.uk available from 10th June 2014

[RedBar]

Shorter, snappier .uk domains to launch on 10th June

[nominet.org.uk...]

[bill]

Original thread: [webmasterworld.com...]

[engine]

I see that some registrars are allowing pre-ordering. Interesting, especially if the .co.uk is already held.

There's going to be frustration and confusion, i'm sure.

[superclown2]

I've seen no prices yet. Plus if I understand it correctly .co.uk holders will have a five year option on the .uk equivalent so there'll be no good ones available from the start.

I wonder if the Turkish cyber squatters who hold a huge chunk of the best .co.uk domains will be eligible for this issue?

[RedBar]

This was the email I got from one of my registrars:

example.uk has been reserved just for you, so pre-order it now and we will guarantee we'll get your domain! No first come first served and no waiting in line, your .uk domain is waiting for you to pre-order.

What's more as a valued customer of "registrar" we'd like to offer you this domain at the special price of only £9.99 (For the first year).

Strangely they're the only registrar I've heard from so far even though I have asked my largest registrar but heard nothing back as yet.

I wonder if the Turkish cyber squatters who hold a huge chunk of the best .co.uk domains will be eligible for this issue?

I assume you're talking so-called money "names" here? I've never had a problem getting any name I required however I did once pay £250 for a very good widget trade name...to a Brit.

Plus if I understand it correctly .co.uk holders will have a five year option on the .uk equivalent

I'll have a read-up on that tomorrow however that seems incredibly generous to me, one year I could understand, two years is too long. If no one can justify the expenditure then they deserve not to have it.

Bear in mind that at £9.99 for a full year that it is 63% of the UK minimum hourly wage!

[graeme_p]

I suspect the 5 year option is to molify .co.uk holders who feel their domain is being devalued.

This is, as comments in the original thread said, just an exercise in making money for registrars by getting .ci.uk domain owners to register a .uk as well. The original justification for .uk (that ownership would be verified and limited to UK people and companies) has been effectively dropped (you need a UK address, but that can be arranged easily enough).