Free .com domains (1st domain)

[shadow_man]

1&1 are currently giving away a FREE .com domain when you register a new account with them. All you need to pay is the $0.18 ICANN fee.

Tranfer's out are free too.

http://www.1and1.com/

I just grabbed mynameandsurname.com for ****s and giggles.

Grab it, wait 60 days and transfer it out to your registrar of choice for free. Worth it.

 

[skimread]

but you have to pay for it the 2nd year so it's not like free

I already got a domain which I use for custom e-mail address because it looks much more professional than a gmail address

 

[Murmaider]

1&1 are currently giving away a FREE .com domain when you register a new account with them. All you need to pay is the $0.18 ICANN fee.

Tranfer's out are free too.

http://www.1and1.com/

I just grabbed mynameandsurname.com for ****s and giggles.

Grab it, wait 60 days and transfer it out to your registrar of choice for free. Worth it.

Just to clarify, you won't be able to transfer it out for free because the new registrar will need to charge you for the domain renewal which occurs when a .com domain transfers.

 

[Salazzar]

Thanks. I hope it can point to a local host. Axxess has a great starter package at R19 pm. I hope to host a light weight site there

 

[shadow_man]

Just to clarify, you won't be able to transfer it out for free because the new registrar will need to charge you for the domain renewal which occurs when a .com domain transfers.

Renewal cost != Transfer cost.

Namecheap / GoDaddy force you to renew when you transfer, hence the cost.

Other providers like 1&1 don't etc.

There are providers that accept free transfer.

 

[shadow_man]

but you have to pay for it the 2nd year so it's not like free

I already got a domain which I use for custom e-mail address because it looks much more professional than a gmail address

Are you seriously expecting a free domain for life? Don't be daft...

 

[skimread]

Are you seriously expecting a free domain for life? Don't be daft...

*cough* za.net

 

[willo]

Except ZA NiC doesn't accept any new registrations

 

[Murmaider]

Renewal cost != Transfer cost.

Namecheap / GoDaddy force you to renew when you transfer, hence the cost.

Other providers like 1&1 don't etc.

There are providers that accept free transfer.

Transfer cost = renewal cost.

As per ICANN's policies, a TLD domain has to be renewed for an additional year when it is transferred between ICANN Registrars.

This is enforced by ICANN on the registries and not the registrars as per point 8 of the ICANN transfer policies - https://archive.icann.org/en/transfers/policy-12jul04.htm

So Namecheap / Godaddy are not forcing you to renew on transfer, ICANN is. This applies to every TLD or gTLD and every single ICANN Registrar.

If 1&1 is choosing to foot the bill for this renewal on transfer then that is their business model.
I do however see this open to exploit if you can find 2 providers who offer this and every 60 days you transfer the domains between them. Each time you do this, your domain will be renewed for an additional year, up to a maximum of 10 years.