Network Solutions

Network Solutions, LLC is a technology company.which was founded in 1979. The domain name registration business has become the most important division of this company. As of January 2009, Network Solutions managed more than 6.6 million domain names.

History of Network Solutions

Network Solutions started as a technology consulting company founded by Emmit J. McHenry in 1979,with approximately 30 employees, and focused its efforts on applications development.

Network Solutions was acquired by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) in 1995, listed on NASDAQ in 1997.

John Dillon reports in MediaFilter.org, "Initially, the service was subsidized by the government. But, in May 1993, the National Science Foundation privatized the name registry (InterNIC - Internet Network Information Center) and paid NSI $5.9 million to administer it. In September 1995, NSI instituted the fee system. A few months earlier, it had been bought out by Science Applications International Corp (SAIC)."

In 2000, Network Solutions was acquired by VeriSign, Inc. for $21 billion.

In 2003, VeriSign sold the registrar business, which continued to operate under the branding Network Solutions, to Pivotal Equity Group. (VeriSign still retains the registry business which had been originally created within Network Solutions prior to VeriSign's acquisition of the company.) In 2008, Roy Dunbar was appointed CEO.

On November 2, 2009, Tim Kelly, President of Network Solutions replaced Roy Dunbar as CEO. Roy continues to act as Chairman and advisor to Network Solutions.

On February 6, 2007, Network Solutions announced that General Atlantic, a private equity firm, entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Network Solutions from Najafi Companies (formerly Pivotal Private Equity). Although terms of the deal were not released, the Wall Street Journal reported in a story on May 30, 2007 that the price tag was "around $800 million."

In 2003 nearly 90% of the company's revenue was from domain-name registrations, said Network Solutions then-Chief Executive W.G. Champ Mitchell. Since 2005, the company has added 69 services and products and today these new offerings are fueling Network Solutions' growth. Now only 45% of the company's revenue comes from domain-name registrations.

At the end of July, 2007, Network Solutions had 6,659,150 domains under management and was in the top five wholesale domain registrars following Go Daddy with 19,709,215 domains and eNom with 7,646,676 domains. Tucows, the largest publicly traded registrar, has 6,622,982 domains under management with its recent acquisition of ItsYourDomain.com. Melbourne IT, a publicly traded company located in Australia, trailed with 4,664,019 domains under management.

In addition to being a domain name registrar, Network Solutions provides web services such as web hosting, website design and online marketing - including Search Engine Optimization and Pay Per Click Management.