This week, auDA have announced that Australians will soon be able to register a new category of domain. In March 2022, domains ending in “.au” will become available. This means that you will be able to register your website as, for example, “yourdomain.au”.
What Impact Does This Have?
The .au domain name will be introduced to Australia’s existing list of names (eg. .com.au, .net.au, .org.au) and will allow website owners to create more memorable names for their sites. Adding to the range of available domains for Australians will give website owners more choice in how they present their online business or blog. On top of this, the .au domain is also easier for people to type and can be better displayed on mobile devices.
Many other countries have introduced this domain option, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand. The introduction of it in Australia will hopefully make the internet browsing experience easier and more enjoyable for everyone.
Who is Eligible?
If you have local connections to Australia then, congratulations, you will be eligible to register for this domain type. Local connections include businesses, individuals and associations. Unlike other Australian domain categories, the .au category will not have specific allocation criteria. The name you choose for your domain will not need to match your name or the name of an existing service. You will instead be able to register any name of your choosing provided you have these Australian connections.
How Can I Get One?
The .au domain will be available in March 2022, however there is also a priority allocation process for those who want to claim an exact match to their existing domain name. The exact matches of names in the Australian registry prior to launch will be reserved for a six month period. Those eligible can apply as priority through an accredited auDA registrar.
Conclusion
If you are interested in turning your Australian domain from “yourdomain.com.au” to “yourdomain.au”, register your interest and get ready to make the changes in March 2022. If you decide that you do not want to make this change, your domain will not be affected. The .au domain category is set to become an exciting change to Australia’s online landscape for website owners and website visitors alike.
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