INTERNET
Novara launches low-cost dot-ie domains
26-09-2005
by Deirdre McArdle
At a time when the IEDR is being criticised for the pricing of the dot-ie domain, Novara has announced the launch of low-cost domain registrations and hosting.
On Monday, Dublin-based Novara unveiled its Hosting 24/7 service, which the firm says will offer dot-ie domains for EUR49.99 per year and all other domains such as dot-com, dot-org and dot-net for EUR7.99 per year. All prices are exclusive of VAT.
Novara's ultimate aim is to bring the dot-ie domain price to within 30 percent of the dot-com price and to compete with the budget offerings of US and UK providers.
"Our competitors won't like it, but it's a great day for the Irish e-consumer," said Novara's managing director Eoin Costello, speaking with ElectricNews.Net. "The launch of Hosting 24/7 leverages our ongoing investment in automation and will deliver lower prices and faster service."
For the past year Novara has worked at automating many of its procedures, a factor that has enabled it to launch budget domains and hosting. The firm's automated procedures range from its domain ordering system (.ieXpress) to support troubleshooting with features such as text chat -- where customers can 'chat' online with members of Novara's technical team -- and the automated troubleshooting system "Oracle."
"Doing all the processes associated with domain registration and ongoing support manually is simply not sustainable," said Costello. "Implementing automated systems has enabled us to increase convenience, cut down on administration and staff time."
Over the past few months Novara has been vocal about the cost of dot-ie domains. In fact the firm has committed to seeing average dot-ie prices fall by 50 percent over the coming year and a half. Costello also wants to see 100,000 dot-ie domains in the next 18 months; the current number stands at around 50,000.
In May of this year Novara was awarded the IEDR inaugural Annual Achievement Award. The firm won the award for 2004 because it generated significant growth in dot-ie domain registrations. It also reportedly helped the IEDR improve its service to dot-ie customers with the development of an automated customer interface called .ieXpress.
Novara currently employs nine full-time staff at its premises in Dublin but Costello says that the firm aims to recruit additional staff in the coming year as demand increases for its products and services.
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