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What is a CommonName?
A CommonName is a simplified web or email address. It is your natural company, brand or product name that can be used instead of your company's web or email address for web navigation or email communication.
A CommonName can also be a generic term that is descriptive of the business that you are in or products that you offer. Drive traffic to your website with generic search terms.
A CommonName helps customers find your website and reach you via email by eliminating the need to type complex domain names and email addresses.
Examples of CommonNames for web navigation:
CommonName URL
Oxford University http://www.ox.ac.uk/
Oxford Higher Education http://www.ox.ac.uk/
Priceline http://www.priceline.com
US Hotel Bookings http://travel.priceline.com/hotels
Examples of CommonNames for email communication:
CommonName URL
Oxford University info@ox.ac.uk
Acme support support@ACMEsoftwaresolutions.com
Acme sales sales@ACMEsoftwaresolutions.com
A CommonName can only be registered by one business globally or in each country - it is a unique identifier.
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What type of words can I register as a CommonName?
There are two types of CommonName that you can register, a Standard CommonName and Basic CommonName.
a) Standard CommonName
A Standard CommonName is your company, product or brand name. It must directly reflect your company's name or one of its own brand names, product names or service names. You cannot register a brand or product name merely because you are a reseller of a brand or product - you must be the true owner. For example, only IBM can register IBM or IBM ThinkPad. However, a reseller of IBM products could register names such as IBM Laptop Computers or IBM Computer Sales as they are partly generic extensions of the brand name IBM that is relevant to a reseller (note - these terms would be Basic CommonNames - see below). Clearly you cannot register the name of a competitor or competitor's products.
A user that types in a Standard CommonName in the browser address bar will be taken directly to the website of the owner of the Standard CommonName. It's a great way to attract new customers and provide convenience to your current customers.
Because Standard CommonNames are unique (only one business per country can register a CommonName), your Standard CommonName must truly reflect the name of your company. For example, ABC Videos must register the name ABC Videos rather than just ABC.
You cannot select a Standard CommonName that is a generic word, such as books or computers.
2. Basic CommonName
A Basic CommonName is a generic or semi-generic term. For example, a real estate agent in Boston could register Boston Real Estate, or a white-water rafting company could register Rafting Tours. Again, you cannot register a term that includes a competitor's name or products.
A user that types in a Basic CommonName into the browser address bar will be taken directly to the website of the owner of the Basic CommonName, which will occupy 75% of the screen. The remaining 25% of the screen will contain search results for the term.
Basic CommonNames are a great way to attract new customers to your website. Search terms are the most popular method of finding websites on the Internet.
Because Basic CommonNames are Unique (only one business per country can register them), your Basic CommonName must truly reflect the nature of your business.
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What does it mean when I check availability and it says "too generic?"
Until Spring of 2004 that would have meant that you could not register that particular phrase. Those terms have been deemed high traffic keywords and CommonName Ltd., up until Spring 2004, felt that NO ONE company should benefit from the from that phrase. However, by increasing demand from customers and registrars', CommonName has since changed their thinking about those terms. They can be registered however the price will be higher and will be paid on a quarterly basis (every 3 months).
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Can I register more than one CommonName?
A company can register as many CommonNames as they wish, as long as they comply with our CommonName Acceptance Guidelines.
In many cases a company may wish to register their company name, various brand names, product names, service names, and/or generic term. For example:
CommonName Type URL
ABC travel Standard (Company Name) www.abctravel.com/index.html
ABC Flightchecker Standard (Service Name) www.abctravel.com/flightchecker.htm
ABC Fly-away Standard (Brand Name) www.abctravel.com/fly-away.html
Manhattan Travel Agents Basic (generic term) www.abctravel.com/index.html
A company may also wish to register a CommonName in numerous countries (rather than register a global CommonName).
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Can I register a Commonname in more than one country?
Yes, you can register a CommonName in as many countries as you want as long as you are entitled to that name in the country (i.e. you have to be known in that country).
Alternatively, you can register a global CommonName. A global CommonName will resolve to your website when used anywhere in the world. Companies with multiple international web sites can also set up their CommonName to deliver overseas users to the most appropriate site.
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Where do CommonNames work?
CommonNames are used by anyone who has enabled their web browser or email client with CommonName software. More than 41 million users worldwide have installed CommonName software, making us the largest global provider of direct navigation keywords.
