Changes

==History==

==History==

* In 1996, Neustar, then the Communications Industry Services unit within '''Lockheed Martin''',<ref>[http://www.lockheedmartin.com/aboutus/history/index.html Lockheed Martin.com]</ref> won its original contract to provide local [[number portability]] services to select regions throughout North America.<ref>[http://mobilenextbigthing.biz/2010/07/22/neustars-roots-as-a-clearinghouse-perfect-for-2d-barcodes/ Mobile Next Big Thing.biz ]</ref> In 1997, it won the contract to become the official [[NANP|North American Numbering Plan]] (NANP) administrator.<ref>[http://www.wtng.info/wtng-reg.html World Telephoning Numbering Guide ]</ref>The NANP is a system of three-digit area codes and seven-digit telephone numbers that directs telephone calls to particular regions on a public switched telephone network. Thus, Neustar has assumed LNP responsibilities for all geographic regions throughout the United States and Canada as the operator of the Number Portability Administration Center (NPAC). Neustar subsequently launched wireless number portability to much of the North American market in 2003.<ref>[http://www.neustar.biz/about-us/our-history Our History, Neustar.biz]</ref>

* 1996 - Neustar, then the Communications Industry Services unit within '''Lockheed Martin''',<ref>[http://www.lockheedmartin.com/aboutus/history/index.html Lockheed Martin.com]</ref> won its original contract to provide local [[number portability]] services to select regions throughout North America.<ref>[http://mobilenextbigthing.biz/2010/07/22/neustars-roots-as-a-clearinghouse-perfect-for-2d-barcodes/ Mobile Next Big Thing.biz ]</ref> In 1997, it won the contract to become the official [[NANP|North American Numbering Plan]] (NANP) administrator.<ref>[http://www.wtng.info/wtng-reg.html World Telephoning Numbering Guide ]</ref>The NANP is a system of three-digit area codes and seven-digit telephone numbers that directs telephone calls to particular regions on a public switched telephone network. Thus, Neustar has assumed LNP responsibilities for all geographic regions throughout the United States and Canada as the operator of the Number Portability Administration Center (NPAC). Neustar subsequently launched wireless number portability to much of the North American market in 2003.<ref>[http://www.neustar.biz/about-us/our-history Our History, Neustar.biz]</ref>

* In 1998, Neustar successfully trialed number pooling at the state-wide level. Number pooling is a method of reallocating telephone numbers under the NANP, and it has created much more flexibility in the creation, usage and longevity of area codes and telephone numbers across North America.<ref>[http://www.neustar.biz/blog/neustar-insights/two-generations-of-telephone-numbers/ Two Generations of Telephone Numbers, Neustar.biz]</ref> Neustar went on to win the contract for Number Pooling Administration in 2001; that agreement was renewed in 2007.<ref>[http://www.neustar.biz/about-us/our-history Our History, Neustar.biz]</ref>

* 1998 - Neustar successfully trialed number pooling at the state-wide level. Number pooling is a method of reallocating telephone numbers under the NANP, and it has created much more flexibility in the creation, usage and longevity of area codes and telephone numbers across North America.<ref>[http://www.neustar.biz/blog/neustar-insights/two-generations-of-telephone-numbers/ Two Generations of Telephone Numbers, Neustar.biz]</ref> Neustar went on to win the contract for Number Pooling Administration in 2001; that agreement was renewed in 2007.<ref>[http://www.neustar.biz/about-us/our-history Our History, Neustar.biz]</ref>

* In 1999, CIS was divested from Lockheed Martin and became Neustar after Lockheed Martin acquired COMSAT, a global telecommunications company. Lockheed Martin chose to spin off the unit because the acquisition created neutrality concerns for CIS’s number administration and NANP functions.<ref>[http://www.neustar.biz/about-us/our-history Our History, Neustar.biz]</ref>

* 1999 - CIS was divested from Lockheed Martin and became Neustar after Lockheed Martin acquired COMSAT, a global telecommunications company. Lockheed Martin chose to spin off the unit because the acquisition created neutrality concerns for CIS's number administration and NANP functions.<ref>[http://www.neustar.biz/about-us/our-history Our History, Neustar.biz]</ref>

