As the Internet grows, the need for available domain addresses also grows. Many new Top Level Domains (TLDs) are springing up to accommodate demand. Next to the most established TLDs like .COM, .NET and .ORG, the most familiar generation of new TLD's include .TV, .BIZ and .INFO.
We have been involved for several years in the formation of a new Top Level Domain (TLD) Registry, dot.GOD. The dot.GOD TLD has an interesting history as part of the Internet's early unfolding. The .GOD extension was created in May 1996 to facilitate the identification of network resources. Well-behaved computers or systems were assigned to the .GOD TLD. Unstable or flaky systems within the network were referred to as "Satan's little devils". It was never intended that these names would have any religious significance. It was simply a nomenclature that allowed Internet backbone administrators to manage resources.
With the development of ICAN and other entities involved in Internet real estate, traffic control and stability, the dot.GOD TLD was no longer needed and it went idle. A few years ago, an effort was begun to re-purpose dot.GOD as a TLD for use by websites with content of a spiritual or religious nature.
Eventually dot.GOD will become as visible and accepted as the other new TLD's (like .TV, .BIZ, .INFO, etc.) In the meantime, PacificRoot is acting as the root service provider, so dot.GOD URL's can go live immediately. Once a request is made to PacificRoot for an individual .GOD domain name, it goes live on the Net. User's then have to do a simple config to their browser in order to have access to the TLD. In other words, in these early days visitors have to be invited to activate their browsers to 'see' this TLD (this is a simple 'Preferences' type configuration). In future, when more sites are built under dot.GOD, all browsers will automatically present them.
As participants in the Registry's establishment, we registered a few hundred .GOD domain names, hoping to safe-keep them from commercial speculators, who had already purchased about 7,000 of the most popular names (mostly Christian-oriented). In the eastern philosophy realm, we wanted to ensure that the 'best' .GOD names were available to the devotees first, so we'd see valuable content manifest before the speculators turned them into commercial sites. We currently have plans for site development on a number of these domains, beginning with Krsna.God and HareKrsna.God.
We are now offering the following .GOD domains for sale at $20.00 each. Once we receive your payment for a name, you will be directed to the dot.GOD Registry, where you can input your own personal details to the WHOIS record. No further renewal fees will be due for the coming year after which you'll need to renew yearly, like any .COM name.
Individuals registering these .GOD domains are assigned/licensed exclusive and perpetual rights to the use of the name (provided the yearly maintenance fees are paid to the Registry). Instructions for ISP pointers are located on the Registry website.
