[AfrICANN-discuss] Internet Domain Names Surpass 180 Million in First Quarter of 2009

[Anne-Rachel Inné]

You can find the brief at;
http://www.verisign.com/Resources/Naming_Services_Resources/Domain_Name_Industry_Brief/

Internet Domain Names Surpass 180 Million in First Quarter of 2009
Latest VeriSign Industry Brief Sheds Light on How DNS Powers the Internet

https://press.verisign.com/easyir/customrel.do?easyirid=AFC0FF0DB5C560D3&version=live&prid=506988&releasejsp=custom_97

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA -- (Marketwire) -- June 3, 2009 -- The Internet now
encompasses more than 180 million domain names, according to the first
quarter 2009 Domain Name Industry Brief published by VeriSign, Inc.
(NASDAQ: VRSN), the trusted provider of Internet infrastructure
services for the networked world.

The first quarter of 2009 ended with a total base of nearly 183
million domain name registrations across all of the Top Level Domain
Names (TLDs). This represents a three percent increase over the fourth
quarter of 2008 and a 12 percent increase over the same quarter from
last year.

Country Code TLDs (ccTLDs) rose to 74.1 million domain names during
the first quarter, a four percent jump from the previous quarter and
an 18 percent increase year over year. Gauged by total registrations,
.com remains the most popular TLD category, followed by .cn (China),
.de (Germany) and .net. This composition remains unchanged from Q4
2008.

The first quarter is historically strong for registrations in the
domain name industry, and Q1 2009 was no exception, with an average of
2.4 million new .com and .net registrations added each month. During
the quarter, the overall base of .com and .net domain names grew to
92.4 million domain names. That total represents a two percent
increase from Q4 2008, a jump of nine percent over the same quarter of
the previous year, and an increase of 34 percent over the first
quarter of 2007.

During the quarter, VeriSign continued its 11-year track record of
providing 100 percent uptime for DNS queries. VeriSign's daily DNS
query load averaged 38 billion during the first quarter of 2009,
resulting in hundreds of millions of Internet users accessing Web
sites or sending email. This is an increase from the 35 billion
queries in fourth quarter 2008.

Revealing Analysis of DNS Queries and Resolution

The latest VeriSign Domain Name Industry Brief also spotlights
VeriSign's analysis of DNS queries and DNS resolution. In addition to
provisioning domain names, a domain name registry operator enables
users to actually reach those domain names by resolving the domain
names to an Internet address that serves the content users seek.

VeriSign's analysis reveals how the most queried .com domain names --
sites like Google.com and Yahoo.com -- are not necessarily the only
domain names Internet users rely upon. Rather, there are
infrastructure oriented domain names that support DNS servers, hosting
farms or even advertising platforms and the number of DNS queries the
infrastructure domain names receive can be in the same range as the
many popular end user-oriented domain names with more familiar and
recognized domain names.

"As the authoritative registry for .com and .net domain names,
VeriSign has a unique view into the pulse of the Internet," said Jill
Corso McNabb, vice president, Naming Services at VeriSign. "DNS
resolution truly comprises the backbone of what makes the Internet
operate across the globe. DNS becomes even more critical to the
overall infrastructure of the Internet not only as Internet usage
grows but also as innovative products and services related to the DNS
proliferate."

VeriSign publishes the Domain Name Industry Brief to provide Internet
users throughout the world with significant statistical and analytical
research and data on the domain name industry and the Internet as a
whole. Copies of the 2009 first quarter Domain Name Industry Brief, as
well as previous reports, can be obtained at
www.verisign.com/domainbrief.

About VeriSign

VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN) is the trusted provider of Internet
infrastructure services for the networked world. Billions of times
each day, VeriSign helps companies and consumers all over the world
engage in communications and commerce with confidence. Additional news
and information about the company is available at www.verisign.com.

Statements in this announcement other than historical data and
information constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve risks and
uncertainties that could cause VeriSign's actual results to differ
materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking
statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among
others, the uncertainty of future revenue and profitability and
potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results due to such
factors as the inability of VeriSign to successfully develop and
market new products and services and customer acceptance of any new
products or services, including VeriSign Internet Domain Name
Services; the possibility that VeriSign's announced new services may
not result in additional customers, profits or revenues; and increased
competition and pricing pressures. More information about potential
factors that could affect the company's business and financial results
is included in VeriSign's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2007 and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
VeriSign undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking
statements after the date of this press release.

©2009 VeriSign, Inc. All rights reserved. VeriSign, the VeriSign logo,
the checkmark circle, and other trademarks, service marks, and designs
are registered or unregistered trademarks of VeriSign, Inc., and its
subsidiaries in the United States and in foreign countries. All other
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Contact Information:     Contacts
Christina Rohall
crohall at verisign.com
650-336-4663

Investor Relations:
Nancy Fazioli
ir at verisign.com
650-426-5146