NetRegistry registered 30% of all .com.au registrations in May, overtaking MelbourneIT whose 100% monopoly of this market has dropped to below 20% in less than 4 years.
“MelbourneIT continues to charge $140 for a .com.au domain name, when NetRegistry provides the same service for only $45”, says Larry Bloch, CEO. “We’ve always viewed domain names as an opportunity for customers to trial and evaluate our hosting services and we’ll always be significantly lower priced than MelbourneIT. This result demonstrates that not only are we cheaper than MelbourneIT, we are more trusted for registering Australian domain names”.
auDA, the .AU regulator introduced Domain Name Registrar competition in July 2002. Since then 25 companies have become registrars in competition with MelbourneIT. NetRegistry and MelbourneIT command about half of the new registration market, and both dwarf the next competitor.
“Whilst I have been happy to introduce low domain name prices, I would like to have done better informing people that they don’t have to continue to renew their domain names with MelbourneIT”, says Bloch. “Any MelbourneIT customer can transfer management of their com.au domain name to NetRegistry for free and enjoy our $45 renewal rates. $140 isn’t a large sum for small business, but nobody likes being taken for a $95 ride”.
NetRegistry was established in 1997 and is a full service domain name, email, web hosting & e-commerce service provider, as well as providing internet marketing products like search engine submission and optimisation. Serving over 100,000 Australian businesses, the company has experienced strong growth by providing keenly priced online services and exceptional customer service.