CheckHouston.com - Domain Name Registration, Forwarding, Parking, DNS, Registrar

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Domain Registration
All domain requests are processed in real time. If the name is available, and you register it with us - its yours! We offer FREE Domain Parking on our servers until you're ready to build your site.

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What is a Domain Pointer?
Once you have a web address registered you may use it as a domain pointer which allows you to direct the domain to another URL (i.e. IP address) or redirect it to a specific web page on another site. Domain pointers are handy if you have a free web hosting account with a long web address and you would like to project a more professional image with a short domain name. Other uses for domain pointers include using them to track marketing campaigns or target a specific market segment. Domain pointers are also useful to put on business cards and marketing material.

Example
actual web site: http://www.freewebhost.com/webpages/bobsusedcars/
domain pointer to above site: http://www.bobs-usedcars.com

What is a Domain Registrar?
Many companies say they will register your new domain for FREE, but then you still pay $70.00 for the rights to the name for 2 years. This payment is charged by the registrar which can be a separate entity from the company assisting you through the registration process. It is this assistance that is sometimes an extra fee charged by a registration company in addition to the fee charged by the registrar.

In order to be a registrar, a company must be accredited by an organization such as ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). This gives that company the right to distribute an actual domain name and assign it to their DNS servers with an IP number. Usually when you go through a web hosting company, they will automatically put your domain name on their servers since there is a good chance you will host your web site with them. In reality, you save money if you just register your domain name through a registrar who buys names in bulk. Once your domain is approved, you can assign it to the DNS servers of any company that you later decide will host your web pages. The idea is to get a good domain name before it is taken and worry about hosting later. Open SRS (Shared Registration System) opens up competition so that you are no longer required to use Network Solutions as the registrar and pay $70 for 2 years. In doing so, domains can be registered for a lot cheaper now.