RegistryPro: Difference between revisions

RegistryPro checks a customer's professional and business qualifications before assigning a [[.pro]] domain; this gives the [[.pro]] domains they administer greater weight and standing.<ref>[http://registry.pro/press-releases/2010/0616.shtml RegistryPro Press Release]</ref> RegistryPro also offers registration for [[SLD|second level domain]]s specifying professional trades, such as .law.pro, .med.pro, and .aca.pro.<ref>[http://www.nic.pro/professionals/why.shtml RegistryPro: Why .pro?]</ref>

RegistryPro became the exclusive, [[ICANN]] accredited administrator of [[.pro]] extensions in May of 2002. The company did not become active until 2004, however.

At first, usage of [[.pro]] was restricted to qualified professionals in medicine, engineering, lawyers, and accountants. But in 2008, RegistryPro changed its policy to allow the [[.pro]] extension to be used by a variety of qualified professionals.<ref>[http://www.facebook.com/pages/RegistryPro/187188847208?v=info Facebook Profile]</ref>

In November 2010, RegistryPro reduced the price it charges registrars for its [[.pro]] extensions by more than 25% for 2011. The company has reduced its prices every year since 2002. As prices lower and the [[.pro]] extension becomes more accessible, it is expected that sales volumes of the extension domains will continue to increase.<ref>[http://www.circleid.com/posts/registrypro_announces_reduced_pricing_to_commemorate_2010s_strong_growth/ CircleId]</ref>

RegistryPro announced its official sponsorship of the 40th [[ICANN]] meeting in San Francisco in March, 2011. Comments by their Director of Operations, [[Matt Buckland]], show that they consider their sponsorship of ICANN, and of this unaffiliated site, [[ICANNWiki]].com, to be part of the same move to thank the ICANN community, and participate in its grass-roots operations.<ref>[http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2011/3/prweb8170078.htm PRWeb.com]</ref>

In May 2011, RegistryPro announced [[Karim Jiwani]] as its new CEO.<ref>[http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/051811_Dot_Pro_Domain_Operator_RegistryPro_Names_New_CEO TheWhir: "Dot-Pro Domain Operator RegistryPro Names New CEO"]</ref>

In January 2012, RegistryPro was acquired by [[Afilias]], who took over the back-end registry services for all [[.pro]] domain names. [[Hostway]], the company's previous owner, retained ownership of their [[Zip.pro]] collection of .pro domains, effectively becoming Registry.pro's biggest customer.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/afilias-acquires-pro-operator-registrypro/ Afilias Acquires .Pro Operator RegistryPro, domainincite.com]</ref> Under this agreement, Jiwani will continue to head RegistryPro, using Afilias' technologies.<ref>[http://www.circleid.com/posts/20120117_afilias_acquires_registry_services_corporation_dot_pro/ Afilias Acquires Registry Services Corporation, .PRO, circleid.com]</ref>

* '''Public:''' RegistryPro's basic service is the public registration of [[.pro]] domains. Applicants must submit certain certification verification, but once this is submitted, the registration is complete, and the registrant is free to build their site.<ref>[http://www.nic.pro/professionals/index.shtml RegistryPro: Professionals]</ref>

* '''Registrars:''' RegistryPro partners with select registrars, allowing them to sell .pro names. They offer technology, policy, billing and marketing guides, 24/7 customer support, and business development assistance to all of their partner registrars.<ref>[http://registry.pro/registrars/benefits.shtml RegistryPro: Registrars]</ref>

* [[Catherine Sigmar]]<ref>[http://registry.pro/about/advisory-board.shtml RegistryPro Advisory Board]</ref>

In November, 2011, it was announced that RegistryPro was seeking trademark rights over med.pro and law.pro, though they notably claimed .med and .law, and dotmed and dotlaw, as well. It was interpreted by some as a preemptive move against any proposed .med and .law new TLD applied for in ICANN's new [[gTLD]] program. RgistryPro is claiming it used the intellectual property as far back as 2004.<ref>[http://domainnamewire.com/2011/11/08/registry-behind-pro-says-it-used-law-med-back-in-2004/ Registry Behind Pro Says it Used Law Med Back in 2004, DomainNameNews.com]</ref>