In 1985, a Massachusetts computer manufacturer registered the first .com domain name — symbolics.com — six years before the web became publicly available. By the end of 2018, there were 348.7 million domains registered worldwide, 139 million of which were .com domain names. No wonder it has become so difficult for new businesses to snap up their domain name of choice, one that differentiates their brand without confusing potential website visitors.
While .com is only one of many top-level domains (TLDs) to choose from, it is still the one most sought after for commercial and personal domains. After nearly 35 years, other familiar alternative TLDs like .net and .org trail far behind at just 14 million and 10.2 million domains registered, respectively. But despite .com’s seeming saturation, its momentum continues as internet users remain less comfortable with these and other alternate TLDs. In fact, a survey of 1,000 U.K. adults, conducted by Varn, found that 70.5% trust domains with .co.uk and .com more than alternatives.
CentralNic Group Plc (LON: CNIC) is a London-based AIM-listed company which develops and manages software platforms allowing businesses globally to use the internet for their own websites and email, as well as protecting their brands online.