OpenSRS: Difference between revisions
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==Background== | ==Background== | ||
In January 2000, the OpenSRS platform was launched by Tucows after the company received its [[registrar]] accreditation from [[ICANN]] in April 1999. The company began registering domain names under the [[.com]], [[.net]] and [[.org]] domain space, later that year adding the [[ccTLD]]s [[.ca]] (Canada), [[.uk]] (United Kingdom), [[.tv]] (Tuvalu), [[.cc]] (Cocos), [[.us]] (United States), [[.cn]] (China), and [[.de]] (Germany), as well as the [[.info]], [[.biz]], and [[.name]] [[gTLD]]s. In 2007, Tucows opened a wholesale reseller services division, OpenSRS Resellers.<ref>[http://www.tucowsinc.com/aboutus/history.php History]</ref> | In January 2000, the OpenSRS platform was launched by Tucows after the company received its [[registrar]] accreditation from [[ICANN]] in April 1999. The company began registering domain names under the [[.com]], [[.net]] and [[.org]] domain space, later that year adding the [[ccTLD]]s [[.ca]] (Canada), [[.uk]] (United Kingdom), [[.tv]] (Tuvalu), [[.cc]] (Cocos), [[.us]] (United States), [[.cn]] (China), and [[.de]] (Germany), as well as the [[.info]], [[.biz]], and [[.name]] [[gTLD]]s. In 2007, Tucows opened a wholesale reseller services division, OpenSRS Resellers.<ref>[http://www.tucowsinc.com/aboutus/history.php History]</ref> | ||
In 2012, the [[sTLD]]s [[.jobs]] and [[.aero]] were added to OpenSRS' offerings.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/opensrs-now-offering-jobs-and-aero/ OpenSRS Now Offering Jobs and Aero]</ref> | |||
==Services== | ==Services== | ||
Revision as of 15:42, 24 May 2012
 | |
| Industry: | Internet |
| Founded: | 1999 |
| Ownership: | Tucows |
| Headquarters: | Toronto |
| Country: | Canada |
| Website: | www.opensrs.com |
| Blog: | OpenSRS Blog |
| Facebook: | OpenSRS |
| LinkedIn: | OpenSRS |
| Twitter: |  @OpenSRS
|
| Key People | |
| Elliot Noss, President & CEO | |
OpenSRS is the domain name reseller services division of Tucows, a company based in Canada engaged in providing domain names and other Internet-related services. The company has a portfolio of more than 11 million domain names.[1]
Background
In January 2000, the OpenSRS platform was launched by Tucows after the company received its registrar accreditation from ICANN in April 1999. The company began registering domain names under the .com, .net and .org domain space, later that year adding the ccTLDs .ca (Canada), .uk (United Kingdom), .tv (Tuvalu), .cc (Cocos), .us (United States), .cn (China), and .de (Germany), as well as the .info, .biz, and .name gTLDs. In 2007, Tucows opened a wholesale reseller services division, OpenSRS Resellers.[2]
In 2012, the sTLDs .jobs and .aero were added to OpenSRS' offerings.[3]
Services
OpenSRS offers the following services:
- Domain Service- provides domain name registration for more than 100 TLDs.
- Trust Service- sells SSL certificates, website security (SiteLock and GeoTrust) and Truste Privacy policy plans.
- Publishing Service- offers goMobi, a website builder and hosting service for mobile phones.
- OpenSRS Offers- provides opportunity for its resellers to offer Google Adwords credits without additional costs
- Hosted Registrar Service (OpenHRS)- a cost effective solution registration infrastructure for registrars[4]
ICANN Involvement
OpenSRS actively participates in the different activities and meetings of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. The company is represented by some of its staffs, including Solomon Amoako[5] and Adam Eisner, who was present during the ICANN 41 meeting in Singapore.[6] The company's blog is also dedicated to providing information and updates about the events, issues, and policies being discussed within the ICANN community and entire domain industry.
In 2001, a group of OpenSRS Registration Service Providers, along with a number of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Internet Presence Providers (IPPs), wrote a letter to former ICANN President Stuart Lynn regarding the claims of Roger Cochetti, Verisign Senior Vice-President of Policy, that Verisign was suffering from massive amounts of unauthorized domain name transfers. According to Cochetti, 24% of Verisign’s registrants did not authorize the transfer of their domain names out of Verisign. This prompted Verisign to implement safeguards for their customers, such asking registrants to submit a notarized statement that they wish to transfer their domain names from Verisign to another registrar. Cochetti also requested that ICANN develop new policies regarding the issue.[7] The OpenSRS RSPs and ISPs/IPPs denied Cochetti’s claims and argued that the survey was inconsistent. The group explained that the ISPs/IPPs handled the domain name registrations for their customers for many years with their consent. According to them, their customers expected that their ISPs/IPPs transfer their domain names on their behalf when companies like Tucows and BulkRegister.com offered competitive prices for domain name registration. In addition, the group emphasized that the domain transfers were done to provide better service for their customers. In connection, the group informed ICANN that the strategy implemented by Verisign regarding the transfer of domain names was not effective and that it was a tactic to delay the transfer until the domain name passed the renewal date, giving Verisign a reason to deny transfers and ask customers to pay the $35 renewal fee before releasing the domain names. They pointed out that Verisign’s actions were anti-competitive and that they felt offended being accused of conducting "domain slamming." The group requested ICANN to reject Verisign’s proposal for the development of policies that prohibiting domain transfers.[8]