* In 1999, Neustar and Australia based [[MelbourneIT]] formed a new joint venture, '''NeuLevel''' to promote [[.biz]] internet domain name services under an [[ICANN]] bid.<ref>[http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=23329 PRnewsWire ]</ref> The joint venture, which has since been dissolved, was awarded the contract in 2000 to administer the name registry for the [[.biz]] domain. Today, Neustar is the sole registry operator for [[.biz]]. However, this was the first registry services contract win of its kind; Neustar subsequently won contracts to serve as the registry operator for the [[.us]] domain (2001; renewal in 2007); as the “registry gateway” operator for China’s [[.cn]] and Taiwan’s [[.tw]] domains (2002); and as the registry operator for the [[.tel]] domain (2007).<ref>[http://www.neustar.biz/about-us/our-history Our History, Neustar.biz]</ref>

* 1999 - Neustar and Australia-based [[MelbourneIT]] formed a new joint venture, '''NeuLevel''' to promote [[.biz]] internet domain name services under an [[ICANN]] bid.<ref>[http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=23329 PRnewsWire ]</ref> The joint venture, which has since been dissolved, was awarded the contract in 2000 to administer the name registry for the [[.biz]] domain. Today, Neustar is the sole registry operator for [[.biz]]. However, this was the first registry services contract win of its kind; Neustar subsequently won contracts to serve as the registry operator for the [[.us]] domain (2001; renewal in 2007); as the “registry gateway” operator for China's [[.cn]] and Taiwan’s [[.tw]] domains (2002); and as the registry operator for the [[.tel]] domain (2007).<ref>[http://www.neustar.biz/about-us/our-history Our History, Neustar.biz]</ref>

* In 2003, Neustar Acquired Assets Of [[NightFire Software]], a standards-based service manager for the communications industry.<ref>[http://www.tmcnet.com/enews/2003/090303b.htm TMCNet]</ref> It was the first of multiple strategic acquisitions, which helped crate Neustar’s Order Management Services (OMS) clearinghouse. After subsequent acquisitions, Foretec Seminars became Neustar Secretariat Services (2005); [[UltraDNS]] became a Neustar service (2006); Followap, Inc. became Neustar Next Generation Messaging (2006); and Webmetrics became a Neustar service (2008).

* 2003 - Neustar acquired assets of [[NightFire Software]], a standards-based service manager for the communications industry.<ref>[http://www.tmcnet.com/enews/2003/090303b.htm TMCNet]</ref> It was the first of multiple strategic acquisitions which helped create Neustar's Order Management Services (OMS) clearinghouse. After subsequent acquisitions, Foretec Seminars became Neustar Secretariat Services (2005); [[UltraDNS]] became a Neustar service (2006); Followap, Inc. became Neustar Next Generation Messaging (2006); and Webmetrics became a Neustar service (2008).

Also in 2003, Neustar (under contract with CTIA – The Wireless Association) announced the availability of five-digit Common Short Codes (CSCs), numeric codes to which text messages can be sent from a wireless mobile phone or phone-enabled device. CSCs are now in wide usage for such applications as television contest voting, coupon redemption, gaming, sweepstakes, and more. Six-digit CSCs made their debut in 2006.<ref>[http://www.neustar.biz/about-us/our-history Our History, Neustar.biz]</ref>

* 2003 - Neustar (under contract with CTIA – The Wireless Association) announced the availability of five-digit Common Short Codes (CSCs), numeric codes to which text messages can be sent from a wireless mobile phone or phone-enabled device. CSCs are now in wide usage for such applications as television contest voting, coupon redemption, gaming, sweepstakes, and more. Six-digit CSCs made their debut in 2006.<ref>[http://www.neustar.biz/about-us/our-history Our History, Neustar.biz]</ref>

* In 2004, Neustar announced the first major number portability initiative outside the United States, when it launched number portability in Taiwan.<ref>[http://www.neustar.biz/about-us/our-history Our History, Neustar.biz]</ref><ref>[http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=189420&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=796410&highlight= corporate-ir.net ]</ref>  

* 2004 - Neustar announced the first major number portability initiative outside the United States, when it launched number portability in Taiwan.<ref>[http://www.neustar.biz/about-us/our-history Our History, Neustar.biz]</ref><ref>[http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=189420&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=796410&highlight= corporate-ir.net ]</ref>  

* In 2005, '''Neustar became a public company on the New York Stock Exchange''', trading under the ticker symbol "NSR".<ref>[http://connectedplanetonline.com/finance/news/neustar_ipo_offering_011706/ Connected Planet ]</ref>. They were named “IPO of the Year” by both Renaissance Capital LLC and Thomson Financial's International Financing Review.<ref>[http://www.neustar.biz/about-us/our-history Our History, Neustar.biz]</ref> The IPO raised $605 million.<ref>[http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=92939 Document, LightReading.com]</ref>

