.Asia Preregistration FAQs

What is preregistration?

Preregistration is a stage during the launch of a new top-level domain (TLD) when people can sign up for the domain name they want, and it will be automatically submitted for registration  the instant the registration process launches.. You may preregister a name at any stage in the release process, and your name will be submitted to the registry at the beginning of the appropriate stage.

Hostway makes the entire process easy — giving you the peace of mind of knowing you have the best chance of owning the domain name you want.

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What is .asia?

.Asia is a new TLD that signals a presence in the Asia/Pacific region rather than a specific country. It is unrestricted, meaning anyone can register a .asia domain name. DotAsia Organization, Ltd. provides the registry services for this TLD.

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Why .asia?

A .asia domain name offers companies a way to tap into the fast-growing Asian economy and signal their commitment to the entire area, not just one country. This TLD is great for global companies expanding into the region and domestic companies that want to grow within the region.

With more than 60% of the world's population and hundreds of millions of Internet users in Asia, the Asia/Pacific region holds enormous potential for business growth. Plus, the new TLD offers an abundance of desirable domain names that have not yet been registered.

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Why should I register with Hostway?

While other registrars have come and gone, Hostway has established itself as a major player in the domain name registration arena with almost 10 years of experience. When you register with us, you get:

• Experience — Hostway's history of successful domain name registrations and new TLD launches (eg. .eu and .mobi) assures you that your registration will be handled by seasoned professionals.
• No risk — We only charge you when your registration is successfully completed. You risk nothing by preregistering. Other companies may charge an up-front registration fee or only return only a portion of your money for unsuccessful registrations.
• Helps Meet Requirements — You’re required to have a contact that is a legal entity in Asia to qualify for a .asia domain name. Hostway can lend you a "local presence", satisfying .asia’s Charter Eligibility Requirement for you.

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Where can I register?

You can preregister for the domain of your choice by clicking here.

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When can I register?

You can preregister your domain name any time before the start date of your registration period. Preregistration gives you the best chance of getting your first choice domain name because your application is sent as soon as the registration period begins.

If you are eligible to register during a sunrise period, you can register at any time before the sunrise end date to take advantage of early registration. However, to be considered within the pool of applicants, you must register before the end of the sunrise period. Applications received after this date will not be eligible for the intended sunrise period and will only be considered for subsequent periods.

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How can I register?

To register your domain name, all you have to do is fill out a simple form on our Web site. Preregister for the greatest chance of getting your first choice in domain names. Here's how:

• Preregister here.
• Once you preregister, check your email regularly during the sunrise start date. If you are the only successfully verified applicant for the domain name, you will automatically get the domain name.
• If there is more than one successfully verified applicant for the same domain name, you will be notified through email that you will be entered into an auction. For more information about auctions, please click here.

Once your domain is successfully registered, you're done!

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When can I preregister for .asia?

You can preregister for .asia at any time before the registration start date for your domain name. For example, if you're registering a trademark name during the sunrise period 2a: Early Bird Sunrise, you can preregister between now and October 8, 2007.

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When can I register for .asia?

You can register your domain name any time after your sunrise period starts. Keep in mind that successfully validated applicants in higher-level sunrise periods get the right to use the domain name.

So, if two people apply for the same name, but one applies under sunrise 2b (general registered mark) and the other applies under sunrise 3 (organization), the general registered mark applicant gets the name because 2b is a higher-level sunrise period.

For an explanation on the different types of registration periods, please click here.

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What are the different types of registrations, and what do they mean?

Sunrise Registration

Sunrise registration allows trademark owners to protect the integrity of their names by registering them before they become available to the public. Sunrise registrations are the very first domain names that will be submitted to the registry for live registration. If you have a trademark or rights for the domain name you want to register, you are encouraged to register at this stage, as it will give you the absolute best chance of beating the competition to your domain name.

Land Rush Registration

This type of preregistration is for customers who do not have a trademark, but want to get the next best chance of successfully registering their domain name.

Ongoing Registration

Ongoing registration requests will be submitted for live registration once the registry fully opens, in the order they were received. The only exceptions are:

• The domain has already been successfully registered during the sunrise period.
• The domain has already been successfully registered during land rush.

You can preregister for this period at any time.

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What information must I provide to apply during the trademark sunrise periods?

DotAsia Organization, Ltd. requires you to verify your ownership of a trademark to protect the integrity of all registered trademarks. To prove that you have rights to your trademark, you must provide the following information:

• Registered Mark — The exact word or phrase described by the registered mark for the domain name applied for.  State or local trademarks or service marks are not allowed. In general, the domain name applied for must be an exact match with the registered mark.  For example, if the registered trademark is “abc”, The domain name applied for must be abc.asia.
• Registration Number — Registration or serial number of the registered mark’s current registration. This number must enable the verification agent to access the correct registration entry in the trademark registry or trademark office.
• Registration Locality — Country or location where the mark is registered.
• Application Date — Date the registered mark was applied for (corresponding to the registration number and locality specified).
• Registration Date — Date on which the registration of the registered mark becomes effective (this is not the priority date, but the day for which the mark is issued and registered).
• Registered Class  — Optional for Early Bird (SR2a) and Registered Mark (SR2b) sunrise applicants.  Mandatory for Extended Protection (SR2c) sunrise applicants. This is the class of the registered mark according to the 9th Edition of the Nice Classification System (eg., Mark for XYZ in Nice Class 28: “Games” may apply for “XYZGames.asia”). If more than one class has been registered, any one of the classes can be used.
• Nature of Entitlement — To prove you are the owner, co-owner or assignee of the trademark,

The registry (DotAsia Organization Ltd) may require that you submit additional documentary evidence for your sunrise application(s). If this is the case, you will be notified, and you will have 10 calendar days to submit this documentation.

