I'd like to purchase a newly expired domain name (expired, according
to whois)
a few days ago, and looks like it is owned by a non-USA entity.
The url currently has a generic 'placeholder' site, and doesn't look
to be utilized...I believe it will NOT be renewed by the company that
currently owns it.

I would like to be the FIRST to have the opportunity to purchase this
url before anyone else, providing it is not renewed by current owner!

Related research needs: 
1) When/how are urls "released" (read 'purchasable)' after they have
expired?
2) Is there a site that will sell me this expired domain name faster
than any of the other general sites that sell domains?
Currently, even though this domain name has expired I still CANNOT
purchase it through buydomains, or godaddy. I do NOT wish to bid for
it (paying more than $10 a year) and want to try to purchase it on the
'open market' through buydomains who I register all my domain names
with. Is there OTHER companies like buydomains that will allow me to
purchase this domain "faster?" I'm assuming the governing body has
regulated the available time frame to keep 'everyone' on a level
playing field...but you should know much more than me. I have heard of
namewinner through dotster starting at $25. but not sure if this is
considered the "industry standard site," in otherwords, the one the
best web masters utilize.
3)Do you think I'll have better luck, or is it advisable to seek to
purchase the site directly from the site's current registrar?

---

Clarification of Question by maptheway-ga on 02 Jul 2002 14:01 PDT

BTW: The Domain is a .com.  I hope this helps with the research and solution.

Hi, maptheway.

Since there are many domain name registrars with many different
policies, registering an expired domain can be difficult, to say the
least...

When a domain name 'expires' - the period the current owner registers
it for has passed - the domain name is deactivated first. After a
brief period, the domain is then returned to the pool of domains
available for registration.

The length of this grace period varies depending on the registrar.
Some may release it for registration immediately, while others may
wait as long as 60 days past the listed expiration date. You can
usually find the length of this waiting period from the previous
registrar's web page and FAQ (usually listed in the whois
information). According to
http://www.isp-planet.com/perspectives/unclaimed.html, this period may
also be extended by "a registration partial payment, billing disputes,
credit card charge-backs, bounced check charge-backs, clerical
mistakes, incorrect postings, bankruptcy [or] legal disputes".

As for registing an expired domain: one service that will allow you to
'reserve' a domain name is Snapnames (http://www.snapnames.com/). When
a domain name expires, they will immediately register this domain for
you automatically. This service is, however, considerably more
expensive than a 'normal' domain name registration. The domain is also
registered though their company, not through your registrar of choice
(although it is possible to transfer the domain at a later date).

If you want to register the domain yourself through BuyDomains, a
service that might be of use to you is Domain Watcher
(http://www.domain-watcher.com/). This service will 'watch' a domain,
and notify you the moment it becomes available to register, without
actually registering it. This too, however, costs a fee.

Your last option is to check the 'whois' information as frequently as
possible, and to register it as soon as it becomes available.

As for your success, this will vary depending on how popular the name
is. If it's reasonably obscure then it may not be registered
immediately, while if it is popular, other people may already be
watching it. On the other hand, if the domain name has passed it's
expiry date, then it is possible you will no longer be able to buy it
off it's current owners, since they will have no control of it.


These sites may also be of use to you:

'Domain Name Deletion and Expiry Cycle':
http://www.igoldrush.com/expired1.htm

Article on domain name expiry:
http://www.isp-planet.com/perspectives/unclaimed.html


These searches may also provide additional information:

'on hold expired domain period':
://www.google.com/search?q=on+hold+expired+domain+period

'registering expired domain name':
://www.google.com/search?q=registering+expired+domain+name&btnG=Google+Search


I hope this information is of use.
-- wildeeo

Great answer! Take the money and run!  YOU reach 'rock star' status in
my book and everyone else's that reads this "dictionary" of
information! I'm also really looking forward to what others might
comment regarding this question and its related solution as delivered.
Keep up the great work!

I believe they stagger the the re-release precisely to stop people
speculating and jumping on domain names.

So there is an element of luck introduced.

I have lots of experience in the expired domain industry.
http://www.snapnames.com is the leading service for buying expiring
names.  If someone else has a "snapback" on the name you're interested
in, it's highly unlikely you'll get that name.  SnapNames is by far
the leading service.  BuyDomains or Domain-Watcher will not work
because SnapNames is much faster than any other service.  NameWinner
is good, but not as good as SnapNames.  The "best web masters" use
both just to be safe.  Occasionally NameWinner will beat SnapNames.

xemion-ga ~ Google Researcher
https://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=ratings&user=5621022160649982672

VeriSign just reported today that they received permission from ICANN
to start up a "waiting list" for domain names.  You might want to keep
an eye out for the details, and make sure you're on the list (that is,
if you haven't gotten your name already).  Good luck.

Dave

Thanks Dave.
And No, I have not obtained the domain name yet. This has been a very
illogical process (to say the least) all the way around, there should
be some sort of regulation to this method. It also seems that
NameWinner is out of business; most seem to be complaining of no
response back from them, re questions into this company. Poor service
is one thing, but when people start asking if they are still in
business you've crossed the threshholh of operability.

I'll look into Verisign.