Are there simple http services out there to check domain name availability

Hi. Im looking to call a simple http service from my Java servlet to check the price an availability of domain names from my site.

Basically, i want to do something like this checker here... http://www.123-reg.co.uk/

I know i can just to a get on the target url and parse the response, but I'm looking for an exising service this just gives me an XML response. Even a webserivce if available.

Has anyone come across any companies that expose their domain checkers as a service?

Thanks.

From stackoverflow

• What you're looking for is a whois lookup. Here is a GNU licensed Java whois package. And here is another Java whois package.

  Asaph : That depends on what registrar you choose. The price can vary. What registrar will you be purchasing domain names through?

  rmeador : different registrars will likely give you different prices. You'll have to pick who you want to buy it through and ask them.

• you gotta have a try with domainr and its api.