Network Solutions Upgrades Domain Name Registration Services

Business Wire, May 9, 2000

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

HERNDON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 2000

Expanded Services and New One-Year Registration Option Make

Domain Name Registration Easier than Ever and Widely Available to

Millions of New Consumers

Network Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: NSOL), the world leader in Internet registrations with more than 10 million domain names, today announced exciting, new upgrades to the world's most popular domain name registration service that will make domain names easier to register and more widely available to the millions of businesses and consumers expected to build a Web presence in the coming years.

The new Web smart services, MyNameFinder(TM), http://www.1800webaddress.com, Domain name parking, and Ask the dot com people(TM), will make registrations simpler and faster than ever before. Network Solutions (NSI) also announced a new, one-year registration option.

"The new services will make using Network Solutions the best way for the Internet community - businesses and consumers - to build a presence online," said Doug Wolford, senior vice president and general manager of Network Solutions' Registrar. "NSI is already the choice for millions of domain name buyers, but we see a new market opening up and we plan to be there with the most compelling services and prices for every person looking to register a domain name."

MyNameFinder

MyNameFinder generates domain names through a unique user interface. In the dash to claim the best property on the Web, first choice domain names may not be available. Should a first choice domain name be taken, MyNameFinder quickly generates similar domain names that are available by prompting the user to key in up to three words. A list of synonyms for these key words will appear, prompting the user to choose a comparable, possibly even more creative domain name. For example, when searching for flowers.com and discovering it was taken, MyNameFinder helped create Todays-Flowers.com, an easy to remember, original, available domain name. NSI plans to continually improve the thesaurus by adding Web lingo as it evolves.

1-800 dot com

With 24 million toll-free telephone numbers in service today, Network Solutions introduced an innovative service that secures toll-free or "1-800" numbers as domain names for businesses. This service helps businesses protect their identity and maximize brand awareness. Customers may register their "1-800, 1-888 or 1-877" domain name at http://www.1800webaddress.com or through Network Solutions' website at http://www.networksolutions.com .

It is a service whose time has come as the registration of domain names beginning with 1-800 and 1-888 have spiked in the first quarter this year. Joe Sullivan, president of Carolina Global Maps/The Map Store, is a trendsetter, having registered his 800 number as a domain name in 1998: "Our customers know our phone number by heart. That's why we decided to make it our Web address as well. Now when someone asks for our website, we tell them it's the same as our phone number but with a dot com after it, http://www.800-248-MAPS.com. It's worked so well we use it in all our advertising."

MyNameFinder also reminds every Network Solutions customer that 1-800 is a viable prefix to be considered when creating a domain name. The company plans to work with strategic telecommunications companies to offer its 1-800 dot com service to businesses at the point of purchase of their 800 number.

Domain name parking

With the ever-increasing desire for domain names, Network Solutions' now provides a service that enables people to claim their domain name of choice and "park" at the website until they are ready to build. This service is an affordable solution for the millions of people who are eager to claim property on the Internet but not yet ready to set up shop. Individuals and new businesses just getting their feet wet can take advantage of Network Solutions' "parking" for a one-year term. As the customers' needs grow, Network Solutions' domain name registration and website management tools will continue to be offered a la carte for a convenient customized website building experience.

Ask the dot com people

NSI also unveiled Ask the dot com people, an online customer service enhancement developed through a relationship with Ask Jeeves, the leading provider of online, personal service infrastructure. Ask the dot com people provides real-time answers to questions pertaining to the Network Solutions site. NSI customers can type questions into the computer and the dot com people will provide answers as well as point to related subjects that the customer may find useful.

One-Year Registration

NSI's flexible, one-year registration option makes domain names affordable to millions of people who are anxious to own property on the Internet -- individuals, events, families and fundraisers, to name just a few. NSI anticipates that this new base of customers will choose the premium services offered by NSI as their needs increase and their businesses grow. One year registrations include a free listing in NSI's dot com directory(TM), a directory of businesses on the Web.