The top-level domain (TLD) .VIP is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) used in the Domain Name System of the Internet. Introduced by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), it became operational on May 16, 2016. This information can be confirmed from ICANN’s official website.
A TLD forms the last part of a domain name. For instance, in “google.com”, “.com” is the TLD whereas in an URL such as “domainname.vip”, “.vip” is the TLD. TLDs can be further classified into two types: country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) that are associated with specific countries (like .us for USA), and generic top-level domains (gTLDs) that can be used universally (like .com, .net, .org, or .vip).
The “.vip” TLD does not represent a particular country but is generic. The term ‘VIP’ is universally recognized and commonly associated with exclusivity, luxury, and prestige. This TLD is managed by the Minds + Machines Group, a leading operator of gTLDs.
The .VIP TLD is versatile and can be utilized by a variety of entities. Individuals, businesses, event organizers, luxury brands, and even VIP customer programs could use it to signify an exclusive status or to provide a digital space for premium products or services. It can also be employed to indicate a high level of service or prestige offered to a select clientele. This makes it a compelling choice for organizations and individuals seeking to leverage this inherent perceived status to their brand’s advantage.
There are certain criteria to register a .VIP domain. There are no explicit restrictions, meaning anyone can register a .VIP domain. However, certain domain names may be specifically reserved or restricted for use by the Registry Operator.
The technical part of the .VIP TLD works similarly to any other gTLDs. To register one, you need a domain name registrar, which is an organization or commercial entity that manages the reservation of Internet domain names. According to ICANN policies, the “.vip” domain can support ASCII characters, a requirement that aligns with most of the TLDs.
Sources:
1. ICANN: https://www.icann.org/
2. Minds + Machines Group: https://mmx.co/
3. VIP Domain Registration – dot VIP: https://www.101domain.com/vip.htm
4. List of Internet top-level domains: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Internet_top-level_domains
5. ASCII: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASCII
6. Domain registrar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_name_registrar
