Hello. I was looking for a domain and while i search i found it in pending delete status. I try to google what it means but the domain life cycle appears very complex to me. So here is my questions please help with your simple answer. 1. How long this domain will be in this stage? 2. Will it be available for everyone to register when it cross the pending delete period? If not, then when it will become available? 3. What actually snap name means? 4. If I saw a domain expiring what should i do get it? Is backorder helpful? Or any other way? Sorry for too many questions. Thanks in advance.
Yeah, the drop cycle is confusing, it takes 3-4 months and even then it probably won't become available as some drop catcher will probably pick it up withing milliseconds after it is available. If the domain is at Godaddy you can buy them before they expire at auctions.godaddy.com Other registrars have agreements with different aftermarket sites for the same purpose. If you really want it you can try backordering it at more then one place such as godaddy and snapnames (snap name is the name of a drop catcher)
ok. but the domain is already in "pending delete" status. Can the registrar still have control over it? And, as I know the pending delete status remain for 5 days, can i somehow calculate/search when the pending delete status ends?
Pending Delete is a status set by the WHO IS server for a domain name that has not been renewed. Domain names which expire normally get deleted. The registry will hold the name in the pending delete phase for some days. In the pending delete restorable state it is possible to recover the domain name within 30 days. The name can be recovered only by the original listed owner of the domain name in the WHO IS server. If the owner of the domain does not pay the restoration fee, then the registrar will drop the domain and it will be in the pending delete state for exactly 5 days. here is a good article on this http://www.buydomains.com/domain-resources/domain-locking/pending-delete.jsp
Heh, not really. Here's a shorthand, and it especially applies to .com: 1. Domain expires up to 45 days, then: 2. Domain switches to Redemption Grace Period for 30 days, then: 3. Domain switches to Pending Delete for 5 days, then: 4. Domain becomes available on its "6th" day between 1-2PM EST. It's number one that's not consistent as it depends on what the registrar will do to the expired name before possibly letting it go to number two. In your case, ferdousx, count about 5-6 days from the domain's last updated date if its status is indeed Pending Delete. The registrar can't retrieve it if it's in that phase, and you ought to backorder with as many as you can afford in order to boost your chances. And pray to the domain name gods they won't be interested in taking it.
Thank you dreamer, sharpwebhosting and davezan for your reply. Luckily I got the domain just few hours ago without backorder or anything. It was a 5 letter .com domain, but not a dictionary word. I guess this type of domains are still not so scarce, although i think 4 letter .com domains are. Thank you all again.