CommonName software is truly cross-browser - the CommonName system is the only provider that works on all the following browsers:
Internet Explorer (5.01+)
Netscape (6.2+)
AOL Browser (6.0+)
MSN (6.0+)
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How much do CommonNames cost?
Different prices apply based on the type of CommonName you are registering, and the country you are registering your CommonName in.
For prices and availability in the United States, please contact Get CommonNames immediately before your CommonName is gone.
Other Countries
For prices and availability in other countries, enter your CommonName and country in the Support Form located in the tabs above and a Representative will contact you shortly.
Importantly, you will only be charged if the CommonNames you have selected are accepted.
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Why does my application need to be reviewed for approval?
Applications are reviewed for a number of reasons, including:
* To ensure a high standard of relevancy between CommonNames and associated website/email addresses;
* To ensure that CommonNames direct users to the site/email generally expected;
* To protect the goodwill of businesses and ensure CommonNames are registered by those entitled to them.
When your application has been reviewed, we will contact you to confirm whether your CommonNames have been approved or rejected. Review usually takes less than 48 business hours.
Importantly, you will only be charged if the CommonNames you have selected are accepted.
We will review your application in accordance with our CommonName Acceptance Guidelines.
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Why is my CommonName unavailable?
Your CommonName may be unavailable for reasons including:
* It has already been registered by another company entitled to that CommonName;
* It doesn't sufficiently reflect your company or brand name;
* It does not direct users to the site which meets their general expectations;
* It trades on the goodwill of another party;
* The CommonName chosen doesn't conform with our CommonName Acceptance Guidelines.
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What is a Keyword and how do CommonNames and Keywords co-exist?
Keyword Search is our soon to launch cost per click search engine. It will work in a similar way to other cost per click search engines - giving businesses the opportunity to attract new, targeted customers on a cost per click basis.
CommonNames provide the owner with a direct navigation service to their website. The owner receives the dual benefit of attracting new, targeted customers and receiving superior branding exposure. Standard CommonNames provide owners with exclusive exposure to our millions of users.
Keyword Search and CommonNames will co-exist relatively easily because extremely generic terms (for example, Cars) are not permitted to be CommonNames. However, extremely generic terms are ideally suited to being Keyword Search terms. For generic terms that do not fit into the "extremely generic" category, there may be overlap between our two products for some terms. Where there is overlap, CommonNames will prevail, however Keyword Search results will also be shown in a frame on the left-hand side of the screen. Therefore, both products will co-exist together.
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How Can I Try Your Products?
To try out our products, go to our homepage www.commonname.com and in the
"See An Example" box on the top menu bar type:
IBM – this is a Standard CommonName;
Fathers Day Gift – this is a Basic CommonName.
To check that our software works, click on the "Download" tab on the top menu bar and then download the CommonName Browser Address Bar (if you are an Internet Explorer user) or the CommonName Netscape Sidebar (if you are a Netscape user). Alternatively, ask your CommonName Registrar where to find a copy.
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How Many Users Do We Have?
As of the start of July 2006, over 41 million people have installed the
CommonName software. This makes us one of the largest software companies
in terms of users in the world.
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Does CommonName require a download?
Yes. CommonName does require a third party download in order to have the keyword functionality. CommonName downloads can be downloaded for anyone using Internet Explorer, NetScape, MSN, and AOL.
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How Can We Prove That We Have 41 Million Installed Users?
We stand by our user base numbers and our reputation as an honest company.
Any Internet company can claim to have a large user base, but how can it be proved?
The best way for a customer to have comfort that a user base is legitimate, is to see
with their own eyes how the software is distributed and then have an independent
source confirm the numbers. As far as we are aware, we are the only direct
navigation/keyword provider that can do this.
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How do we distribute our software?
The main way that we distribute our software is by partnering our product with some of the world’s most popular pieces of software. For example, until 2004, one of our major partners is iMesh, an extremely popular piece of consumer software. Whenever someone installed iMesh, they also installed CommonName, but don’t take our word for it, try it! Those of you who have been following the Internet for some time will know that for a long time we also partnered with KaZaA, one of the most popular pieces of software in the world. For example, Grokster was also at one time a partner. Currently our partners are KaZaa Light and URL Blaze, both extremely popular P2P (Personal Computer to Personal Computer) software, Singster, Maileet, Okaz, Skyhorn, and Speedhit. We also have other partners, BearShare, Cash Tool Bar, Bundleware, FreewireP2P, and Net Pumper, which change over time as new contracts are negotiated between new and old partners.
