6 ms·

Microsoft has just registered bi.ng

11 points by OoTheNigerian 16y ago

Kilimanjaro 16y ago
35k domains registered?
count 16y ago
The registrars rules said you had to pick a 3rd level domain (x.co.ng) - did they change this, or did Microsoft just get extra special treatment?
- roxstar 16y ago
  I'd be willing to guess that for the amount of money microsoft probably payed they got special treatment.
- OoTheNigerian 16y ago
  it changed recently. http://oonwoye.com/2010/12/30/first-ng-domain-name-registered/ http://oonwoye.com/2010/12/30/first-ng-domain-name-registere...
  - count 16y ago
    Sweet, thanks!
- oewete 16y ago
  NIRA's Domain Name Policy states that 1 or 2 character domains would be offered through Auction! Rules weren't changed & nobody got any special treatment. Kindly read Section 4.5 of the Policy pasted below : http://www.nira.org.ng/media/pdf/NIRA%20Domain%20Names%20Policy.pdf http://www.nira.org.ng/media/pdf/NIRA%20Domain%20Names%20Pol...
tyng 16y ago
I've been waiting for this for long, so which registry can we use to get .ng?
- mayank 16y ago
  I tried hunting through the government website, and it lists a large number of registrars, but none of them seem to offer an easy way to sign up for one. Keep in mind the following things though: (1) You need to have a business in Nigeria (2) ccTLDs are subject to local laws, so be careful before basing your brand around a ccTLD name. Case in point: Bitly http://workbench.cadenhead.org/news/3503/bitly-builds-business-libya-domain http://workbench.cadenhead.org/news/3503/bitly-builds-busine...
  - tyng 16y ago
    Very true, without the power of Microsoft it's hard to maintain that domain name... in such a remote place.. I mind as well just give up. And likewise I searched the government website and none of its accredited registrars offer straight .ng registration
    - mayank 16y ago
      I saw another Nigerian company for which an "exception" had been made. Overall, I think it's risky business right now, especially if you manage to snag a desirable .ng domain. I don't mean this as offensive, but it's not unimaginable in Nigeria that a few greased palms could lead to an "exception" being made for re-assigning your DNS record if you don't have local interests there to back you up.
  - oewete 16y ago
    Official Registry Link for .ng ccTLD : http://www.nira.org.ng http://www.nira.org.ng
- jonknee 16y ago
  You can use the one Microsoft did: http://www.webdomains.com.ng/ http://www.webdomains.com.ng/
  - tyng 16y ago
    Unfortunately they don't offer .ng on their website, probably still a over-the-counter thing
pohl 16y ago
They neglected to grab bu.ng while they were at it.
dmethvin 16y ago
I wonder if this is just defensive. Given Nigeria's reputation for Internet scams and bit.ly's problems with Libya, would Microsoft really want to build a URL shortener around this TLD?
zitterbewegung 16y ago
I'm wondering why it doesn't point anywhere? Couldn't they point it to bing.com for the time being before they do something else (url shortener ? )
gramakri 16y ago
I thought two letters domains are not sold anymore? (i.e 'bi' is 2 letters) Or this is a restriction only for certain TLD like .com, .org?
oewete 16y ago
Registration Url : http://www.webdomains.com.ng/cpanel.php?page=sldwhois http://www.webdomains.com.ng/cpanel.php?page=sldwhois

11 points by OoTheNigerian 16y ago

35k domains registered?

count 16y ago

The registrars rules said you had to pick a 3rd level domain (x.co.ng) - did they change this, or did Microsoft just get extra special treatment?

roxstar 16y ago
I'd be willing to guess that for the amount of money microsoft probably payed they got special treatment.
OoTheNigerian 16y ago
it changed recently. http://oonwoye.com/2010/12/30/first-ng-domain-name-registered/ http://oonwoye.com/2010/12/30/first-ng-domain-name-registere...
- count 16y ago
  Sweet, thanks!
oewete 16y ago
NIRA's Domain Name Policy states that 1 or 2 character domains would be offered through Auction! Rules weren't changed & nobody got any special treatment. Kindly read Section 4.5 of the Policy pasted below : http://www.nira.org.ng/media/pdf/NIRA%20Domain%20Names%20Policy.pdf http://www.nira.org.ng/media/pdf/NIRA%20Domain%20Names%20Pol...

tyng 16y ago

I've been waiting for this for long, so which registry can we use to get .ng?

mayank 16y ago
I tried hunting through the government website, and it lists a large number of registrars, but none of them seem to offer an easy way to sign up for one. Keep in mind the following things though: (1) You need to have a business in Nigeria (2) ccTLDs are subject to local laws, so be careful before basing your brand around a ccTLD name. Case in point: Bitly http://workbench.cadenhead.org/news/3503/bitly-builds-business-libya-domain http://workbench.cadenhead.org/news/3503/bitly-builds-busine...
- tyng 16y ago
  Very true, without the power of Microsoft it's hard to maintain that domain name... in such a remote place.. I mind as well just give up. And likewise I searched the government website and none of its accredited registrars offer straight .ng registration
  - mayank 16y ago
    I saw another Nigerian company for which an "exception" had been made. Overall, I think it's risky business right now, especially if you manage to snag a desirable .ng domain. I don't mean this as offensive, but it's not unimaginable in Nigeria that a few greased palms could lead to an "exception" being made for re-assigning your DNS record if you don't have local interests there to back you up.
- oewete 16y ago
  Official Registry Link for .ng ccTLD : http://www.nira.org.ng http://www.nira.org.ng
jonknee 16y ago
You can use the one Microsoft did: http://www.webdomains.com.ng/ http://www.webdomains.com.ng/
- tyng 16y ago
  Unfortunately they don't offer .ng on their website, probably still a over-the-counter thing

pohl 16y ago

They neglected to grab bu.ng while they were at it.

dmethvin 16y ago

I wonder if this is just defensive. Given Nigeria's reputation for Internet scams and bit.ly's problems with Libya, would Microsoft really want to build a URL shortener around this TLD?

zitterbewegung 16y ago

I'm wondering why it doesn't point anywhere? Couldn't they point it to bing.com for the time being before they do something else (url shortener ? )

gramakri 16y ago

I thought two letters domains are not sold anymore? (i.e 'bi' is 2 letters) Or this is a restriction only for certain TLD like .com, .org?

oewete 16y ago

Registration Url : http://www.webdomains.com.ng/cpanel.php?page=sldwhois http://www.webdomains.com.ng/cpanel.php?page=sldwhois