The history of domain names
What is a domain name? A domain name is a unique name, a type of unique email address, registered in the WHOIS database through an organization called Network Solutions, Inc. (I’m not). A domain name corresponds to a unique number called an IP (Internet Protocol). The reason we use domain names instead of IP addresses is because it’s closer to our language. It would be difficult to market a site like this: “Go to 64.233.167.99 or 216.109. 112. Search the internet from 135 to
! “The easiest way to do this is to say: “www. I’m searching on Google. com or www. yahoo. com to search the internet! “(Google and Yahoo are trademarks of Google, Inc. and Yahoo, Inc.).
Domain name refers to the computer called “server name”. The name server knows that the domain name matches the IP address of your website’s main server and directs the person who types your name to your website’s main server. In this way, people all over the world can find your website by typing the domain name.
In 1992, the National Science Foundation awarded NSI an exclusive contract as the sole author of top-level books. NSI also has a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce (“DoC”). Without competition, consumers are at the mercy of NSI.
In 1998 NSI and DoC amended the partnership agreement to allow registration. Instead of paying $34.99 per year, NSI had to offer a domain name to a rival registrar at a higher price. NSI still pays $34.99 per year.
In late 1998, the DoC transferred responsibility for overseeing entry into a competitive domain name market and licensing new registrants to a new organization called the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
In 1999, ICANN began accepting applications from companies wanting to become registrars, and capitalism took over: companies had to compete for business. Prices have dropped and service has improved, but some are better than others. For more information about the transition, please visit www. to be. org/authors/authorization history. htm.
Despite the positive effects of competition on the domain name market, the process of registering an Internet name is still a mystery to many.
There are many companies that charge you hundreds of dollars for something as simple as registering a domain name. There are some registrars that charge you $35 for registration. There are web consultants who charge over €100 to do this for you. But you can do it yourself in 15 minutes and it will cost you $1.99 per year. If you do your research, learn a little, and be smart, you can save both money and
headaches.