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How can we confirm the numbers?
Again, we urge you not to take our word for it – go to www.download.com
and see for yourself. Download.com is the largest independent distributor of
software on the Internet. Their numbers are objective and they have no incentive
to make the numbers up because all the software distributed is free. You can
see that iMesh is the fourth most popular piece of software on Download.com,
with 455,089 installs in the last week of September 2002. Grokster is the eleventh
most popular piece of software with 111,914 per week. Our old partner KaZaA is
number one and has been for a long time. We have been distributing in this manner
for over a year, so you can clearly see where our large user base has come from
and why it continues to grow.
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Where do CommonName Search Terms work?
Both Basic and Premium CommonName Search Terms can be used in the Microsoft Internet Explorer, the Netscape browser command line,
the AOL browser command, internationally. Both products also work in other
CommonName Search Terms-enabled environments such as the NeoPlanet browser
and major search engines such as Looksmart, and on mobile phones via the
Openwave Mobile access Gateway.
CommonName search terms will also now function out of Google, Yahoo, MSN, Ask Jeeves, Altavista, Lycos, Alltheweb, AOL Search, Open Directory, Vivisimo, Hotbot and Teoma.
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If a Basic CommonName Search Term is registered, can someone else register
the same word, or as a CommonName Search Terms Plus?
No need to worry, a CommonName Search Term can only be registered once in each country, no matter what the product type.
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Are CommonName Search Terms case sensitive?
No. CommonName Search Terms are not case sensitive.
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How long will it take before my CommonName Search Terms can be used?
CommonName Search Terms registrations are entered into the database
immediately, and are updated and available for use within the Microsoft
CommonName browser command line and other CommonName Search Terms-enabled environments within 2-5 business days.
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How do CommonName Search Terms work?
The CommonName Search Terms platform is based on HTTP and XML.
We are working with the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to help
establish the Common Name Resolution Protocol (CNRP).
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What happens when it comes time to renew my CommonName search terms?
When the time comes you will be contacted 30 days prior to your one year expiration date to renew. You have first right of renewal/refusal on all CommonName terms you have purchased.
(CommonName Search Terms can also be cancelled by the Registrar for breaches of your registration agreement, including non-payment.)
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Can I change the URL that my CommonName Search Terms points to
after I have registered?
Mapping a CommonName Search Terms to a Domain name is completely under
your control, and such changes will take effect within 72 hours. For example,
you may wish to point your CommonName Search Terms to an updated or
different page on your website during a special promotion or competition, or
after a new product release. If you wish to change the domain your keyword is pointing to you will be charged $50.00 per phrase.
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How widespread is the use of CommonName Search Terms?
Usage of CommonName Search Terms is skyrocketing. In July 2006,
we served 41 million people worldwide, and the number continues to grow
on a daily basis. We are currently reaching roughly a million new users per month.
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How are CommonName Search Terms distributed?
CommonName Search Terms are distributed through a chain of Registrars
and resellers who partner with them. Should a relationship end or change,
CommonName Search Terms owners will automatically be notified of the
change, and directed to a new customer service contact.
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What is Spyware and does CommonName use Spyware?
The term Spyware is a term that is usually used out of context. Spyware is software that is installed onto a computer (often without the user knowing about it) that tracks and records the user's personal information and personal Internet surfing habits and/or uses the user's Internet connection without their knowledge. This information is then sold for marketing purposes or to target advertising. Spyware can also be used for more sinister purposes - to enable a hacker to access files in a computer or use the unused processing power of a computer. Hence, it "spys" on you as an individual or does something that you have not given it permission to do. Further, usually Spyware is extremely hard to remove from a computer because the file names for the software are not related to the name of the software. CommonName is NOT Spyware and never will be. CommonNames' does not track the personal information or surfing habits of users, nor do they do anything except what they say their software does. CommonName has no idea what each of its users Internet habits are. The only information that they collect is aggregate query information - i.e. 500,000 of our users each month type in say, "Hotmail." This is standard generic information collection for Internet search companies. CommonName has been accused of being Spyware by some Spyware crusaders. This is simply not the case and reflects assumptions and a lack of understanding of our software.
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What is Adware and does CommonName use Adware?
The term Adware is also becoming popular - largely because some companies are trying to sell software that stops ads from being shown. Adware essentially means software that will serve you pop-up advertising. There are various grades of Adware, ranging from software that does nothing but serve advertising through to software that serves occasional advertising to enable free access to its software. Many well-known websites in fact also serve pop-up advertising to users.
