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The companies that handle domain registrations have built businesses around hosting, domain speculation and wholesale billing. Domain squatters, meanwhile, make millions with the right URL. But despite the huge growth of Internet sites and the brave face they put on, registrars face hard times. Regulatory changes, price increases and free hosting offerings from Google mean the future looks rough.
The Domain Name Service (DNS) protocol is at the core of the Internet. It’s how we find a site, translating a URL like www.gigaom.com into the IP address your computer needs to reach it.
At the top of the DNS food chain is ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. Formed in 1998, ICANN regulates domain name registration. Just below ICANN are the top-level domain registrars. VeriSign, for example, is currently the accredited domain-name registrar for .net and .com.
Until 1999, Network Solutions, once a part of VeriSign, had a regulated monopoly on domain registration. Then registration was opened up to new entrants. Today, in addition to Network Solutions, there are 902 companies authorized to register domain names.
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The companies that handle domain registrations have built businesses around hosting, domain speculation and wholesale billing. Domain squatters, meanwhile, make millions with the right URL. But despite the huge growth of Internet sites and the brave face they put on, registrars face hard times. Regulatory changes, price increases and free hosting offerings from Google mean the future looks rough.
The Domain Name Service (DNS) protocol is at the core of the Internet. It’s how we find a site, translating a URL like www.gigaom.com into the IP address your computer needs to reach it.
At the top of the DNS food chain is ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. Formed in 1998, ICANN regulates domain name registration. Just below ICANN are the top-level domain registrars. VeriSign, for example, is currently the accredited domain-name registrar for .net and .com.
Until 1999, Network Solutions, once a part of VeriSign, had a regulated monopoly on domain registration. Then registration was opened up to new entrants. Today, in addition to Network Solutions, there are 902 companies authorized to register domain names.
Send PM
Discuss
Tell a friend
Bury
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