Changes

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.

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 [[SAIC|Science Applications International Corporation]]. Two years later, in 1997, Network Solutions was listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol "NSOL". Its initial public offering raised $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>[http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-237656.html Cnet]</ref>. [[VeriSign]] resold the company in 2003 to the Najafi Companies, while retaining the .com domain registry business for 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 control of Network Solutions changed hands in 2000, when [[VeriSign]] acquired the majority share holding at a price of USD 20 billion<ref>[http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-237656.html Cnet]</ref>. [[VeriSign]] resold the company in 2003 to the Najafi Companies, while retaining the .com domain registry business for 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.