How to Register New TLDs Before General Availability

Hundreds of New TLDs have been released in the past decade giving people the opportunity to add valuable domain names to their portfolios. Once new TLDs are released to the general public, our customers use different strategies to snag potentially high-demand domain names, often purchasing them in bulk. However, before General Availability, some domain names will already be taken and registered.

So the question is, how can you become one of the first in line to access new TLDs and register valuable domains? To get started, the first thing you’ll need to know is how new TLDs are launched.

How Registries Launch New TLDs

Registries that release new TLDs typically launch them using three phases: Sunrise, Landrush/EAP, and General Availability.

The Sunrise Phase

During the Sunrise phase, trademark holders may preregister domain names that are the same, or similar to their brand name. This helps companies protect their brand and online identity. Only persons and companies that have a registered trademark record in the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) may register a new TLD during the Sunrise phase. Customers with a registered trademark can process domain name applications during the Sunrise phase through our API or Control Panel.

There are two types of Sunrise periods that registries may use.

End-Date Sunrise

The End-Date Sunrise is an auction process that lasts a minimum of 60 days. During this period, domain applications are received by the registry and then registered at the end of the period. Domain names that receive multiple applications are sent to auction. Registries are not required to give advance notice to anyone when launching this type of Sunrise period.

Start-Date Sunrise

The Start-Date Sunrise period processes claims on a first-come, first-served basis, no auction required. This type of Sunrise is far rarer than End-Date Sunrises and causes concerns for trademark holders. A Start-Date Sunrise must be announced at least 30 days in advance and must last a minimum of 30 days.

Regardless of which type of Sunrise is chosen, the Sunrise phase is mandatory when launching new TLDs.

Landrush/Early Access Program

Following the Sunrise period, registries have the option of a Landrush or Early Access Program (EAP) for new TLDs. During this phase, domain names that are not or cannot be trademarked may be registered as well, at higher than usual prices. Registering high-cost, sometimes premium, domain names is typically available to everyone, and for this reason, a buyer must consider the cost/benefit analysis of registering a domain name during this time.

Depending on the registry, the Landrush phase may use a first-come, first-served registration protocol or an auction-based system. The EAP uses a dutch auction system explained below.

Early Access Program Auction System

Donuts was the first registry to use the EAP process but it is now popular among many others. The period typically lasts for seven days (the total EAP time is determined by the registry) in which there is a set price for a domain name on each day.

Starting with a high asking price, the price is lowered on each consecutive day until the fifth, sixth, and seventh day, where it will remain the same. Alternatively, some registries will lower the price every single day until the end of the EAP period. The set prices for each day depends on the domain name and is determined by the registry. An example of the EAP pricing is as follows:

• EAP Day1: 12,495.00* (net price: $10,500.00) USD + Annual Registration Fee
• EAP Day2: 3,123.75* (net price: $2,625.00) USD + Annual Registration Fee
• EAP Day3: 1,243.55* (net price: $1,045.00) USD + Annual Registration Fee
• EAP Day4: 654.50* (net price: $550.00) USD + Annual Registration Fee
• EAP Day5, 6, & 7: 130.90* (net price: $110.00) USD + Annual Registration Fee

If a person thinks there is a lot of competition to register a domain name, they may purchase it early at a high-price, hoping to flip it. Or, if they think a domain has less demand, but would still like to register it before it becomes available to the public, they may wait until the fifth day or later.

It’s important to keep in mind that the purchase of a domain name during the EAP is on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Landrush/EAP phase gives opportunities to those that greatly desire a domain name by paying a little extra before it’s available to the general public. Any domain name that is not registered during the EAP can be registered during General Availability.

General Availability

General Availability is the final phase of launching new TLDs and means that it is available to the public. This phase is open-ended and domain name registrations are on a first-come, first-served basis. TLDs you can find on our domain name search page are usually in the General Availability phase.

Using Hexonet to Register New TLDs

Hexonet provides its customers with multiple tools to give them opportunities to register new TLDs during Sunrise, Landrush, EAP, and General Availability periods of a new TLD launch.

For customers with registered trademarks, you can place your domain name order in our Control Panel.

Preorder New TLDs

Using Hexonet’s API or Control Panel, customers can submit preorders for new TLD launches. A preorder reserves your spot in the order queue. The instant registration opens for your desired window, we’ll try and secure your domain name.

Preorders are on a first-come, first-served basis. The earlier you place your preorder, the better chances you have of securing the desired domain name. For example, if two customers both place an EAP preorder on Day 3, the first person that placed the preorder will get the domain.

If you place a preorder for EAP Day 3 and no one has placed a preorder for EAP Days 1 or 2, and no one has registered the domain, we will try and secure the domain name the instant Day 3 begins. We’ll withdraw payment for your new domain from your account and you’ll be the owner of that domain name.

However, if there are insufficient funds in your account to purchase the domain name, it will go to the next customer in the queue. You can check prices and place preorders for EAP domain names in our Control Panel.

Keep in mind you can also place preorders for the General Availability period. If no one registers the domain during EAP, we’ll try and secure it once the TLD enters the General Availability period.

The tools in our Control Panel give our clients the ability to plan and target valuable domain names well in advance of any new TLD launch date. Our system also automatically attempts to register preordered domains within a second of the respective phase opening. Upon successful registration, costs are automatically deducted from the user’s reserved funds balance while failed EAP registrations are automatically refunded to the user’s account balance.

With hundreds of TLDs launched in the past decade and many more to come, customers need powerful tools to register domain names before anyone else. WIth six different API interfaces, a WHMCS module, or white-label web Control Panel, customers have everything they need to manage their portfolios whether reselling a few, or a few thousand domain names. To get started, log in or sign up to our Control Panel today.