Domain Name Registration
A Domain Name is an address used to identify and locate computers and web pages on the Internet. It is hierarchical and often conveys information about the type of entity using the Domain Name. The site url, newcastleinfotech.com.au implies that Newcastle Infotech is an australian commercial entity... which it is.
.au represents the Top Level Domain for Australia. Japan (.jp), Germany (.de) are other examples of Top Level Domains. Any site that ends with a .au is a site registered specifically for Australians. A top level domain representing a country is called a country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD). A list of ccTLD's can be found at http://www.iana.org/cctld/cctld-whois.htm
The following types of .au domain names are available
Within the .au top level domain there are five domain types (we call them 2LD's) under management by AusRegistry - .com.au and .net.au, .org.au, .id.au and .asn.au. Each of these domain types serves a specific purpose and community. By choosing the right domain type for your domain, you can reach the specific audience you require for your domain.
| .asn.au | For 'associations'. Includes associations incorporated under specific state legislation, some incorporated bodies, political parties, trade unions, sporting and special interest clubs and 'partnerships' between disparate organisations. |
| .com.au | For commercial purposes. Includes commercial entities, currently registered and trading in Australia, as well as commercial products and services. |
| .id.au | For individuals |
| .net.au | For commercial purposes. Includes commercial entities, currently registered and trading in Australia, as well as commercial products and services. |
| .org.au | For non-commercial purposes |
Global domain names: .biz, .com, .info, .name, .net, .org
These top-level domains are open and unrestricted. Traditionally, however, most names are intended or reserved for specific use, as listed below.
| .com | A generic top-level domain originally intended for commercial businesses around the world. |
| .net | A generic top-level domain used by many types of organizations and individuals globally; it was historically intended for and is still commonly used by Internet service providers. |
| .org | Is unrestricted, but was intended to serve the noncommercial community. |
| .biz | Is restricted to businesses |
| .info | Is an unrestricted domain for websites containing information about you, your organization, your products or any other information you'd like to make available to a global audience |