The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) will today announce the five companies it has chosen to participate in the two month test program to enable more companies to register domain names in the .com, .net and .org top-level domains. Currently Network Solutions Inc has the exclusive rights to both register such names and control the database of domain names. This will be the first time companies will be able to compete directly with NSI since the advent of the web. About 150 companies around the world currently ply their trade as resellers of NSI’s services.
Rumors have abounded as to which five will be chosen, but the list is expected to include a few large telcos from around the world as some of the small start-up registrars are not yet in a position to take on the responsibility. Names suggested include British, France or Deutsche Telekom, America Online, MCI Worldcom and Telstra Ltd. Purpose-built registrars such as Register.com – which has applied – may also get a slice of the action. ICANN extended the deadline for applications to April 8 from March 29 after some prospective registrars expressed concerns to ICANN about the arrangement – in particular their dealings with NSI. The test phase will run from April 26 through June 25.
These five companies will use the shared registration system developed for the purpose by NSI. Once the test period is over, ICANN is expected to begin accrediting more companies to compete with NSI, which is slated to maintain its monopoly control of the domain name database – the registry – until the end of its present contract in September 2000.
