Register International Domain Names

January 4, 2002 8:10 AM

Register International Domain Names such as "http://www.nërd.com", which is actually available. (Note the umlaut on the e.) If you've been looking for an interesting domain name, only to find that they've all been registered, this may be just the ticket.
posted by fnirt (11 comments total)

Read the fine print:
"Note: At this time, the central registry is supporting the registration of international character domain names in an experimental testbed. International character domain names are not yet and may not be fully functional on the Internet and cannot be used for Email Services or any other DNS related activity. Please contact your Web hosting company to determine if Web hosting is available for your international character domain name. By registering international character domain names at this time you understand and assume the risk that your domain name registration may be temporarily or permanently suspended or denied based on further developments by Internet standard-setting bodies. In addition, the encoding schemes, protocols and other international character-enabling technologies are not within our control, are subject to change without notice and may not prevent other people from registering the international character domain name that you have registered. You assume all risks that such changes may disrupt, impair or otherwise prevent your ability to use the international character domain name you have registered. "
posted by Outlawyr at 8:21 AM on January 4, 2002

If that interesting domain name is already registered, you could also wait a little while, since the number of unrenewed domains exceeded new registrations from November to December.
posted by sj at 8:26 AM on January 4, 2002

from their faq:

Why can't I reach my Web site using my new special symbol domain name?
Special symbol domain names do not resolve (point) to a Web site in the same way that an English character domain name does.  Users can visit Web sites with special symbol addresses only if they are using Internet Explorer 5.0 and higher on a Windows platform. (No plug-in is necessary.)

sigh.
posted by panopticon at 8:26 AM on January 4, 2002

Wi nøt trei a høliday in Sweden this yër ?

See the løveli lakes

The wøndërful telephøne system

And mäni interesting furry animals

Including the majestik møøse

(here)

Imagine an entire web ....
posted by dhartung at 8:28 AM on January 4, 2002

I feel an inexplicable need to build attractive yet inexpensive particle board based furniture right now
posted by dong_resin at 9:09 AM on January 4, 2002

Supercool that you can register Telugu, which is beautiful in written script.
posted by boardman at 9:09 AM on January 4, 2002

Cool! Can I have micrøsøft.com?

On second thought, forget it. I've got enough domain troubles as it is.
posted by chipr at 11:16 AM on January 4, 2002

Being that perhaps one person in ten knows how to type extended (int'l) characters (and the figure is closer to none in ten if you're talking AOL users) the value of these domain-names would be ø.
posted by BentPenguin at 11:41 AM on January 4, 2002

Gee, I hope that ΜєזąfїΙţεř.com is still available.
posted by milnak at 1:55 PM on January 4, 2002

Just what a savvy web-marketer needs- an address that requires you to dig the Character Map out of the menu to type it in...
posted by Perigee at 2:19 PM on January 4, 2002

Bent, that's not actually true. Remember that people in (say) Sweden have Swedish keyboards that give characters such as ä or ö their own keys; and in fact there are perfectly legal corporate or personal names that include those characters. If you've had to make do with a domain name using the "wrong" character you're going to want to take advantage of this, and in fact most of your customers may well have no problem typing that name in.
posted by dhartung at 2:33 PM on January 4, 2002