RegistryPro
 | |
| Industry: | Registry |
| Founded: | 2002 |
| Ownership: | Hostway |
| Headquarters: | 425 West Randolph Street, 8th Floor Chicago, IL 60606 |
| Country: | USA |
| Website: | Registry.pro, Nic.pro |
| Facebook: | RegistryPro |
| LinkedIn: | RegistryPro |
| Twitter: |  @RegistryPro
|
| Key People | |
| Lucas Roh, CEO of Hostway
Karim Jiwani, CEO Matt Buckland, Director of Operations | |
RegistryPro is the registry for .pro names. The TLD is marketed to professionals and professional firms worldwide, as the word "professional" starts with "pro" in many languages.
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.[1] RegistryPro also offers registration for second level domains specifying professional trades, such as .law.pro, .med.pro, and .aca.pro.[2]
History
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.[3]
In November 2010, RegistryPro reduced the price it charges registrars for its .pro extensions by more than 25%. 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.[4]
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.[5]
In May 2011, RegistryPro announced Karim Jiwani as its new CEO.[6]
Business
RegistryPro has a highly controlled and professional approach towards the .pro registrations that it administers, making intensive checks of an applicant's qualifications.
At the same time this system of verification is optimized, and this allows an applicant to use their .pro domain the moment verification is completed.[7]
Advisory Board
RegistryPro consults with an independent advisory board about policies that are critical to the development of the .pro TLD.
Current Board Members are:
- Stephen Wright, Board Chair
- Amy Cheng
- Jon Nevett
- Arthur Schwartz
- Catherine Sigmar[8]
Products and Services
.Pro Domains: RegistryPro's basic service is the registration of .pro domains, including the verification of applicants.
Registrars: The site offers a similar service to carefully selected registrars as well, allowing one to become a reseller for the service.
Additional Facilities: RegistryPro offers facilities and guidance to those who do sign up as registrars, offering not only comprehensive help and advice, but also highly competent customer support.
Account Management: RegistryPro services to registrars also include software that allows for effortless management of an account.[9]