SIDN, the .nl registry, has today announced that purely numeric .nl domain names will be available to everyone from 28 February 2008 12.00 hrs (CET).

9292.nl is first numeric domain name to be assigned.

SIDN, the .nl registry, has today announced that purely numeric .nl domain names will be available to everyone from 28 February 2008 12.00 hrs (CET). Numeric domain names are names made up entirely of numbers (e.g. 1234.nl), or of numbers separated by hyphens (e.g. 12-34.nl). In the first few days after registration begins, SIDN expects a ‘landrush’ of people racing to get the ‘best’ combinations. The registry has therefore put special measures in place to prevent its systems becoming overloaded. Full details of the start-line arrangements can be found at www.sidn.nl.

Between 1 and 14 December 2007, trademark and trading name owners were given the opportunity to reserve the corresponding domain names before general registration began. The first name to be reserved in the context of this ‘sunrise period’ for numeric .nl domain names was 9292.nl, which was assigned to the organisation 9292.

The travel information provider was very pleased to secure its purely numeric name. ‘The new domain name will make things more straightforward for the consumer. Once it goes live, people won’t have to remember to include the letters ‘OV’ when they want to access our services. Since more than half of the Dutch population know us simply as 9292, that means we’ll be easier to find for computer users and mobile users. In other words, becoming the first owner of a numeric .nl name, 9292 will be in a better position to realise the objective of providing as much travel information as possible to as many people as possible making car and public transport journeys in the Netherlands. The purely numeric domain name is something we’ve wanted for the last four years, and we are grateful to SIDN and the wider Internet community for making it possible. We can’t wait for the opportunity to start making use of 9292.nl,’ said Communications Manager Aarnout Mijling.

Can I pre-register a numeric domain name?

Various SIDN registrars offer a pre-registration service for numeric domain names. You can find the relevant registrars by, for example, performing a Google search using appropriate Dutch-language phrases, such as ‘numerieke domeinnaam’ and ‘voorregistratie’. NB: no registrar can guarantee that you will ultimately be assigned any numeric domain name that you pre-register.

I reserved a numeric domain name through the sunrise programme. How do I actually register the name now?

Over the next few weeks, we will be contacting all registrars whose customers were allocated numeric domain names in the context of the sunrise programme. At that time, we will explain the procedure for formally registering reserved names.

What does it cost to register a numeric domain name?

Registering a numeric domain name costs the same as registering an ordinary domain name; there are no additional fees.

How can I make sure of getting the numeric domain name I want?

It is very difficult to be certain of getting a particular name. One way of increasing your chances is to pre-register the name that you want with a registrar (see question 1). Whether you actually get the name will depend on whether anyone else wants it too and, if so, whether your registrar manages to get an application in first. As with ordinary domain names, the first-come-first-served principle applies. To maximise your prospects of success, you might consider pre-registering the name with several registrars.

When will I know whether my application has been successful?

Applications submitted during the start-up procedure will be processed by SIDN in the weekend of 1 March. We expect to be able to process all the applications in a day, so that you can start using your numeric domain name shortly afterwards.

What can I do if someone else registers a numeric domain name that I wanted?

On SIDN’s homepage, you will find the Whois facility, which you can use to look up the contact details of the registrants of all dot-NL domain names. If you find out who has registered the name you want, you can approach the registrant and ask whether the person or organisation in question would be willing to transfer the name to you.

Details about the Land Rush.

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