We continually update this list to reflect the type of questions that people are currently asking. The number 1 question we are being asked right now is...

How much does a domain name cost?

What is a domain name?

Why do I need my own domain name?

Do I own the domain name once I have registered it?

Can I give or sell my domain name to somebody else later?

Can I create my own email accounts using my domain name?

What's the difference between me having email under my own domain name and having a email account using an ISP or a WEB mail service like Hotmail or Yahoo!?

How do I go about Registering a domain name?

What do I need in order to register a domain name?

After I have registered a domain name, how long will it take before I can use it?

Why do I need to give you information, Can I register a domain name anonymously?

Do I ever need to update this information, Why?

Why do I need to register mydomain.hk.com instead of www.mydomain.hk.com ?

Once I have registered a domain name, can someone else register it?

At the end of my initial registration, what will happen if I don't pay for the domain?

How long can I keep the domain name for?

How do I create my own website?

How much does a domain name cost?

The cost is HK$ 195 (about US$ 25) per year. Check out our pricing schedule for more information. You also have the option to pay for your domain name registration for 5 or 10 year time periods. The advantage of opting for the longer time period is that you will not have the problem of forgetting to re-register your domain name and therefore losing it. (Did you read about what happened to the Hotmail domain name?)

What is a domain name?

(The simple answer) - A domain name is the equivalent of a telephone number on the internet. It lets people find your website on the net.

(Or in techspeak) - Domain names give resources on the internet, such as web sites, mail and ftp servers a text readable name which can be easily understood by human beings. E.g. yahoo.com. All resources on the Internet have an IP address which is a number (such as 202.66.66.202). Such IP address numbers are not easy for human beings to remember and this is why DNS is used to resolve domain names into IP addresses and vice-versa.

Why do I need my own domain name?

- to show my website to the world : The main reason to register a Domain Name is so you can set up a website. Your Domain Name is the address of your website.

- so I don't have to change my web address ever again : If you have a mobile phone in Hong Kong, and you are unhappy with the service, you can change from Sunday to Orange, or from Orange to Sunday. But you don't have to change your phone number. In the same way, when you have your own domain name, you can change your ISP or webhost without needing to change your domain name. Your domain name is portable.

- to stop someone else getting the name : you don't yet have a website ready to publish on the web, but you want to reserve the name now. You can set up or change your own website at any time.

Do I own the domain name once I have registered it?

You own the rights to use the domain name as long as you continue to pay the annual registration fee.

Can I give or sell my domain name to somebody else later?

You can transfer the domain name to who ever you choose. There is an administration fee for processing the transfer (see pricing), but it is important to note that it is up to you arrange the legal purchase/sale contract. Just contact us at transfers@sarnic.hk.com when it is done and we will arrange the completion of the transfer.

Can I create my own email accounts using my domain name?

Yes you can. If you register mydomain.hk.com, then you own the rights to myemail@mydomain.hk.com and any other email addresses you would like to create. You can host your domain name with our partners or with any other Internet company of your choice who will host your domain name for you. Once the domain name is pointed to their network they will be able to setup your e-mail and web site. It is quick and simple to do.

What's the difference between me having email under my own domain name and having a email account using an ISP or a WEB mail service like Hotmail or Yahoo!?

Freedom and control. Don’t forget that with Hotmail or Yahoo, you don’t have any ownership rights to the use of their name. If you want to use a different service because you feel their existing one is too slow etc. you will also lose your email account with them. Because you, the user, holds the domain registration, you have the freedom to move your domain and hence your e-mail to any ISP you choose without having to change your e-mail address. You can create as many e-mail addresses you choose under you domain which you can control and administer to your liking.

How do I go about Registering a domain name?

There are 4 steps:;

1. Choose a domain name of your liking which is available.

2. Fill in the registration pages.

3. Choose a host for your domain name (or give us the details later).

4. Pay for the domain name with a credit card.

What do I need in order to register a domain name?

You need access the to internet, an e-mail address, and a VISA, Mastercard. That's all. In order to get your website on-line, we will need some more details ( Primary NS host name, Primary NS host IP, Secondary NS host name, Secondary NS host IP ). Your webhost or ISP will provide you with the relevant details if you don't have them. If you don't have them at the registration stage, then you can complete them later.

After I have registered a domain name, how long will it take before I can use it?

We intend to make domain names available within 12 hours of registering the domain name. For reference, SARNic updates the zone files at the optimum times of 12pm and at 7pm, domain name registration submitted before 11am and 6pm should be included in the 12pm and 7pm zone update respectively. After the zone file has been updated it may take up to 2 hours for it to be propagated to all the SARNIC domain name servers around the globe.

Why do I need to give you information, Can I register a domain name anonymously?

We respect your privacy (see our privacy policy), and you can register a domain name anonymously. However, if you want to transfer or sell the domain name, you will need to prove that you are the owner. Giving us complete records from the start will make this proof of ownership much easier.

Do I ever need to update this information, Why?

When we contact you to remind you about a domain name payment, having your correct address, and e-mail or fax numbers is essential. Having up to date contact information makes it much easier to contact you, and so less likely to cause you disruption.

Why do I need to register mydomain.hk.com instead of www.mydomain.hk.com ?

You don't need to. When you register mydomain.hk.com, you automatically own the rights to use www.mydomain.hk.com. You also own the rights to use any other subdomain name such as games.mydomain.hk.com. When the internet was originally set up, the "www" part of the name was important for technical reasons. Things have changed and the "www" has simply become a subdomain name.

Once I have registered a domain name, can someone else register it?

Domain names are UNIQUE once you register your domain name with us. No one will be able register the same domain name as yours until after you terminate your domain name registration. However note that people will be able register similar domain names. For example. If you register mydomain.hk.com someone can register mydomains.hk.com as it is a separate domain name. If you think this could cause problems for your business, then you could register both names and 'point' them both to the same website.

At the end of my initial registration, what will happen if I don't pay for the domain?

If for some reason you do not pay for the re-registration of the domain name, we will hold the name for 30 days and then release the domain name registration which would allow somebody else to freely register the domain name.

How long can I keep the domain name for?

You can keep it for as long as you want providing that you continue to pay the yearly domain name registration fees.

How do I create my own website?

If you are asking this question, then the best answer is to contact our webhosting or ISP partners who will provide you with the appropriate tools.