At 04:36 PM 7/31/2001, ST wrote:
>I think NSI is changing to Verisign because they know NSI's reputation
>is so bad. I saw a commercial for "Verisign" on TV last week. It
>looked just like NSI's usual commercials, but instead they said
>"Register your domain through Verisign". However, the address at the
>end of the commercial (under the Verisign logo) was
>www.networksolutions.com.
It's more an issue of visibility. I don't have the link anymore, but there
was an article on Yahoo last week (go to yahoo, look up vrsn if like doing
your own research) that talked about Verisign's plans to stop using the NSI
name and make everything carry the Verisign name. They had an easy time
making NSI registry Verisign Global Registry Services... those people who
have zone file ftp accounts know that they've been changing their servers
around, and now Verisign plans to complete the assimilation of
NSI. Verisign wasn't well known among consumers (I know most on this list
will disagree, but that's what their studies said) and NSI was a far more
well known name.
IIRC, CNBC last week they said that VRSN had spent 40% of it's equity to
obtain NSI, which now represents 60% of it's income, and that income from
NSI had grown from about $70M a year ago to $260M 2Q 2001. This is
probably the reason for their aggressive attempts to retain and obtain new
customers. (I haven't verified any of those numbers, check their SEC
filings if you're interested)
-Russ
>-----Original Message-----
>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Jack Broughton
>Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2001 1:01 PM
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: Separation of Verisign and NSI?
>
>
>Not sure if anyone else has seen this but I was just faxed a letter from
>a client of ours which throws into some confusion (for me anyway) the
>"arm's length" relationship perported to exist between NSI and
>Verisign. NSI tech support people have proudly claimed that they can't
>just walk down the hall and deal with Verisign or their policies,
>they're treated exactly the same as any other registrar.
>
>This letter, with Verisign letterhead, logo and address has a bold
>heading of:
>"Service Update
>Immediate Action Required"
>
>It starts:
>
>Dear Customer,
>
>As your provider of online identity services, we're always looking for
>ways to better serve you and keep you informed. Please note that, as of
>this notice date, our records indicate the product(s) and service(s)
>listed below have expired.
>
>Renewing your services is easy with our new account manager tool. Go to
>http://www.networksolutions.com/renew/ There you wiill see an itemized
>list of your product(s) and services including their expiration dates.
>Be advised that no additional fees have been incurred for the expired
>services you've been receiving to date. We must now ask for payment to
>continue serving you. Please act today!
>
>[Another paragraph continues with the phone number if you can't use the
>web interface and what to do for forgotten passwords]
>
>Thank you for your business! We're committed to providing you with
>everything you need for a powerful, successful Web presence.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>
>F. Michael Kyle, VP, Customer Service
>
>
>
>
>So... is my client getting their domain services from NSI or Verisign?
>I thought the distinction was supposed to be clearer. (Client gets it
>from NSI, NSI gets their gTLD stuff from Verisign.) I guess Verisign
>has decided to help NSI in their campaign of confusion causes fear,
>uncertainty and doubt in clients and as such their hope is that clients
>will find it easier/safer to remain with NSI.
