.IT Domain Names
What is a .IT domain?
The .IT domain is a ccTLD (country code top level domain), and the Internet country code for Italy. Located in Southern Europe, Italy is a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia. Italy spans 116,306 square miles, an area slightly larger than Arizona. The Italian population is 58,145,320, and official language Italian, although German, French, and Slovene are also spoken.
Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the regional states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united. This period of parliamentary government ended when Benito Mussolini established a Fascist dictatorship in the 1920's. His alliance with Nazi Germany led to Italy's defeat in World War II. In 1946, a democratic republic replaced the monarchy, and economic revival followed. Italy was a charter member of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC). It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification, joining the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999.
Why should I register a .IT domain name?
Domains using the .IT TLD are extremely popular in all of Europe, and especially within Italy. As of November 30, 2008, .IT had 1,610,010 registrations. The .IT domain name presents a great opportunity for local and international companies wanting to represent their business in Italy. Local domain names give your company a professional image, which demonstrates proof of your commitment to local customers. By targeting the local Italian market, you can maximize your company's revenues.
Registering ccTLDs offers another way to protect your online identity, as well as that of your business. We all know how important it is to protect our personal identity. The same should be true when considering the identity of your business or trademark online. Your assets are important whether in the form of a bank account or a domain name, and they need to be protected. When you register your trademark in a ccTLD domain, you are taking one more step to protect what is critical to you and your livelihood. By purchasing your trademark in a ccTLD, you do not have to worry about a competitor acquiring that name. Think how much easier it is to be the original owner instead of attempting to procure the domain from another party.
If you are looking to own domains with shorter names or more common words, ccTLDs may be the way to go. As we all know, attempting to obtain these types of domain names in more popular extensions is futile. Most ccTLD domains are still becoming populated, dramatically increasing the chances that your domain is available. Additionally, ccTLDs lend themselves greatly to domain hacks. With a domain like .IT, there are endless possibilities (ex: bathingsu.IT, hab.IT, or starfru.IT).
Are there any restrictions for registering a .IT?
Yes. To register a .IT domain, you must be a resident of the European Union. Additionally, registration requires sending paper or fax letter which must be completed in Italian.