The landrush for the Facebook vanity URL has begun! Although I’m a domainer, this is the first ever landrush that had me waiting at my computer, counting down the time.

Of all the social networks out there, I prefer Facebook, and that is the only platform that I use for personal purposes, while Twitter is used solely for business. All my non-domaining friends are plugged into Facebook.

Starting this Saturday morning, June 13, at 12:01am EDT, Facebook users will be asked to choose a username for their Facebook profile that will replace the current numeric URLs for profile pages.

According to Facebook, users will be able to choose a username on a “first-come, first-serve” basis for their profile and the Facebook Pages that they administer by visiting this page or the signup/login page after midnight EDT Friday (last night).

Facebook users will also see a notice on their home page asking them to choose a username/URL.

A typical username/URL will be:

http://www.facebook.com/harrybrown

or

http://www.facebook.com/harry.brown

I believe that if you use your first and last names, as shown above, both URLs will go to your profile.

If you are really lucky, then you may get:

http://www.facebook.com/harry

Now that the landrush has started, Facebook users will be able to choose just one username for their profile and for each of the Pages that they administer (they will not be available for groups or events).

The Usernames must be at least five characters long and can only contain letters, numbers, or periods. They will only be available in Roman characters at launch.

However, users should be careful to choose the right one: once you have made a choice, you won’t be allowed to change it or transfer it to someone else later on.

Facebook isn’t allowing transfers in order to undercut the rampant squatter market that would otherwise develop – although there will still definitely be cases of abuse. Facebook says that generic words like “flowers” or “pizza” will not be available as usernames, though we’re not sure how exactly those rules will work.

Facebook says that if you signed up for a Facebook Page after May 31 or a user profile after today at 3 p.m. EDT, you “may not be able to sign up for a username immediately because of steps we’ve taken to prevent abuse or ’squatting’ on names.”

Obviously this is not one that domainers will be able to abuse in terms of squatting. Facebook has done the right thing, and has introduced the right set of rules here!

I needed my personal name as a username as my friends have so much trouble finding me on Facebook. There are well over 500 people with the name Kevin Jackson on Facebook alone!

Normally my friends would have to search using my email address or simply ask me to add them instead. Life has just gotten a lot easier! I got my name within 30 seconds of the commencement of the landrush! .

You can learn more about the Facebook username here.