Symbol Domains for a Global, Mobile Web
The Unicode database contains tens of thousands of characters and symbols. Using that foundation, Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) make it possible for Internet users worldwide to access the web in ways that match their language, writing system, and culture.
Traditional .com names registered years ago are typically
locked to the basic Latin character set. That means they don’t automatically
protect your brand in other scripts or symbol spaces. ICANN and the registry
operators expect you to secure your brand where it matters.
Symbol domains take a different path: instead of fighting for your name in every possible script, you adopt a universal symbol that transcends language.
The Symbol Domain Strategy
Rather than trying to register your brand in every language and script, you can:
- Choose a symbol that is recognizable across cultures.
- Use that symbol domain as a “front door” to your existing site.
- Promote the symbol alongside your conventional domain name.
Mathematical symbols, simple geometric shapes, and certain dingbat symbols are widely understood regardless of language. They act as a visual brand shorthand that works across borders.
The symbol domains we offer are:
- Non-language-specific.
- Easy for customers to recognize and remember.
- Ideal for campaigns focused on global reach and mobile users.
You Don’t Have to Replace Your Current Domain
Symbol domains are usually deployed as an additional front door, not a replacement for your existing domain.
Technically, it’s straightforward to:
- Point multiple domains to the same website (“domain stacking”).
- Detect the user’s browser capabilities and route them accordingly.
- Use the symbol domain in campaigns, QR codes, and short links.
In practice, that means you can keep your current yourbrand.com
while adding a memorable symbol domain like
♢ as a premium,
high-impact entry point.
Symbol Domains Offered
Bundled Symbols (Stewardship Policy)
Certain symbol domains are held together due to close visual similarity (glyph variants).
Maintaining common stewardship of visually related symbols helps prevent confusion, misuse, or fragmentation of characters that share close graphical identity. For this reason, these domains are not marketed, promoted, or treated as independent inventory, and are managed as a cohesive group to preserve clarity and responsible use.
Historically, a limited number of symbol domains have been transferred as isolated, completed transactions. Such transfers have included custodial placement with private collectors as well as selective transfers to aligned commercial entities, where consolidated stewardship was deemed to reduce confusion, misuse, or fragmentation. In all cases, transfers were undertaken deliberately and without intent to enable impersonation, competitive misuse, or deceptive deployment.
The symbol domains presented on this site are shown for technical, historical, and illustrative purposes only. They are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with any third-party brand, organization, or individual.
Legend
Red entries denote symbol domains that were previously transferred and are no longer under current stewardship (for example, ☯.com and ☞.com).
Proven demand for symbol domains
These are not theoretical assets. Within the last two years, we sold the Yin–Yang symbol domain ☯.com and the pointing-hand domain ☞.com to private buyers.
Those transactions reinforced what we already knew: brands are willing to invest in rare, meaningful symbols that can anchor entire campaigns, products, or communities.
These are all legitimate, fully functional domains that can be used just
like any other .com. For a current list and details, visit
SymbolDomains.com.
Mobile OS Market Share — Android vs iOS (2025)
| Region / Scope | Android Share | iOS (iPhone) Share |
|---|---|---|
| Worldwide (mobile OS, 2024–2025) | ≈ 71.9 % | ≈ 27.7–28.2 % |
| Global 2025 Estimate | ≈ 72 % | ≈ 28 % |
| United States (Nov 2024–Nov 2025) | ≈ 40.7 % | ≈ 59 % |
Sources: Statcounter & market-share summaries, 2024–2025. Sources: StatCounter Global Mobile OS Share (2025), multiple market-share reports (2024–2025).
Why These Numbers Matter
The chart above isn’t just market trivia — it explains why symbol domains work today and why Apple users matter disproportionately.
1. Apple users are fewer — but more valuable
Globally, Android dominates by sheer volume. However, in the United States — where brand adoption, premium services, and paid subscriptions are strongest — Apple users are the majority.
That matters because:
-
Apple users are statistically more likely to:
- Spend money online
- Subscribe to services
- Respond to design-driven branding
- Apple devices provide the strongest native support for Unicode and symbol rendering in browsers, keyboards, and system UI.
In other words, Apple users are not just users — they are decision-makers and buyers.
2. Symbol domains work best where the platform supports them
Symbol-based domains rely on modern browser and OS support for Unicode characters. Apple has consistently led in this area:
- iOS and macOS browsers correctly render symbol domains
- Apple keyboards expose symbols naturally
- Visual recognition is emphasized over textual complexity
That makes Apple devices the ideal first environment for deploying symbol domains — not as a replacement for your existing site, but as a high-impact entry point.
3. This is a targeted strategy — not a risky one
The key point is this:
Symbol domains enhance your site for Apple users without affecting anyone else.
- Windows and Android users see your site exactly as they always have
- No SEO penalty
- No compatibility risk
- No redesign required
Implementation is typically limited to:
- Domain forwarding or routing
- A single include or detection rule on your existing site
That makes this a low-risk, asymmetric upside strategy: small effort, targeted reach, and outsized branding impact.
4. Global today — universal tomorrow
While Apple currently provides the strongest support for symbol domains, browsers evolve continuously. Modern web standards are actively expanding support for:
- International scripts
- Non-Latin characters
- Symbol-based identifiers
As this support broadens, symbol domains naturally become visible to more users — often through routine browser or OS updates.
That means: investing in a symbol domain today positions your brand ahead of the curve, not behind it.
Bottom line
Symbol domains are not about replacing what works. They’re about adding a visually powerful, future-ready entry point where it matters most — mobile, premium users, and modern platforms.
That’s why the Apple vs. Android numbers matter. They explain who sees symbol domains today — and why that audience is worth reaching first.
References
- ICANN – Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
- VeriSign® Global Registry Services
- The Unicode Consortium – maintains the Unicode Standard
- Sperling, G. (1960). The information available in brief visual presentations. Psychological Monographs, 74, 1–29.