Afilias to Provide Technology Powering the .eco new TLD

Business Wire, June 22, 2009

Big Room Inc. Selects Afilias as Registry Service Provider for Its Application to ICANN for a New Top-Level Domain

DUBLIN -- Today Afilias, a leading provider of Internet infrastructure services, announced that is has been selected by Big Room Inc. as the registry services provider for its application to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) for a new .eco domain during the upcoming new top-level domain (new TLD) application process.

“We selected Afilias because it has a proven track record of providing superior services, world-class domain name registry technology, and reliable DNS resolution,” said Trevor Bowden, co-founder of Big Room. “Since Afilias has supported more successful ICANN bids, and launched more new TLDs than any other registry provider, we are confident that we have the right technical partner to ensure confidence in the launch and technical stability of our new domain.”

Big Room will apply for a .eco Internet extension when ICANN begins accepting applications for new TLDs, expected in the first quarter of 2010. Big Room proposes a new “.eco platform” that will collect and store current and detailed environmental and sustainability information along with a user’s .eco domain name. Its bid has a group of global partners and is internationally supported.

“Afilias is pleased to be selected to provide proven, world-class registry technology that will ensure Internet stability, as well as a smooth and secure launch for the world’s registrars if ICANN approves Big Room’s new TLD application,” said Michael Young, Vice President of Product Development for Afilias and member of Big Room’s Advisory Board.

“Supporting 14 million domains across 15 TLDs, Afilias supports the widest range of TLD customers around the world, giving us unique perspective and expertise,” added Roland LaPlante, Chief Marketing Officer at Afilias.

Afilias’ registry technology has pioneered new innovations including the first use of the now industry standard EPP-protocol used for registrars and registries to register domain names. Afilias recently signed .org with Domain Name Security Extensions (DNSSEC) on behalf of PIR. This is the largest Internet zone signed with DNSSEC to date. Afilias also pioneered the first registration of standardized Internationalized Domain Names and introduced the first Domain Name Anti-Abuse Policy to curb abuses like spam and phishing. Afilias currently provides registry services for .info, .org, .aero, .asia, .mobi, .ag, .bz, .gi, .hn, .in, .lc, .me, .mn, .sc, and .vc.

About Big Room

Big Room Inc. is a Canadian company based in Vancouver, British Columbia with an office in New Haven, Connecticut. It was founded in 2007 with the goal of empowering the global community to make informed environmental and sustainability choices. Big Room’s three co-founders are committed environmentalists with a long history of working with organisations, governments and companies to bring about positive environmental and social change. More information on the Big Room .eco application is available at www.doteco.info

About Afilias

Afilias is a global provider of Internet infrastructure services that connect people to their data. Afilias’ reliable, secure, scalable, and globally available technology supports a wide range of applications including Internet domain registry services, Managed DNS, and services in the RFID and supply chain market with its Afilias Discovery Services. For more information on Afilias please visit www.afilias.info.