The highly-anticipated relaunch date for .Pro has now been confirmed for September 8.

Last month, RegistryPro began accepting pre-reservations for .Pro domain names from new registrants from July 21 through August 31, which marks the second phase of the registry's transition to new registration parameters.

The ".Pro Red Carpet VIP Affair" reservation period enables new customers to reserve their .Pro domain before the formal September 8 relaunch, when the Registry will officially open registration.
 
The extension has been available since 2005, however, it was limited to registrants in the accounting, engineering, legal and medical fields. These limitations made it difficult to obtain a .Pro domain, resulting in nominal adoption rates.

This past April, ICANN approved much more favorable terms and conditions for .Pro, and in doing so, opened registration for the domain to all licensed and credentialed professionals and professional entities internationally.
 
"DomainPeople is excited to be one of the first registrars to offer .Pro under ICANN?s newly expanded registration criteria," says Liz Yeung, product management specialist for DomainPeople. "And through August 31, we're one of the very few offering the opportunity to reserve a .Pro domain before the relaunch begins."
 
During "The .Pro Red Carpet VIP Affair," all .Pro domain names can be registered for US$49.95 per year. The domain registrar will also offer all registrants a professional digital certificate that ensures secure online communication via the designated website.