Changes

==History==

==History==

According to the timeline of the company's history published on the company website, the company was founded by Emmit J. McHenry, an entrepreneur from Arkansas.  

According to the timeline of the company's history published on the company website, the company was founded by [[Emmit McHenry]], an entrepreneur from Arkansas.  

In 1991, Network Solutions was awarded the contract to operate the domain name registry on behalf of the US Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). 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 the then customers.  

In 1991, Network Solutions was awarded the contract to operate the domain name registry on behalf of the US Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). 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 sole bidder for the contract for operating domain registry service for .com, .net and .org domains, from the National Science Foundation (NSF) 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 database of assigned names called [[Whois]].

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.

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 USD 67 million.

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 control of Network Solutions changed hands in 2000, when VeriSign acquired the majority share holding at a price of USD 20 billion<ref>CNET - VeriSign purchase of Network Solutions, http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-237656.html</ref>. The owner resold the company in 2003 to the Najafi Companies, while retaining the .com domain registry business to itself. Network Solution's business changed from being a registry to becoming a domain registrar. Under the new management, Network Solutions launched an inorganic growth strategy by first acquiring InQuent Technologies in Toronto (Canada) in 2004, followed by acquiring MonsterCommerce in 2005. The company's ownership changed hands once again in 2007 when General Atlantic, a private equity firm, bought into the company.  

The company has been recognized for customer satisfaction excellence<ref>[http://about.networksolutions.com/site/jd-power-and-associates-reports-network-solutions-recognized-for-providing-an-outstanding-customer-service-experience-for-a-fourth-consecutive-year/ JD Power and Associates recognition]</ref> for a fourth consecutive year (2006 to 2009) by J.D. Power and Associates under their Certified Call Center Program.

The company has been recognized for customer satisfaction excellence<ref>[http://about.networksolutions.com/site/jd-power-and-associates-reports-network-solutions-recognized-for-providing-an-outstanding-customer-service-experience-for-a-fourth-consecutive-year/ JD Power and Associates recognition]</ref> for a fourth consecutive year (2006 to 2009) by J.D. Power and Associates under their Certified Call Center Program.