NICForce is an authorized Tucows/OpenSRS Registration Service Provider (RSP). The following information provides answers to many of the more frequently asked questions you may have about the Tucows/OpenSRS system and the role and responsibilities of NICForce within that system. For additional information, visit the Tucows FAQ Center.

1. What is a domain name?
2. After I've chosen an OpenSRS Registration Service Provider, what's involved in getting my domain name?
3. Once I have a domain name, how can I make changes to it?
4. What is the role of OpenSRS?
5. What's the difference between an OpenSRS registered domain name and a Network Solutions (NSI)registered domain name?
6. Registry? Registrar? Registrant? Registration Service Provider? What do these words mean?
7. I can't get in touch with my Registration Service Provider. I call, I write, and I still don't get answer. What do I do?
8. I can't get any technical support from my Registration Service Provider?
9. I forgot my login name and password.
10. How do I resolve a payment dispute with a Registration Service Provider?
11. Who does a registered name actually belong to, the end user or the Registration Service Provider?
12. How much control do domain owners have over their domain once they've signed up through an OpenSRS Registration Service Provider?
13. I heard the "WHOIS" at Internic is not in real time. How is this different from the WHOIS function at OpenSRS?
14. What's the difference between .com, .net, .org domain names?
15. Does OpenSRS register in any other top level domains (.ca, .us, .co, .uk, etc.)?
16. What's involved in transferring a domain registration from one domain registrar to another?
17. This is fascinating. Where can I go for more information on the domain name space?

Answers

1. What is a domain name?
   A domain name is essentially a signpost on the Internet. Every website you've ever been to, and every email you've ever composed, has used a domain name in its address. People register domain names in order to 'stake a claim' to a particular name -- whether for business or personal reasons. Once a domain name is registered to a person or company, it is that person's to use exclusively as long as they continue to pay the yearly renewal fee. Our domain name is opensrs.org, and we also own opensrs.com and opensrs.net
   
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2. After I've chosen an OpenSRS Registration Service Provider, what's involved in getting my domain name?
   Most OpenSRS Registration Service Providers have built a domain registration process that you initiate from their web site. Once you've applied for the name, the Registration Service Provider accepts payment, processes the order with OpenSRS, and then the domain name is registered to you. This process can generally be completed within one business day, but it will vary by Registration Service Provider.
   
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3. Once I have a domain name, how can I make changes to it?
   You can make changes to your domain name by using the OpenSRS management interface at: http://manage.opensrs.net. Bear in mind you'll need your domain's username and password to make the desired changes.
   
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4. What is the role of OpenSRS?
   OpenSRS is a domain registrar that competes with other domain registrars (Network Solutions, Register.com, etc.) in the domain name market. What makes us unique is the fact that we are strictly wholesale, providing services to Registration Service Providers who in turn sell domain names to people and companies worldwide. Because we focus on 'business-to-business' relationships, we're able to avoid the costs of supporting a base of end users, and consequently, can offer our services at a significantly lower price than our competitors.
   
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5. What's the difference between an OpenSRS registered domain name and a Network Solutions (NSI) registered domain name?
   There's no difference between a name registered with OpenSRS and a name registered with Network Solutions. Network Solutions is currently better known because they ran the first domain registration business without competition for a number of years.
   
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6. Registry? Registrar? Registrant? Registration Service Provider? What do these words mean?
   
   Registrar: A "Registrar" (or "Domain Name Registrar") is an organization like OpenSRS or Network Solutions that has control over the granting of domains within certain TLDs (top level domains, like the generic .com/.org/.net or country-specific .ca/.us/.mx etc.).
   Registry: The 'Registry' is the backend that registrar's have shared access to. Each registrar writes new names to a central registry database, from which the authoritative root (essentially, a table of all domain names on the Internet) is built.
   Registrant: A registrant is the person or company who purchases a domain name. For example, Jessica Smith (registrant) registers the name jessicasmith.com through OpenSRS (registrar) who in turn writes the name to the central database (Registry).
   Registration Service Provider (RSP): An RSP is an individual or an organization, like NICForce, that purchases wholesale domain name registration services from a Registrar, like OpenSRS, and then resells those services to the general public. OpenSRS RSPs must meet certain technical and financial criteria before being accepted as a reseller.
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7. I can't get hold of my Registration Service Provider. I call, I write, and I still don't get an answer. What do I do?
   
   OpenSRS, as a wholesale domain registrar, likes to leave customer service issues between the Registration Service Provider and the end user. However, if you have tried repeatedly to contact your Registration Service Provider, using all traditional means (including telephone and email), to no avail, please contact compliance@opensrs.org. The compliance department will normally respond to your query within 24-48 hours. Our compliance officer will not necessarily deal directly with your issue; our first step it to try to contact the RSP ourselves to get the issue resolved. Failing that, we can take action to remedy almost all situations. NOTE: Please do not contact the OpenSRS compliance officer unless you have exhausted all other means of contacting your RSP.
   
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8. I can't get any technical support from my Registration Service Provider?
   Technical issues are best dealt with between you and your Registration Service Provider; however, if you cannot contact your Registration Service Provider, please review Question 9 of this FAQ.
   
