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Due to extraordinary demand for the impending .CO domain launch, .CO Internet S.A.S., the registry operator of the .CO domain, today announced it has officially extended the deadline for people and companies to secure high-priority .CO domain names prior to their availability to the general public on July 20. The deadline for the "Landrush" phase will be extended through Friday, July 16th at 12:00 pm (Noon) EDT.

The new .CO domain offering presents unprecedented opportunities for corporations, brands, web developers, agencies, entrepreneurs and others to secure high-priority, high-value domain names that have long been "unavailable" in the .com domain. To date, .CO Internet has registered or taken applications for more than 26,000 .CO domain names, many of which have been secured by the world's top global brands and Fortune 500 companies, such as: Amazon, American Express, Apple, BMW, Cartier, Canon, CNN, Coca-Cola, Disney, Ebay, Exxon, Facebook, Ford, Google, Hilton, Honda, IBM, IKEA, Kodak, McDonalds, Microsoft, MTV, Nestle, Nike, Nokia, Panasonic, Pfizer, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, Toyota, Twitter, Unilever, Visa, Yahoo and many more. The company expects to receive several thousand more applications prior to the end of the Landrush period.

"The response to the new .CO domain offering has been overwhelming. To keep up with the demand, our registrar partners have asked us to extend the deadline for the Landrush phase to give more people the opportunity to secure their desired domains before they are released to the general public," said Nicolai Bezsonoff, chief operating officer of .CO Internet. "July 16th will be the last opportunity for corporations, major brands, start-ups and individuals to secure their desired domains early. On July 20, all unclaimed domains will be added to the general pool and released on a first-come, first-served basis."

Pricing and Availability

During the Landrush phase, organizations and individuals wishing to secure early access to high-priority, high-value .CO domain names may do so — for a premium — through one of 10 .CO Accredited Registrar partners, including GoDaddy.com, Register.com, Network Solutions, eNom, InternetX, Dotster, Melbourne IT, OpenSRS, My.co, and Dominio Amigo, or any of the resellers within each registrar's extended networks.

.CO domains registered during the Landrush phase are priced at a premium to reflect their high value and high demand, with prices averaging between $250 to $300, depending on the registrar. If more than one Landrush application is received for a particular domain name, it will be auctioned to the highest bidder.

About .CO Internet

.CO Internet S.A.S. is the Registry Operator for the .CO top-level domain. Short, memorable and credible, .CO is the hot, new ending for web addresses all over the world. From start-ups and small businesses to big brands and multinational corporations, .CO is increasingly becoming the web address of choice for innovators and entrepreneurs across the globe. Please visit http://www.COinternet.co and http://www.go.co for more information. You can also follow us on Twitter @dotCO and at Facebook.com/dotCO. (Learn More)

Related topics: Domain Names, Registry Services, Top-Level Domains