What does clientTransferAllowed status mean?

[WebWalla]

I am looking at a domain which expired on 19th December 2008.

A whois query at the registrar currently shows the domain status as clientTransferAllowed - what does this mean exactly?

Also, the whois query shows 2 different expiry dates. One is the date above (19th Dec. 2008) and the other is the same date in 2009, but with a note below saying that the date does not necessarily reflect the expiration date of the domain name registrant's agreement with the sponsoring registrar.

Would anybody like to hazard a guess as to the status of this domain? In your opinion, will it become available for me to purchase in the near future?

Thanks!

[terrellm]

clientTransferAllowed means that the domain is not locked and thus can be transferred as opposed to clientTransferProhibited.

It sounds like the name has in fact expired and not yet been renewed. It's common to see an expired name show conflicting expiration dates because the registrar offers a "grace period" for the registrant to renew the name.

It sound like it should be dropping sometime in January unless the original owner renews it. If you are interested in the name, I'd check the drop services.

[Laker]

Also, the whois query shows 2 different expiry dates. One is the date above (19th Dec. 2008) and the other is the same date in 2009

As terrellm touched on, when a domain name expires, some/many registrars automatically list one of the expiration dates as 365 days later. Unfortunately for the uninformed, this information is still listed in many WhoIs services -- when it actually should be listed as WhoWas.

I doubt, however, that this domain will drop in January.

The actual drop time depends on how many grace days the particular registrar allows. I think they still have a maximum of 40 days -- albeit very few still registrars do that many.

IF they did, then on the 41st day, the domain would go into a 30 day "Redemption Period" status.

On the 31st day, it would enter a 5-day "Pending Delete" status, and the domain would actually drop the day following the 5th day.

Thus, the name could drop on Thursday, March 5, 2009 -- or sooner, depending on the length of the Grace Period.

Of course, if the registrar who has this name has a partnership with one of the several after-market domain auction sites, the name won't drop until after it has been offered at auction, and received no bids.

[WebWalla]

The registrar is EuroDNS - does anybody know what their grace period is or if they have a partnership with any of the auction sites?

[Laker]

Of course you could also call or email EuroDNS directly.

Hopefully you will reach a person who knows what you are asking -- and has accurate information ;-0

EuroDNS says they are ... based in Luxembourg with branch offices in Europe, the USA and Asia ..."