CircleID

Simplified names, adding new registrars will be the focus for the Meeting in Brussels

RegistryPro, the exclusive operator of the .PRO top-level domain on the Internet, announced it has finalized a new, five-year registry operator agreement with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) after approval was granted during a special meeting of the Board of Directors on April 22, 2010. Under the terms of the new agreement, RegistryPro will continue providing .PRO names to eligible professionals, businesses and organizations, with its bundled verification services.

.PRO registrars have responded positively to the news of the contract renewal. European registrars EuroDNS and Subreg.cz have both been certified by .PRO in May , and many more are in the final stages of becoming authorized registrars.

"RegistryPro is grateful for the opportunity to continue our relationship with ICANN and our stewardship of the .PRO TLD into 2015," said Lucas Roh, CEO of RegistryPro. "We appreciate the efforts of ICANN staff, the support from the community and the ongoing commitment of our registrar partners in making this renewal a success."

The registry also announced that it will serve as an official sponsor of the ICANN International meeting on June 20-25, 2010, in Brussels, Belgium.

These announcements come on the heels of many pivotal accomplishments in recent years. In April 2008, ICANN approved sweeping changes to .PRO eligibility requirements. In June 2009, .PRO received approval to release previously restricted one-, two-, and three-character names.

As part of the simplification of.PRO, the registry is focused on efforts to phase-out the .PRO digital certificate by the end of 2010.

"We're very proud of the improvements we've made to .PRO in recent years," said Matt Buckland, Director of Operations. "We've created a much simpler product with fewer limitations. In keeping our focus on the unique needs of international business and service professionals, we've made .PRO a much stronger voice in the industry and a more valuable component of their online branding."

About RegistryPro

Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, RegistryPro is the ICANN-designated operator of the .PRO TLD. Since launching in 2004, .PRO has become an important tool for businesses, organizations and individuals in building trusted relationships throughout the world. In many languages, "pro" is synonymous with dedication, skill, and vision — the .PRO name allows people to capture that distinctive character. Whether developing a brand, refining an identity, or promoting a specialty, .PRO offers every business and professional the opportunity to enhance their image by adding a powerful, easy-to-identify name to their online presence and web-based products. (Learn More)

Related topics: Domain Names, Registry Services, ICANN, Top-Level Domains