.sg, .per.sg).
The registration for pure numeric domain names will be phased
accordingly: |
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- 05 November – 28 December 20071:
All qualifying applicants including businesses and individuals can
register. Trademark owners2 will get priority over other
applicants. Example: A company with "123" as its trademark will get
priority for 123.sg, or in any other .sg domain category. |
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- 18 January – 22 February 2008: Bidding
process will take place during this period for domain names with
multiple applications. |
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27 March 2008 onwards: General launch, with
allocations on a first-come, first-served basis. |
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Desirable Domains |
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Just as there are prized car numbers and
mobile phone numbers, domain names with certain numeric significance
will also have a price premium attached to them. There are three such
categories identified as platinum, golden and silver numeric domain
names. |
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SGNIC general manager Lim Choon Sai said:
"Pure numeric domain names are gaining popularity around the world,
especially in places like China, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea. |
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"Amid these numeric domains are some number
patterns that may be sought after because they have a familiar ring
about them. Some might even be deemed as auspicious, especially within
the Asian culture. These platinum, golden and silver domain names will
join the spectrum of colourful website addresses that make up
Singapore’s vibrant online scene. We are definitely looking forward to
see some creative uses of numeric domains." |
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More..... |
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Source:
www.ida.gov.sg Media Release 22 Oct
2007 |
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Notice |
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FrontPage Edition: Sat 3 November 2007
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