Each computer on Internet uses string of numbers called IP address to identify its location. Domain name is simple word or expression that is assigned to IP address so that people can easy remember it. A domain name is essentially a signpost on the Internet. Every web site you've ever been to, and every email you've ever composed, has used a domain name in its address. Once a domain name is registered to a person or company, it is that person's to use exclusively as long as they continue to pay the yearly renewal fee.

A domain name gives you a unique identity on the Internet. People register domain names in order to claim particular name whether for business or personal reasons.

Vikont have built a domain registration process that you initiate from our web site. Once you've applied for the name, the Vikont accepts payment, processes the order with domain name registrar, and then the domain name is registered to you. This process can generally be completed within one business day, but to be on safe side allow us 48 hours.

Please see domain price list.

You can make changes to your domain name by using our management interface HERE. Bear in mind you'll need your domain's username and password to make the desired changes. If you don't have a username and password or have forgotten them, please contact us and we will send it to you.

You can simply give your username and password to the new owner, and allow them to change the contact information using the Manage Domain interface. They should also change the domain's profile to a new one with a unique username and password. To change the contact information or domain's profile: Log into the Manage Domain interface HERE, Click on "Manage Profile" and then select "Change Ownership of Domain". Fill out the username/password of the profile you want to add this domain to, or create a new profile and provide a username and password. If you are moving the domain to an existing profile, click on "Move to existing profile" and type the name of a domain that is already in the profile into the "Previously registered domain" field. Click on "Change Owner" and the domain will be in the new profile. * It is important to remember that anyone with the profile login information can change all info for all domains in the profile, including ownership. PLEASE NOTE- There is a one-time charge of CAD $50.00 for each modification of your domain records performed by VIKONT .

Registrar: A "Registrar" (or "Domain Name Registrar") is an organization like OpenSRS or Network Solutions that has control over the granting of domains within certain TLDs. Registry: The 'Registry' is the backend that registrars have shared access to. Each registrar writes new names to a central registry database, from which the authoritative root is built. Registrant: A registrant is the person or company who purchases a domain name

No Vikont is not the Registrar. OpenSRS is Registrar and Vikont is Open SRS Registration Service Provider.

You can reach Vikont by filling out our sales inquiry form our helpful sales staff will make sure to expedite your request as quickly as possible.

You can reach Vikont by filling out our support on-line form our helpful support staff who will make sure to expedite your request as quickly as possible.

Your login name and password (used to make modifications to your domain name record) can be obtained from Vikont write us request e-mail to

Domain names are not truly owned -- they're leased out on a first-come, first-served basis, and remain with the initial lessee until either a) the lessee does not renew the name, or b) a business with a trademark of the same name demonstrates a greater claim to the name than the lessee can demonstrate. The question is better phrased as ' who can control the domain name'. With us, the answer is the domain's Administrative Contact. You usually specify this, during the registration process.

Domain owners, in general, have full control over their registered domain names. This means that the domain owner has the power to: a) Change admin/technical and billing contacts for the domain. b) Change ownership of the domain. c) Change the name servers that are authoritative for the domain. d) Create sub-users and enable them to change some/all of the options in a, b and c above. e) Change the password that enables a, b, c, and d above. As an end-user, it's unlikely you'll care to bother with such details. If this is the case, there are many Registration Service Providers opt to offer these services as a 'value-add' to their registration service. Please review individual Registration Service Provider policy pages for information on how they deal with domain authority.

Originally, the three letter extensions after the dot (or Top Level Domain/TLD) were meant to denote whether the domain name was being used for business (.com) charity/non-profit (.org) or for a technology based company (.net). However, with the explosion of the Internet (and specifically, the world wide web) as a new business medium, the lines were blurred, and companies and individuals alike started cross-registering domains (eg. Me.com, me.net, me.org) just to protect their interests. Now, .com, .net, and .org names (the generic Top Level Domains) can be used for any purpose.

Currently, through Vikont are offered registrations in the .com, .net, .org, .biz, .info gTLD's, and the .co.uk, .org.uk, .ca, .us, .de, .cc and .tv ccTLD's.

A gTLD is a generic Top Level Domain. These are top-level domains that are NOT affiliated with any country and can be registered by anyone for a fee. Currently, these are .com, .net, and .org. ccTLD's are Country Code Top Level Domains. These are the two-character top-level domain names affiliated with various countries around the world. Many ccTLD's are closed or restricted, requiring proof of residency in the country in question. Others are not restricted, and can be purchased much like gTLD's. Currently, through Vikont are offered registrations in the .com, .net, .org gTLD's, and the .co.uk, .org.uk, .ca and .tv ccTLD's.

