Fresenius (.fresenius) is actually a brand Top-Level Domain (TLD) and it is not open for public registration. This TLD was obtained by the international health care group, Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA.
A Brand TLD provides an opportunity for a corporation to consolidate the entirety of its online existence under its direct control. In this case, Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA can use the .fresenius domain to host all its digital assets.
Fresenius is a renowned health care group with international operations, providing products and services for dialysis, hospitals, and outpatient medical care. Headquartered in Bad Homburg, Germany, the company is currently represented in over 100 countries globally. Fresenius’ health care network comprises more than 4,000 dialysis centers and 300+ hospitals in over 25 countries, making it one of the largest health groups in the world.
In the digital world, brand TLDs are an increasingly popular trend. According to ICANN, hundreds of organizations have applied for brand TLDs, including giants like Google (.google), Amazon (.amazon), and BMW (.bmw). These organizations didn’t simply buy a domain name; they bought an entire slice of the internet’s real estate.
It’s important to note that not every company can apply for a brand TLD. The application process laid down by the global domain name governing body, ICANN, is stringent, and the costs run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. Further, the TLD applications are taken only during certain application windows.
Although there are some significant hurdles and costs in obtaining a brand TLD, the benefits can be substantial. These benefits include enhanced brand recognition, improved authenticity, and credibility, enhanced control over domains, search engine relevancy, and potential for innovation.
To sum up, the .fresenius TLD is a prime representation of this trend, where a major corporation has secured its digital realm through its unique domain. However, as a brand TLD, the .fresenius domain is not available for public registration.
Sources:
- Fresenius official website (www.fresenius.com)
- ICANN official website (www.icann.org)
- The Role of Domain Names in Branding, Intellectual Property, and Corporate Strategies – Global Brands Magazine (www.globalbrandsmagazine.com)
- .brands Industry Report 2020 – Neustar (www.home.neustar)