It is true that the CommonName software has a mild Adware component in it. This is because CommonName serves one pop-under (as opposed to the more intrusive pop-up) ad per day to their user base instead of charging them for the CommonName software. CommonName views this as extremely minor given that most software or websites with an Adware componnent (which is most free software) will serve anywhere between two and twenty or more ads per day to users.
CommonName's has sometimes been accused of serving numerous ads per day because users can see the presence of our software on their computer and blame us. This is simply not the case - they have other software on their computers. Many of these other pieces of software have hidden files and file names that do relate to the name of the software. They are thus extremely difficult to find and remove.
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How do I uninstall CommonNames?
There is a couple ways of uninstalling CommonNames depending on which version you have installed on your computer. Follow the steps listed below to remove CommonNames:
1.) Start/Programs/CommonName/Uninstall CommonName; or
2.) Start/Settings/Control Panel/Add Remove Programs, select CommonName and delete it (sometimes you need to shut all browser and Windows Explorer windows before deleting); or
3.) Please unzip and run the attached uninstaller to remove CommonName. Please read the directions very carefully!
PLEASE DO NOT RUN ANY PROGRAMS THAT CLAIM THAT THEY ARE REMOVING COMMONNAMES. THEY ARE ONLY STRIPPING THE .EXE FILE OF COMMONNAMES OF IT'S ENTIRE ABILITY TO COMPLETELY REMOVE ITSELF. IF YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE SO, YOU WILL HAVE TO RE-INSTALL COMMONNAMES TO PUT ALL STRIPPED FILES BACK IN PLACE BEFORE RUNNING 'UNINSALL.ZIP.'
Save ‘uninsALL.zip’ to your desktop.
Extract ‘uninsAll.exe’ using ‘Winzip’, which can be downloaded at http://www.winzip.com.
Run 'uninsAll.exe' by double left clicking on it.
Follow the on-screen instructions.
Once the uninstaller has finished running, re-boot your computer.
CommonName will now have been removed. You may delete the uninstall file if you wish.
Please note that this uninstaller is built to remove all versions of our software, therefore you will notice more than one uninstaller window running. Simply follow any onscreen prompts to remove CommonName.
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Do We Guarantee Hits or Traffic?
No. Get CommonNames cannot predict whether the CommonName search terms you have chosen will be typed in anywhere in the world. Customer's usually understand their industry and know the best terms in the industry and purchase them. Get CommonNames will also be able to guide you in the right direction as well if you are not sure which term is best for you
From experience, most companies that guarantee traffic from keywords have purchased pop-up/pop-under traffic from traffic companies and run them through software and/or servers to make it appear that you have recieved a unique hit/visitor when in reality the pop-up/pop-under traffic was probably never even recieved anywhere.
Think about it. How can a company who claims to have "X" amount of user predict the exact number of times their "X" number of users will type in the keyword you have purchased. Our goal is not to misled anyone, we simply have faith in our product that we don't buy traffic to make you think you spent your money wisely.
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Can I use tracking URL's to track my CommonName search terms?
Recently some customers have applied for names that they want linked to a tracking company's URL rather than their own URL (also known as affiliate URL's). We do not allow this for three reasons: 1) It would be too easy for a customer to register a CommonName and then simply redirect the tracking URL to another, non-relevant, website; 2) If the server of a large tracking company went down, then potentially hundreds of CommonNames will go down at once; 3) Adding a proxy server that we cannot control into the process introduces a range of potential issues - for example, if someone hacked into the tracker server then they could redirect hundreds of CommonNames at once. It is important to note that we are not against customers tracking traffic if they wish to do so. There are numerous tracking companies that probide tracking services as an extension to the customer's normal URL rather than requiring the customer to use the tracking company's URL.
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How does CommonNames handle singular and plural search terms?
CommonName requires that both basic and standard CommonName search terms be an EXACT match between the name and the user query for the navigation to occur. Therefore if a customer registers "atlanta new cars" and the user types in "atlanta new car" then the CommonName will not resolve.
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Is CommonName search terms case sensitive?
No. CommonName search terms may be typed in the browser in whatever case manor that suits you best. A customer must type in the exact word that you purchase in order to the CommonName to resolve to your website.
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How do I select a CommonName?
To select the best possible Standard CommonName for your company, choose a unique word or term that reflects your company's brand or product name.
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