Inc. Network Solutions was the exclusive domain seller until early this year. Now hundreds of registrars are operational. Services such as OPEN-SRS.org make becoming a registrar easier than ever. Dozens pop up monthly. With this kind of competition, Network Solutions has a tough sell.
Competitors sell far cheaper.
Critics say Verisign overpaid simply because the domain name business itself is not difficult to get into. Supporters of the merger say Verisign needs immediate access to Network Solutions 10 million plus customer base. Just starting a domain registry of their own does not get the job done, they say. With today's announcement, Network Solutions enters the domain brokerage business. Observers say their entry is long overdue considering domain brokerages have existed since 1994.