The origin and evolution of .COM, .NET and .ORG domain names

Domain names have been in existence for quite a while now. However, very little information is known about them. With the changing technology, most of the businesses are now embracing the internet and online platforms since they can reach a large number of people.

When it comes to domains, one of the most frequently asked questions is what type of domain name is the best when starting a business or setting up an online presence. Domain names are not hard to choose; .com, .net and.org has been around for over three decades, and their use has greatly evolved.

.COM DOMAIN

This is the most popular top-level domain name, and it is trusted worldwide. It has over 130 million registered .com domain names, and as of March 2009, this domain name was being served by 926 registrars. It was founded in 1985, and it was initially run by the United States Department of Defense. It is now managed by VeriSign which has significantly contributed to its growth.
It was initially developed for commercial purposes, but with time it opened up to other ideas as of the mid-1990s. It is now used by entrepreneurs, both; large and small companies that are starting out and various marketing companies to promote their products and services.

College students starting out are also using the .com domains to set up their email addresses and portfolios. Most businesses are creating websites, and the .com domain name is the most preferred due to its popularity among many people. It is used in many countries, and it has now become country specific, which is optional. For example Pakistan (com.pk) and Australia (com.Au).

.NET DOMAIN

This is a top-level domain that was initially intended for networking purposes and organizations dealing with network technology. It was created in 1985, and it is the fourth most popular domain name. As far as it was intended for networking purpose, no restrictions were set up which made it open for public use.

This decision significantly contributed to its growth, and it is now the best domain name for advertising companies and network operators. It is run by VeriSign Company which has managed to renew their contract severally, and they continuously contribute to the growth of the .net domain name. There are approximately 15 million .net domain names registered.

.ORG DOMAIN

This is a generic level domain name that was established in 1985. It was initially intended for the nonprofit organizations, but no restrictions were put up which opened if for public use. It is run by Public Interest Registry, and as of 2012, it had over 10 million users.

It is the most preferred domain name for:

• Schools
• Health organizations
• Non-profit organizations
• Legal service companies
• Environmental groups
• .org also allows for registration of second level domains.

Domain names are meaningful because:

1. Websites, emails and other internet addresses are not able to function without them.
2. Domain names help establish your presence on the internet. For example, the .com domain name is trendy, and as a business entrepreneur, it will build client’s confidence in your company and products.
3. It is an excellent way to market your company. If you register a domain name that matches your organization’s details, it will automatically give a hint or clue of what your business is all about.