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What information is required from me when I apply during the organization sunrise periods?

To be eligible for a domain name during this sunrise period, DotAsia Organization, Ltd. requires information to protect you from unauthorized persons using an entity name that you own the rights to. Please note your entity must be registered with an appropriate authority (eg., business registries, company registries, society registries, cooperative registries, etc.) in one of the corresponding localities within the DotAsia community.  While preregistering, you will be asked the following information:

• Entity Name — The name of a legal entity, company name, name of an organization, partnership or a natural person. The domain name applied for must correspond with the name of the applicant entity as registered. 
• Registration Number — Registration number of the registered entity.
• Registration Locality — Country or locality within the DotAsia community where the registered entity is registered.
• Application Date —  Date on which the registered entity applied for registration.
• Registration Date — Date on which the registered entity was formally established.
• Form of Entity — The type of entity you are, such as a corporation or nonprofit organization.

The registry (DotAsia Organization Ltd) may require that you submit additional documentary evidence for your sunrise Application(s). If this is the case, you will be notified, and you will have 10 calendar days to submit this documentation.

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What is the .asia Charter Eligibility Requirement(CED)?

The charter eligibility requirement makes a legal entity in one of the eligible Asian countries a prerequisite for .asia registration. A legal entity may be a natural person or a juristic entity (such as a corporation). A natural person can be a person with an Asian passport or citizenship ID but does not necessarily have to be living in Asia. A juristic entity can consist of a corporation, companies, cooperatives, partnerships, collectives, government bodies, states, sovereigns, municipalities, political parties, trade unions, trusts, estates, associations, societies or institutions. For a list of ICANN-designated Asia/Pacific countries, please click here. Hostway can help you fulfill this requirement. To find out more, please click here.

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If I do not have a contact located in Asia to fullfill the charter eligibility requirement(CED), what should I do?

Hostway understands that not everyone who wants to enter the Asian market has a representative or juristic entity located in Asia. Hostway can assist you in satisfying the charter eligibility requirement by lending you a “local presence”— saving you the trouble and expense.

You simply assign Hostway to act as your CED contact during the sign up process, and you are immediately eligible to apply for a .asia domain. This mandatory requirement can be easily fulfilled for only $9.95/yr — another easy-to-use solution offered to you by Hostway.

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What are the ICANN designated Asia-Pacific countries?

All of the following countries are designated by ICANN as Asia-Pacific countries. For more information about the charter eligibility requirement, please click here.

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How can I mzximize my chances of successfully registering my .asia domain?

Preregister for a sunrise period application if you are eligible — the sunrise period gives you the chance to register your name before it becomes widely available during open registration.

If you are not eligible to apply for a sunrise period registration, then register for the land rush period — again, this gives you a head start to help you beat the competition.

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What happens if there is more than one applicant for the same domain name?

Applications received during each of the different sunrise phases or land rush period will be treated as received at the same time. If there is only one successfully verified applicant for a domain, it will be allocated to the applicant.

If more than one applicant for the same domain name passes the verification process, all successfully verified applicants will be invited to bid for that domain in an auction. The highest bidder will get the domain name. Auctions start after the end date of the respective periods. You will be notified if you are entered in an auction.

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How will I know if my preregistrations are successfully converted into live registrations?

Hostway will keep you informed of the status of your application via email.  You will receive an email:

• Prior to the launch of each registration period
• If your application is successful
• When your domain name has been activated
• If you have been entered into an auction
• If your application is unsuccessful

You can log into SiteControl at any time to check the status of your application.

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How much does it cost?

During sunrise 2 and 3, an application fee of $109.95 is charged. DotAsia Organization, Ltd. charges an application fee to cover the cost of verification. Once your domain is successfully verified, the annual fee to register your domain name is only $24.95.

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What about charges, cancellations and refunds?

Charges

• The sunrise application fee is a one-time fee charged at the time the application is received.
• When your domain name is successfully registered, you will be charged the registration fee. Annual registration fees are recurring.
• The local presence service fee is a recurring annual fee and charged only if your domain names are successfully registered. 

Refunds

• Unfortunately, because we are charged by the registry for your domain name, we are unable to issue refunds for sunrise applications and annual registration fees. Refunds will not be issued for local presence service purchases.

Credits

• Should you choose to downgrade your application type (eg., From trademark sunrise to land rush), you will be issued a credit for the remaining amount. This credit can be used toward any of our products and services.

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Don’t let others beat you to your first-choice domain name. Be the first in line by preregistering now!Preregister Now