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9. I forgot my login name and password.
   Your login name and password (used to make modifications to your domain name record) can be obtained from your Registration Service Provider.
   
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10. How do I resolve a payment dispute with a Registration Service Provider?
    As a wholesaler, OpenSRS has very little to do with Registration Service Provider billing issues. However, if you feel that unsavoury business practices are at the root of the dispute and that contacting OpenSRS is your only recourse, please review Question 9 of this FAQ.
    
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11. Who does a registered name actually belong to, the end user or the Registration Service Provider?
    Domain names are not truly owned -- they're leased out on a first-come, first-served basis, and remain with the initial lessee until either a) the lessee does not renew the name, or b) a business with a trademark of the same name demonstrates a greater claim to the name than the lessee can demonstrate. The question is better phrased as 'who can control the domain name'. With OpenSRS, the answer is the domain's Administrative Contact. This is usually specified by the registrant during the registration process; however, as each Registration Service Provider may have slightly different policies in this matter, please consult individual Registration Service Provider's websites for full details.
    
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12. How much control do domain owners have over their domain once they've signed up through an OpenSRS Registration Service Provider?
    Domain owners, in general, have full control over their OpenSRS registered domain names. This means that the domain owner has the power to:
    a) Change admin/technical and billing contacts for the domain.
    b) Change ownership of the domain.
    c) Change the nameservers that are authoritative for the domain.
    d) Create sub-users and enable them to change some/all of the options in a, b and c above.
    e) Change the password that enables a, b, c, and d above.
    
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13. I heard the "WHOIS" at Internic is not in real time. How is this different from the WHOIS function at OpenSRS?
    WHOIS is a tool that permits people to access information about a particular domain name. Internic updates their WHOIS data twice every 24 hrs. This means the data it presents isn't as up-to-date as it could be. For example, if a domain name has transferred ownership, it's possible this fact wouldn't be available to you for up to twelve hours. In contrast, with regard to names we host, OpenSRS WhoIS information is updated in real time. If you need to be certain that your domain name information is correct, we recommend you use the OpenSRS WHOIS.
    
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14. What's the difference between .com, .net, .org domain names?
    Originally, the three letter extensions after the dot (or Top Level Domain/TLD) were meant to denote whether the domain name was being used for business (.com) charity/non-profit (.org) or for a technology based company (.net). However, with the explosion of the Internet (and specifically, the world wide web) as a new business medium, the lines were blurred, and companies and individuals alike started cross-registering domains (ie. Me.com, me.net, me.org) just to protect their interests. Now, .com, .net, and .org names (the generic Top Level Domains) can be used for any purpose.
    
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15. Does OpenSRS register in any other top level domains (.ca, .us, .co, .uk, etc.)?
    Currently, OpenSRS doesn't register top level domains beyond the .com, .net, and .org specifications, but we're working towards offering registrations in various country code top level domains (ccTLDs) in the near future.
    
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16. What's involved in transferring a domain registration from one domain registrar to another?
    We cannot do transfers for domains that are "On Hold" with another registrar. To be on the safe side, you should start the transfer process at least two weeks before the expiry of the domain. The Admin Contact e-mail address for the domain must be valid.
    
    Presently, the process works like so: Once the transfer order is processed an e-mail will be sent to the Admin Contact e-mail address of the domain to be transferred. Before you attempt to transfer a domain, make sure that the Admin Contact e-mail for the domain to be transferred is valid. If your Admin Contact e-mail address for the domain in question is no longer valid, you must contact the original registrar to request it be changed. We can't assist you in transferring the domain until the Admin Contact e-mail actually works, so we can verify who is accepting the transfer. The confirmation e-mail contains a unique URL which displays an option to accept the transfer (if you wish to decline, just ignore the request and it will time-out and cancel after 6 days). Once the domain owner (the person who answers the Admin Contact e-mail address) agrees to the transfer, it is reviewed by OpenSRS. Note that all transfers are sanity-checked to prevent high-profile domains like "aol.com" from being transferred fraudulently (some domains will require extra verification).
    
    Then the request is sent to the Registry where it awaits approval. Unless the losing Registrar explicitly denies the transfer (for instance, the account may not be "in good standing" with them), it will usually go through this step within 5 days. It can go through sooner if the losing registrar explicitly approves the transfer. This will vary from registrar to registrar.
    
    Note that some losing registrars (e.g., Network Solutions and Register.com) require their own confirmation of the request. Watch your administrative contact e-mail carefully for a few days to make sure that you comply with all instructions necessary to complete the transfer.
    
    The domain transfer itself doesn't cost anything but one year of OpenSRS registration. This one year is added on top of whatever time is remaining on the domain from the other registrar. E.g., if you registered foo.org with Network Solutions, and it has 2 years remaining on the registration, then after a successful transfer it will expire in 3 years.
    
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17. This is fascinating. Where can I go for more information on the domain name space?
    For a detailed account on the evolution of the domain space as a business phenomenon, please visit http://www.icann.org.
    
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