ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is sort of
a strange bunch to deal with. If you would like to get a domain name
totally free of charge in another country which is essentially
anonymous (you do self registration) try one of these possibilities:
UNONIC (United Names Organization) http://unonic.com where you can register
any domain name of your choice in the '.tf' top level.
or JOYNIC http://joynic.com where you can register domains in the name of
your choice on the top level '.tt'
or CYDOTS http://cydots.com where you can register domains in the name of
your choice in the top level '.ms'
or DHS International http://www.dhs.org where you can register domains in
the name of your choice in the 'n3.net' top level and a few other top
levels. These folks are based out of Australia
and do use 'American-looking' domain names i.e. '.n3.net' and they ask for a
voluntary donation via Pay Pal.
or SMARTDOTS http://smartdots.com where you can register domains in the name
of your choice in the top level '.tc'
All the above are self-service registration, meaning you do it from
your own computer, picking the desired URLs and answering a few simple
questions, set up the contact information _truthfully_, etc. Many of
them also have email forwarding, and all of them simply redirect to
your existingweb page elsewhere. The WHOIS information on many of them
is totally confidential with only email of inquiry sent to you from
the nosy person who is asking.
They are all totally free to use, they all cloak the true name of your
web site by using frames and your alias URL name. They all last
forever, require no contracts and except for DHS are totally free but
they like it if you use a pop up or a banner they supply. In addition
to the country codes mentioned 'tc' 'tf' 'tt' and 'ms' they all have a
raft of second-level choices under them such as 'net' 'us' and
others. I've had several of them over the years; for example, check
out http://patricktownson.us.tf which will take you to my blog, the
same as if you entered http://ptownson.blogspot.com .
I hope this information is helpful to you especially if you do not like the
ICANN contracts, prefer to be anonymous, etc.
PAT
Patrick Townson (