On Internet any computer on a global network can be identified by its numeric Internet Protocol (IP) address. But since people, and not machines, are the primary users of the Internet, a more people-friendly naming system called the Domain Name System (DNS) was invented. DNS maps a host name like www.vikont.com to the IP address of the machine that hosts the OpenSRS web site. For example, DNS actually maps the host name www.vikont.com to the IP address 64.40.97.167.

gTLD's: Domains are leased on an annual basis, and need to be renewed once the current payment for the lease expires. If a domain is registered on April 14, 2000 and prepaid for one year, it will be due for renewal on April 14, 2001, at which point the registrant either pays for additional years, or lets the name expire. Domains can also be pre-paid for multiple years, up to a maximum of 10 years. to renew your domain name click HERE. ccTLD's: The *.uk registry, Nominet, has set registration and renewal periods for all .uk names at two years.

The term 'transfer' has been used to describe various kinds of domain name transfers. Traditionally, simply changing the name servers providing name service for a domain was considered a transfer. Nowadays, such a modification is more rightly called a modification, and the term 'transfer' describes the transfer of a domain from one registrar to another. If you registered your domain with some other company but would like to transfer your domain name from your current registrar to Vikont to take advantage of domain services or competitive pricing please do it HERE. You can transfer .com and .ca domains only. By transferring your domain to Vikont additional year will be added to your domain therefore applicable charges will apply.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the non-profit corporation that was formed to assume responsibility for the IP address space allocation, protocol parameter assignment, domain name system management, and root server system management functions previously performed under U.S. Government contract by IANA and other entities. For more information about ICANN, please visit:http://www.icann.org.

CIRA stands for the Canadian Internet Registration Authority. It is a not-for-profit organization mandated by the Canadian government to operate the .ca top-level domain. CIRA was incorporated in 1998 to set policy for and operate the .ca domain. It assumed responsibility on December 1, 2000 from the University of British Columbia. CIRA significantly changed the rules and requirements for .ca domain registrations making .ca domain registrations easier and more accessible to a wider range of Registrants. For example, it is now possible for Registrants to register an unlimited number of domains.xx.ca 2nd level domains are now available to anyone with a Canadian presence (not just Canadian corporations), and Registrants can upgrade from a 3rd or 4th level domain to a 2nd level domain. For more information about CIRA, please visit: a href="http://www.cira.ca" target="_blank">http://www.cira.ca.

The Nominet is the registry for all .uk domain names, serving a similar function as the NSI registry does for the gTLD's. Tucows is an authorized Nominet agent. For more information about Nominet, please visit: http://www.nic.uk

OpenSRS is a wholesale domain name registration service that uses Open Source principles to ensure equal participation for as many companies and individuals as possible. Sponsored by Tucows.com, OpenSRS has been accredited as a domain registrar by ICANN and recognized by the United States Government and Network Solutions.

Under the OpenSRS model, the Registration Service Provider resells domain names through OpenSRS and sells them to individuals or businesses. RSP's are generally Internet based service providers, either running a domain registration business as a 'value add' to their core business, or in some cases, as their core business. RSP's also provide all technical support to domain registrants.

The Uniform Dispute Resolution policy is a document which governs how domain name disputes will be resolved within the gTLD name space. It defines the conditions under which a genuine dispute may arise, and provides guidelines for administrative proceedings to settle the issue, outside of a court where possible. All registrants registering domains through OpenSRS (or any other registrar) are bound by the UDRP. The UDRP can be found HERE.

There are two ways to determine when your domain name is up for renewal. The first is to perform a Whois Search and look at the expiration date for your domain. The second is to wait for Vikont to send notification to the administrative contact of the need for the domain name to be renewed.

Yes. You can renew your domain name at any time during its term. Renew it HERE.

Domain renewal fee is equivalent to the fee of domain year for that domain extension. See domain price list.

E-mail is the most popular method of contact for notifying registrants that their domain name need to be renewed. As such, it is VERY IMPORTANT that the contact information listed in the whois database for your domain name is correct.

Yes. You will however need to initiate a registrar transfer of your domain name in order to renew it through Vikont. By transferring your domain name to Vikont you are automatically renewing it for 1-year as well. i.e. If your domain name currently has 45 days to expiration, transferring it to Vikont will add 1 year to your current expiration date and leave you with 1 year and 45 days to expiration.

Once a domain name expires, there is a 40-day "grace period" within which a renewal is still possible. After the grace period has run out however, you will not be able to renew your domain name. The domain will be deleted and made available for the general public to register. You may be able to register your domain name again, provided another party does not register it before you.

If you do not renew it, your domain name will be deleted from the main registry and will stop working. It will then be deleted and will become available for any other interested party to register.