Ready for numerical domain names within .no

(Trondheim, March 5th 2007): In June 2007 Norid will be able to accept the first applications for domain names consisting of digits only, for instance 123.no. During the transition period allocation of domains will be effected by a draw among applications containing the same name.

Starting Wednesday June 13th at 10:00 a.m., Norid will receive applications for domain names consisting of digits only. Up until Friday June 15th at 16:00 p.m., these applications will be accepted and put aside. After that point of time no further applications of whatever cathegory will be accepted.

Drawing lots

On Monday June 18th, the Norwegian Post and Telecommunications Authority will carry out a draw to determine the sequence in which applications for the same name will be processed. Each organization may only participate with one application for each name.

Norid will then process the applications in the order decided. The system will open for ordinary receipt of applications on Tuesday June 19th at 10:00 a.m.. These will be processed according to the ordinary routine of first come first served.

Applications are sent to a registrar as usual. The registrars should help applicants to prepare the application and then send it to Norid for processing. Except for a few cases, applications for other domain names than those containing digits only will be processed as usual during the transition period.

No right of priority

In general no one will have a right of priority to numerical domain names, just like no one has such rights to other domain names. An exception will be made for telephone numbers which are used as national emergency numbers, such as 113.no. For a transition period these domain names can only be registered by the organization which holds the corresponding telephone number. This exception is made with regard to national security interests in protection of life and health.

The applicant has, as with other domain names, the responsibility to make sure that the name doesn't violate Norwegian law or the rights of third parties. Complaints on violation of rights can be brought before the alternative resolution body as usual. For complaints given in and accepted by the body within two months after the introduction of the new regulations, the handling fee will be refunded.

Why numerical domain names?

Domain names are more and more associated with company names and brands. Some companies have names or products consisting of digits only. So far they have been forced to select a domain combining letters and digits; now they will get the opportunity to register a domain in accordance with the name of the company or a product.

The main reason that numerical domain names have been forbidden, has been the risk of technical confusion connected to the use of digits only. However, an analysis shows that this is noe longer a risk.

- Some people have missed the opportunity to get a numerical domain name where this reflects a product or company name. We are therefore very pleased that it is now safe to offer these domain names, says Hilde M. Thunem, Managing Director of Norid.

More information (in Norwegian only):
www.norid.no/regelverk/forslag/nummer-2006/

Contact persons:

Hilde M. Thunem, Managing Director, hilde.thunem@uninett.no, telephone +47 414 49 885
Elisabeth Farstad, Senior Adviser, Information and PR, elisabeth.farstad@uninett.no, telephone +47 971 29 423

About Norid:

Norid is the .no registry, which means that all domains directly within .no must be registered with Norid. In addition to processing applications and developing the domain name policy, Norid is responsible for the technical operation of the name service, allowing the Norwegian Internet to be globally accessible at all times. According to its role as a neutral actor, Norid also handles other national tasks which have a natural relation to the core activities.

The registry follows a principle of only handling essential core tasks inhouse, while other tasks are outsourced to companies who offer registrar services in agreement with Norid. The activites are strongly internationally orientated with a wide range of contacts in technical as well as domain administrative environments in other countries.

Norid is also responsible for the top level domains .bv (Bouvet Island) and .sj (Svalbard and Jan Mayen). The current domain name policy do not, however, allow registration within these domains.

The service is regulated by the Domain Name Regulations and is supervised by the Norwegian Post and Telecommunications Authority. Norid is not a public administrative agency, and the allocation of domain names is based on private law rules. The company is run non-profit. Norid is part of UNINETT and is located in Trondheim with the rest of the Group.