In June 2014, “.uk” will be launched, giving organisations an opportunity to buy a shorter domain name extension.
Until this year, the UK has been one of only a few European countries not allowing people to register domains directly before the country code extension (like .fr or .de.). This new option means people using – or thinking of using – a .uk domain can present a “shorter, sharper” online presence. When UK registry Nominet researched the appeal of .uk, 72% of businesses said they thought .uk should be an option alongside .co.uk, org.uk, and so on.
In the UK, 35.7m people use the internet every day. And 37% of UK internet shoppers now buy online every week.
According to Nominet, 81% of people in the UK prefer .uk domains when searching or buying online. At over 10.5 million domain registrations, .uk is the 3rd largest ccTLD—and given the size of the UK economy, .uk offers an attractive opportunity for corporations outside the UK too.
Dot UK at a glance:
- Launch date 10th June 2014.
- Most existing holders of .co.uk, .org.uk, .me.uk, .net.uk, .plc.uk or .ltd.uk domains will have the corresponding .uk domain reserved for them for 5 years. To find out your rights in .uk, visit the lookup tool.
- Registrants must maintain their existing domain name to continue to qualify for the right to register the .uk name.
- Companies wanting a brand new .uk domain, where there are no existing domains with rights, will be able to register one from launch, on 10th June 2014.
It’s important to note that for eligible companies, your .uk brand will be reserved until June 2019. It will not point to any website until it is registered, so it’s important to take action as soon as possible.
Nominet CEO Lesley Cowley said: “The new .uk is for people who want a short, memorable domain in the UK’s favourite namespace. We already know 81% of UK consumers prefer domains ending in .uk when searching or buying online, and we found the new domain has extra appeal among a more tech-savvy, digitally engaged population.”
Welcoming the new domain, CSC Digital Brand Services VP Mark Calandra said“This is a great opportunity for businesses operating in or marketing to the UK. With the domain space being limited, it will give organizations a new way to launch their businesses and communities online.”
To find out your rights in .uk, visit the lookup tool.
And to learn how CSC can help you get set up in this exciting new namespace, please contact your CSC representative or get in touch with us via dbservices@cscglobal.com.