* 2005 - '''Neustar became a public company on the New York Stock Exchange''', trading under the ticker symbol "NSR".<ref>[http://connectedplanetonline.com/finance/news/neustar_ipo_offering_011706/ Connected Planet]</ref>. They were named “IPO of the Year” by both Renaissance Capital LLC and Thomson Financial's International Financing Review.<ref>[http://www.neustar.biz/about-us/our-history Our History, Neustar.biz]</ref> The IPO raised $605 million.<ref>[http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=92939 Document, LightReading.com]</ref>

* In April, 2006, Neustar acquired [[UltraDNS]], a global industry leader in providing managed [[DNS|domain name systems]] (DNS) and directory services based in Reston, VA. Today, Neustar UltraDNS Services are integral in directing and managing Internet traffic, enabling thousands of customers to control and distribute that traffic.<ref>[http://www.neustar.biz/about-us/our-history Our History, Neustar.biz]</ref> The acquisiton cost $61.8 million in cash.<ref>[http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=92939 Light Reading.com ]</ref>

* 2005 - Neustar acquired [[Foretec Seminar]] which was later to be known as Neustar Secretariat Services. <ref>[http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=189420&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=796410&highlight= corporate-ir.net ]</ref> Neustar also Acquired [[Fiducianet]], which provides law enforcement compliance and fraud management services to carriers, in the same year; and, thus, became the single largest provider of services involving subpoenas, court orders and law enforcement agency requests under electronic surveillance laws including CALEA, the USA Patriot Act, and the Homeland Security Act of 2002.<ref>[http://www.von.com/news/2005/02/neustar-acquires-fiducianet.aspx Von.com ]</ref>

In November, 2006, Neustar acquired Uk based instant-messaging service provider Followap for $139 M.<ref>[http://pulse2.com/2006/11/30/neustar-has-acquired-uk-based-mobile-im-service-provider-followap-inc-for-139-mill/ Pulse 2.com ]</ref>. Today, Followap is known as Neustar Next Generation Messaging (NGM).

* April 2006 - Neustar acquired [[UltraDNS]], a global industry leader in providing managed [[DNS|domain name systems]] (DNS) and directory services based in Reston, VA. Today, Neustar UltraDNS Services are integral in directing and managing Internet traffic, enabling thousands of customers to control and distribute that traffic.<ref>[http://www.neustar.biz/about-us/our-history Our History, Neustar.biz]</ref> The acquisiton cost $61.8 million in cash.<ref>[http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=92939 Light Reading.com ]</ref>

* Neustar acquired [[Foretec Seminar]] which was later to be known as Neustar Secretariat Services in 2005. <ref>[http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=189420&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=796410&highlight= corporate-ir.net ]</ref> Neustar also Acquired [[Fiducianet]], which provides law enforcement compliance and fraud management services to carriers, in the same year; and, thus, became the single largest provider of services involving subpoenas, court orders and law enforcement agency requests under electronic surveillance laws including CALEA, the USA Patriot Act, and the Homeland Security Act of 2002.<ref>[http://www.von.com/news/2005/02/neustar-acquires-fiducianet.aspx Von.com ]</ref>

* November 2006 - Neustar acquired UK-based instant-messaging service provider Followap for $139 M.<ref>[http://pulse2.com/2006/11/30/neustar-has-acquired-uk-based-mobile-im-service-provider-followap-inc-for-139-mill/ Pulse 2.com ]</ref>. Today, Followap is known as Neustar Next Generation Messaging (NGM).

* In September, 2007, Neustar and [[ClearTech]], a telecommunication service provider company, jointly '''won a contract for number portability in Brazil'''.<ref>[http://hosted-voip.tmcnet.com/feature/articles/11458-neustar-cleartech-w-contract-number-portability-brazil.htm TMCnet.com]</ref> Today, this implementation ranks as the second largest of its kind in the world (after the USA), and as Neustar’s second major international number portability initiative (after Taiwan in 2004).

* In September, 2007, Neustar and [[ClearTech]], a telecommunication service provider company, jointly '''won a contract for number portability in Brazil'''.<ref>[http://hosted-voip.tmcnet.com/feature/articles/11458-neustar-cleartech-w-contract-number-portability-brazil.htm TMCnet.com]</ref> Today, this implementation ranks as the second largest of its kind in the world (after the USA), and as Neustar’s second major international number portability initiative (after Taiwan in 2004).