We continue populating our list of gTLDs and ccTLDs. As you know, our Domain Availability API and Whois API allow programmatically domain availability and Whois checks. Today we are looking to find out whois pro?! Domain names play a crucial role in establishing an online presence, the introduction of the .PRO generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) marks a significant milestone for professionals worldwide. This article delves into the .PRO domain, exploring its purpose, potential applications, and the unique opportunities it offers to professionals across various industries.
What is the .PRO Domain?
The .PRO domain is a gTLD specifically designed for professionals and professional entities seeking to highlight their expertise and credentials on the internet. Launched to provide a distinct online space for certified professionals, the .PRO domain caters to individuals, businesses, and organizations across a broad spectrum of professional fields. From lawyers and doctors to architects and accountants, the .PRO domain offers a platform to showcase professional services and grow trust with clients and colleagues online.
According to some sources, there are around 500,000 .PRO domain names registered. It’s a similar size to .CLUB, which we covered in our recent research.
A generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) is a category of domain names in the Domain Name System (How DNS works) of the internet that is used globally. Unlike country-specific top-level domains (ccTLDs) that are tied to a particular country or region, gTLDs are generic and can be registered by anyone, anywhere in the world. Examples of gTLDs include .com, .net, .org, and newer additions like .pro, .club, and .tattoo. These domains serve various purposes, from representing commercial businesses (.com) to non-profit organizations (.org), and offer a wide range of options for individuals, businesses, and entities looking to establish an online presence. The introduction of new gTLDs has expanded the internet’s naming system, allowing for more customized and descriptive domain names.
Potential Use Cases for the .PRO Domain
- Individual Professionals: For individuals, a .PRO domain can serve as a digital business card, presenting their professional portfolio, resume, and contact information in a concise, accessible manner.
- Professional Services Firms: Law firms, consultancy agencies, medical practices, and engineering firms can leverage the .PRO domain to emphasize their professional accreditation and industry expertise.
- Certification and Licensing Bodies: Organizations that provide professional certifications or licenses can use the .PRO domain to disseminate information, guidelines, and resources related to their accreditation processes.
- Online Learning and Development: Educational platforms offering professional development courses, training programs, and certifications can adopt the .PRO domain to highlight their commitment to professional growth.
Advantages of the .PRO Domain
- Credibility and Trust: The .PRO domain inherently signals professionalism, helping professionals and firms establish credibility and build trust with their target audience.
- Brand Protection: Registering a .PRO domain can be an effective strategy for brand protection, ensuring that professional credentials and identities are securely represented online.
- SEO Benefits: A .PRO domain can enhance search engine optimization (SEO) for professional services, making it easier for potential clients to discover these services online.
- Global Recognition: The .PRO domain is recognized globally, allowing professionals to reach and engage with an international clientele.
Registration and Management
The .PRO domain was managed by Registry Services, LLC until Identity Digital acquired .pro. Registry Services continues to operate .bank and . insurance. While the .PRO domain now runs under Identity Digital.
.Pro was initially restricted to licensed professionals, but it has since opened up, allowing a broader range of professionals and entities to register their domain names under this extension, provided they meet the verification criteria set forth by the registry.
Altough the recent explosion of new gTLDs would led you to believe .PRO is a new domain extension, that wouldn’t be true. .PRO domain was originally started in June 2004!
Whois .PRO
WHOIS is an essential tool in the digital domain landscape, serving as a protocol for querying databases that store the registration information of domain names. This system provides public access to data on registered domains, including the names of domain owners, their contact information, registrar details, domain status, and important dates such as registration and expiration. WHOIS databases play a crucial role in maintaining the transparency and security of the internet’s naming system, allowing individuals and organizations to ascertain ownership details for various purposes such as domain purchase inquiries and legal issues or to combat spam and fraud.
The management and provision of WHOIS services for the .PRO domain are overseen by Identity Digital, a specialized entity responsible for the registry operations of the .PRO gTLD. As a guardian of .PRO’s registry, Identity Digital ensures that WHOIS information for .PRO domains is accessible to the public, adhering to policies set forth by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). ICANN’s regulations mandate that registrars and registries provide up-to-date and accurate WHOIS data, contributing to a trustworthy and secure online environment.
Identity Digital (through Afilias, as you will see from example below) operates the WHOIS database for .PRO domains, facilitating a platform where users can perform searches to retrieve information about domain registrations under the .PRO extension. This service is instrumental for professionals and entities looking to establish or verify the digital identities associated with .PRO domains bolster the domain’s reputation as a trusted marker of professionalism on the internet. Through the WHOIS system, the .PRO domain maintains its commitment to transparency, allowing for the verification of professional credentials and the integrity of the domain’s users.
Example of a Whois .Pro Domain
The provided Whois JSON object contains WHOIS information for the domain “hosting.pro,” which is notably configured to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), resulting in the anonymization of personal data. Here are the key takeaways from the WHOIS data which was obtained by batch whois lookup:
- WHOIS Server: The WHOIS information was retrieved from “whois.afilias.net,” indicating Afilias as the registry operator for the .PRO domain.
- Status: The query was successfully processed, with the status code “0” and description “Successfully processed.”
- Registration Status: The domain is currently registered, as indicated by “registered: true,” and is not marked as premium.
- Registry Domain ID: The domain’s unique identifier within the registry is “f65d6c08183341209376e206e923766e- DONUTS.”
- Registrar IANA ID: The domain is managed by a registrar with the IANA ID “895,” which is associated with Squarespace Domains II LLC.
- Dates: The domain was created on March 31, 2005, and is set to expire on March 31, 2024. It was last updated on May 15, 2023.
- Domain Status: The domain has a status of “clientTransferProhibited” in two instances, indicating restrictions on transferring the domain to another registrar without authorization.
- Nameservers: The domain uses Google Cloud’s nameservers, suggesting that the domain’s DNS management is hosted on Google Cloud Platform.
- Contacts: Due to GDPR, detailed contact information for the registrar, registrant, admin, and tech contacts is anonymized. The registrant organization is noted as “Contact Privacy Inc. Customer 7151571251,” based in Ontario, Canada, emphasizing privacy protection measures.
- Domain Name: The specific domain in question is “hosting.pro.”
This summary underscores the domain’s current registration status, its management under Squarespace Domains and Afilias, and the protective measures in place due to GDPR, affecting the visibility of personal contact information. The use of Google Cloud nameservers hints at the domain’s infrastructure setup, likely leveraging Google Cloud services for hosting or related online services.
Now You Know Whois Pro
The .PRO gTLD stands as a testament to the digital age’s acknowledgment of professional expertise and services. It offers a unique opportunity for professionals and professional entities to distinguish themselves in the online marketplace, reinforcing their credibility, enhancing visibility, and connecting with clients and peers in a meaningful way.
The internet continues to be an essential tool for professional engagement and service delivery, the .PRO domain will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping the future of professional online presence.
