Top-Level Domains Specific to Europe Available on Afternic.com

Leading Domain Name Exchange Can Sell and Appraise .eu Domains

April 11, 2006; 08:14 AM
Domain names with the .eu extension -- the first top-level domain (TLD) specific to Europe -- can now be bought and sold on Afternic.com, a recognized leader in the aftermarket domain name industry, it was announced today.

According to Afternic CEO and President Roger Collins, now that the landrush for the .eu domains has begun, there is a rich market for URLs with this continent-specific extension.

"The .eu extension is a valuable TLD and we are pleased to offer these premium URLs as part of our vast selection of domain names," said Afternic. "In addition to acting as a broker for .eu sales and acquisitions, Afternic will also provide its usual stable of services, including domain name appraisals."

The landrush officially began on April 7 when the TLD became available for registration to individuals within the European Union on a first-come, first-serve basis. Previously, during the four-month sunrise period, .eu registration was limited to public companies and holders of trademarks to prevent cybersquatting. The new extension was approved by ICANN in early 2005 and launched in December.

According to Collins, although the .eu extension will not replace country-specific TLDs such as .uk (United Kingdom) or .de (Germany), companies based in Europe and targeting a European audience will benefit from a continent-specific URL.

"The value of having a short, but descriptive web address cannot be emphasized enough. Anyone doing business in Europe should choose a domain name carefully since a good web address is the online equivalent of having prominent signage for your company -- not only does the URL makes it easy for people to find your site, but it also is memorable enough that people can come back to it repeatedly and effortlessly," said Collins.

About Afternic.com

A leading domain-name exchange based in Orlando, Fla., Afternic.com is the most recognized name in the secondary domain name industry. The company boasts an extensive exchange network, where partner domain name registrars refer buyers of aftermarket domains and earn commissions from Afternic. Afternic provides a "one-stop shop" where consumers can buy secondary domains in a secure, anonymous environment. Some of the industry's leading registrars -- including Register.com, eNom.com and Eurodns.com -- are Afternic partners. The company has experienced triple-digit annual growth since its acquisition in 2002 from Register.com.

Roger Collins, Afternic.com, (407) 880-3211 Lynn Fireside or Jerry Freisleben, Foley/Freisleben LLC (213) 955-0020