The top-level domain (TLD) .CLAIMS is a domain extension designed and targeted specifically for insurance companies, adjusters, small businesses, and lawyers. From insurance companies to small businesses processing customer complaints, .CLAIMS offers a specific niche TLD for services related to claims. Domain TLDs are the last portion of a web address, appearing after the final dot. For instance, in ‘google.com,’ ‘.com’ is the TLD.
Introduced to the domain name system on 19th March 2014 by Donuts Inc., an American company that runs new generic top-level domains as made possible by ICANN’s gTLD expansion program, .CLAIMS provides a credible and professional platform for entities involved in managing, processing, and tracking claims (ICANN Wiki). Donuts Inc. has relayed that the .CLAIMS domain is a valuable online space for businesses to provide information on how to file claims and to establish brands (Donuts News, March 19, 2014).
A good example of a company using .CLAIMS is General Motors (GM), with their site http://www.gm.claims. They utilize the .CLAIMS domain to create a direct portal for their customers to file their claims, navigate through the intricates of the claim process, and update on the status regarding pending claims.
Another example is Microsoft Corporation, through their website http://www.microsoft.claims, they provide their customers a dedicated site to provide essential information in case of any claim related to their various products and services.
However, registrations of .CLAIMS domains are subject to some regulations. According to ICANN rules, there are a Domain name registration terms and conditions agreement and Naming Policy, which every registrant needs to adhere to. The registration term for .CLAIMS domains can range from one to ten years.
Information about .CLAIMS domain extension can be found in various web hosting, domain marketplaces, and domain data providing platforms. Among them, some recognized sources are Godaddy, Namecheap, and Whois, which provide data on every existing domain name, including gTLDs like .CLAIMS.
While .CLAIMS does not have the ubiquitous recognition of popular TLDs like .com, .org, or .net, it offers a more targeted marketing tool, especially for businesses in the claims processing field. Hence, the success of this TLD mainly depends on its adoption and usage by businesses, legal entities, and individuals within the relevant sectors.
Sources:
1. ICANN Wiki – .CLAIMS
2. Donuts Inc. News, March 19, 2014
3. Whois
4. General Motors: http://www.gm.claims
5. Microsoft Corporation: http://www.microsoft.claims
