The U.S. Defence Information Systems Agency



created the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority

(IANA) in 1972. This authority was responsible

for assigning the unique address (string of numbers)

for each computer connected to the Internet.

In 1983, the University of Southern California

tested their Automated Domain Name System, in which

readable names were used instead of clumsy strings

of numbers such as 657.239.038.6.

1985 was the birth of .com and domain names.

These addresses mostly belonged to the

US government, mainly military.

It was not until 1990 that the Internet went

commercial,and it was the following year, 1991

that the World Wide Web (WWW) was introduced.

The first WWW software was created by Tim Berners-Lee.

In the following year, 1992,the U.S.'s National Science

Foundation (NSF) granted an exclusive contract

to Network Solutions Inc., to be the sole registrar

for the Top Level Domain (TLD) names .com, .net, .org

The NSF maintained a central database of domain names

called WHOIS.

For each new Domain name a $100 fee was charged.

This fee also allowed for a two-year Registration period.

Each additional year after that was charged at the rate of $50.

The rate of domain name registrations in May of 1993

was reported as 400 per month.

In September 1994, Network Solutions Inc., reported that it was

registering domain names at the rate of 2,000 per month.

Network Solutions Inc.(NSI), maintained its monopoly over

TLD name registrations up until 1999. It was in that

year that the U.S. Department of Commerce dismantled

NSI's monopoly and opened up a competitive market for

.com, .net and .org domain names.

The rigid pricing, poor service and frustrating delays

should now all be in the past with the now competitive

service operating. Unfortunately, however, I continue

to hear stories of registrants (or resellers for registrants)

charging like wounded buffaloes and giving lousy service.

I give an example of this on my web site ianswebsites.info.

I have called this article 100 Million Domains.

At the time of writing this article, (first half of 2007),

there are not 100 Million Domains. There is only a mere

65 million. But, when I give you an indication of the

incredible growth of Domain Name Registrations,

I am sure you will agree with me that we will soon reach

the 100 Million Domains target.

On the 6 March, 1997, the one millionth domain Name was

registered. On 4 May the following year

1998 the two millionth domain name was registered.

It was on 6 November the same year that the three

millionth doman name was registered.

9 March, 1999 saw the four millionth, and 29 May

the five millionth. April the following year, 2000

saw the ten millionth Domain name registered. And

now in 2007, around the 65 millionth mark.

If you graph these statistics, you will see a very

steeply rising curve. We may even reach the 100 Million

Domains target by the time you read this article.

If you would like further details of the actual

Domain Name milestones, I give them on my web site

100MillionDomains.com

The billions of Internet users everywhere are now

able to shop for competitive pricing and great service.

You are no longer limited to a monopoly of a

single private provider. The big guys, the well known

guys, are NOT necessarily the ones that offer the

best prices and service. Shop around, look at what

is offered by the various firms and at what price.

Ian McKenzies Domains provides outstanding services

and prices to its customers. Those participating in

Ian McKenzies Domains reseller programs are able to

retail Domain names at prices lower than other resellers

are paying wholesale, and still make a profit.