Changes

In 1991, Network Solutions was awarded the contract to operate the domain name registry on behalf of the US [[DISA|Defense Information Systems Agency]]. The company's mandate was to register domain names in the [[.com]], [[.org]], [[.mil]], [[.gov]], [[.edu]] and [[.net]], and this service was free of cost to customers.  

In 1991, Network Solutions was awarded the contract to operate the domain name registry on behalf of the US [[DISA|Defense Information Systems Agency]]. The company's mandate was to register domain names in the [[.com]], [[.org]], [[.mil]], [[.gov]], [[.edu]] and [[.net]], and this service was free of cost to customers.  

In 1993, the company was the sole bidder for the contract for operating domain registry service for .com, .net and .org domains, from the [[NSF|National Science Foundation]], the first company to do so,<ref>[http://about.networksolutions.com/site/small-business-solutions/ Network Solutions Site, small business solutions]</ref>. In those days, the functions of registry and registrar were performed by one single agency: Network Solutions. The company would hold the position of the sole domain registrar in the world for these three registries for six years, until 1999. The company was also given the contract of maintaining the central [[Whois]] database of assigned names.

In 1993, the company was the sole bidder for the contract for operating domain registry service for .com, .net and .org domains, from the [[NSF|National Science Foundation]], the first company to do so,<ref>[http://about.networksolutions.com/site/small-business-solutions/ Network Solutions Site, small business solutions]</ref>. At that time, the functions of [[registry]] and [[registrar]] were both performed exclusively by Network Solutions. The company would hold the position of the sole domain registrar in the world for these three registries for the six years, until 1999. The company was also given the contract of maintaining the central [[Whois]] database of assigned names.

The company was acquired in 1995 by the Science Applications International Corporation, [[SAIC]]. Two years later, in 1997, Network Solutions was listed at the NASDAQ stock exchange and acquired the symbol of "NSOL". Its initial public offering (IPO) managed to raise $67 million USD.  

The company was acquired in 1995 by the Science Applications International Corporation, [[SAIC]]. Two years later, in 1997, Network Solutions was listed at the NASDAQ stock exchange and acquired the symbol of "NSOL". Its initial public offering (IPO) managed to raise $67 million USD.