.CO namespace for Companies and Commerce

The .co namespace has launched and Make-Tracks is taking applications from April 2010.

.CO is the new domain extension that offers you a truly global, recognizable and credible option in branding your Internet presence. It's the online space where possibility meets opportunity, and the world's next great enterprises will have a home.

These days, branding your online presence is more important than ever before. Whether you run a start-up in your basement, a personal blog in your spare time or a multi-billion-dollar corporation – you need a credible domain name that tells people who you are and what you’re all about.

Associated globally with the words "COmpany," "COrporation" and "COmmerce" – the .CO domain is easy to recognize, simple to remember and flexible to use. And that makes it the perfect platform for today’s socially-networked .COnsumers to share .COntent, to create .COmmunities, and to .COnnect, .COmmunicate and .COllaborate online.

Key Benefits

• .CO is a truly global, recognizable and credible domain
• .CO is relevant to individuals, businesses and organizations
• .CO can help give your business or brand a worldwide footprint
• .CO appeals to today’s socially-networked individuals and entrepreneurs
• .CO is meaningful, memorable and intuitive to use for people around the world

With industry-leading technology, enhanced security and unprecedented rights protection mechanisms – .CO is poised to become the world’s next premier web address.

Summary of the New .CO Registry Policies

• Any person or entity in the world can register .CO domains
• There are no domicile or burdensome documentation requirements
• Registration period is between 1 and 5 years, subject to renewal
• Registrants can easily transfer domain names to others

Launch Plan

With the transition from UNIANDES now complete, the next step in the global launch of .CO is the implementation of a multi-phase Launch Plan (also referred to as a "Gradual Offering Plan") to ensure for the safe, stable and orderly distribution of .CO domains.

The Launch Plan will last for approximately five months and is divided into four primary phases.

• Phase 1: the Grandfather Process
• Phase 2: the Sunrise Process
• Phase 3: Land Rush
• Phase 4: General Availability

The Grandfather phase doesn't really apply to Australian businesses (unless you also operate in Columbia). And the Sunrise phase only applies to trademark holders. If your business holds a trademark, you will want to apply for domain registration as part of the Sunrise phase. Please contact Make-Tracks for more information and requirements of the Sunrise phase.

For everyone else, either the Land Rush or General Availability phases will be applicable.

Landrush is the period during which interested parties can seek to register priority domains not previously registered through the Grandfathering and Sunrise phases, or otherwise reserved by the Registry or Restricted by Policy.

Landrush summary:

• Applications may be submitted to Make-Tracks from April 1st, 2010 to July 11th, 2010.
• Applications open for the general public.
• Applications will not be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. In the event there are multiple valid applications for the same string, an auction will be conducted to determine which applicant is awarded the domain.
• No trademark or local presence eligibility requirements will apply.
• All applications will incur a non-refundable application fee. In addition, all winning applications will incur a registration fee when the domain is registered and, if subject to an auction, the winning auction bid which will be payable to the auction provider.

General Availability (or Go Live) is the date when .CO opens to the general public, and available .CO domain names can be registered on a first-come, first-served basis.

General Availability (Go Live) summary:

• Applications may be submitted to Make-Tracks starting April 1st, 2010.
• Applications open for the general public.
• No trademark or local presence requirements will apply.
• Domains are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Auctions

If a domain name receives more than one qualified application during Sunrise or Landrush phases, an auction will be held for the domain between the qualified applicants.

Auctions summary:

• Auctions will be managed by a their-party provider (Pool.Com).
• Registrants will be required to manage their own auction and they will be given all necessary information to do so.
• The winning bid is charged on top of any application and registration fees, and paid to the auction provider.

Please contact us to receive our .CO Information Pack by email. Or download the FAQ.pdf directly. You may also be interested in the Launch and Registration rules.

The .co domain pricing varies for each phase of the roll-out. Please see this page for pricing details.

Order your domain today. Please use the domain application form to register your domain.

This information is intended to provide a brief summary of the key processes, policies and terms and conditions of .co domain applications.

Make-Tracks can help clarify any aspects relating to this process that you may require.