Overview
- .skype is a brand generic top-level domain (gTLD) applied for under ICANN's New gTLD Program to represent the Skype brand.
- The TLD is intended to provide Skype-branded namespaces for consumers and businesses interacting with the Skype platform.
- Microsoft is the applicant and manager of the .skype TLD; an ICANNWiki entry also lists Verisign as the registry operator.
History
- Microsoft acquired Skype in October 2011 (applicant materials).
- The .skype string was revealed as an applied-for gTLD on 13 June 2012.
- The .skype TLD was delegated to the DNS root zone on 24 June 2015.
Usage and Audience
- Primary audience: consumers and businesses that interact with or rely on the Skype communications platform.
- Use cases described by the applicant include secure and authentic experiences for Skype users, promotion of the Skype platform, and protection of the Skype brand and associated intellectual property.
- The application referenced Skype's global user base (over 670 million registered users at the time of application) and cross-platform availability.
Registration Rules
- Microsoft states that the Microsoft Domain Name Management team is responsible for the .skype Domain Management Policy (sDMP), which defines eligibility, allocation rules, license terms and dispute resolution policies.
- Registration is described as a four-step process:
- Eligibility Confirmation
- Naming Convention Check
- Acceptable Use Review
- Registration
- Key restrictions and policies from the applicant materials:
- Domains in the .skype registry cannot be assigned to third parties.
- All domains in the .skype registry remain the property of Microsoft.
- The sDMP is intended to be updated regularly to reflect Microsoft's commercial and strategic interests and applicable ICANN consensus policies.
SEO and Brand Impact
- The stated mission for .skype emphasizes enhancing security and authenticity for Skype interactions, promoting the Skype platform, and protecting the Skype mark and intellectual property.
- Tight registry control by Microsoft (ownership of all .skype names and eligibility checks) is positioned to support brand trust and to signal authenticity for official Skype-related services and resources.
Operator
Microsoft Corporation
Whois
% IANA WHOIS server
% for more information on IANA, visit http://www.iana.org
% This query returned 1 object
domain: SKYPE
organisation: Microsoft Corporation
address: One Microsoft Way
address: Redmond WA 98052
address: United States of America (the)
contact: administrative
name: Cole Quinn
organisation: Microsoft Corporation
address: One Microsoft Way
address: Redmond WA 98052
address: United States of America (the)
phone: +1 425-706-3546
fax-no: +1 425-457-2511
e-mail: registry@microsoft.com
contact: technical
name: TLD Registry Services Technical
organisation: Nominet
address: Minerva House
address: Edmund Halley Road
address: Oxford Science Park
address: Oxford OX4 4DQ
address: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the)
phone: +44.1865332211
e-mail: registrytechnical@nominet.uk
nserver: DNS1.NIC.MICROSOFT 213.248.219.132 2a01:618:403:0:0:0:0:132
nserver: DNS2.NIC.MICROSOFT 103.49.83.132 2401:fd80:403:0:0:0:0:132
nserver: DNS3.NIC.MICROSOFT 213.248.223.132 2a01:618:407:0:0:0:0:132
nserver: DNS4.NIC.MICROSOFT 2401:fd80:407:0:0:0:0:132 43.230.51.132
nserver: DNSA.NIC.MICROSOFT 156.154.100.3 2001:502:ad09:0:0:0:0:3
nserver: DNSB.NIC.MICROSOFT 156.154.101.3 2001:502:2eda:0:0:0:0:3
nserver: DNSC.NIC.MICROSOFT 156.154.102.3 2610:a1:1009:0:0:0:0:3
nserver: DNSD.NIC.MICROSOFT 156.154.103.3 2610:a1:1010:0:0:0:0:3
ds-rdata: 56554 8 2 ffa94dc331d59fbe4b7b2e51871b8ceeec8ce9baa00efb2a9553f09f84804e6a
ds-rdata: 25544 8 2 2aaa5a12f194b174e8545dc683e987ae649ce73c0f8f979b9baee765c90ae78b
whois:
status: ACTIVE
remarks: Registration information: http://www.skype.com
created: 2015-03-19
changed: 2025-05-01
source: IANA
