RealNames Announces Deployment of Keyword Registration Platform for Next-generation Web Addresses.

Business Editors and Technology Writers

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 14, 2001

Worldwide Network of Keyword Registries and Registrars Can Now Sign Up

to Sell RealNames Keyword Web Addresses

RealNames Corporation, the Keyword infrastructure provider, today announced the availability and delivery of its new Keyword Registration Platform, a system of Web-based products, tools, and services that automate the registration and activation of Keyword Web addresses worldwide.

With a database of 1.7 million Keyword addresses, the Keyword Registration Platform is currently available through Keyword Registries and Registrars in 244 countries. In related news, RealNames also announced the completion of a multi-year, multi-million dollar agreement with HINC, a consortium of Korean Internet companies, to become the sole provider of Keyword Web addresses in South Korea (see related announcement "Keyword Registry Launched in Korea").

Keywords are an extension to the domain name system, and will be part of the next generation Internet naming standard. Based on common names and without the www's, slashes and dot "something" endings of URL Web addresses, Keyword addresses are easier for people to remember and use. Keywords are the only Web addressing system that works across all languages and character sets, as well as across all types of Internet-enabled devices, including Web-enabled mobile phones, desktop computers, and PDAs.

Initially most Keyword Registries and Registrars are expected to be domain name registrars who can benefit from a new Keyword-based revenue. The Keyword system differs from the domain name system in that all Keywords are part of a country-based namespace. There are no "global" Keywords like the global top-level domains of the domain name system. Therefore the Keyword system respects the authority of the country namespace, enabling Registries to maintain local control over the allocation of Keywords, without being superseded by a single, centralized system. In essence, the Keyword system recognizes the uniqueness and validity of 244 countries, and offers the channel the opportunity to sell Keywords by country, or bundles representing regions or the whole world.

"The response from potential Registries and Registrars has been fantastic in the short time since we made the announcement to open up the opportunity to be a reseller of

Keywords," said Keith Teare, founder and CEO of RealNames Corporation. "We have negotiated the rights to our Korean Registry, and are very close to others. We expect many new Registries will go live in coming months. Our US Registry, in turn, has been very successful in negotiating to sign up Registrars. We expect to announce these at ICANN's Melbourne conference in March."

Keyword Registration Platform Automates Keyword Purchasing

The Keyword Registration Platform is licensed to country Registries by RealNames Global Registry Services, which supports the infrastructure of the Keyword system and maintains the repository of Keyword and customer data worldwide. The platform enables Registries and Registrars to sell and manage Keywords, manage and bill customers, generate reports, manage disputes, and view Keyword and customer information -- all within an automated, Web-based system.

Registering a Keyword has advantages over registering a URL Web address. The user-friendly system allows common names to be associated uniquely within country destination sites and in any language or character set. Also, the same Keyword can work for HTML, the wireless Web, and other emerging platforms. Finally, it can be registered and activated globally through a single local Keyword Registrar, saving companies time and effort, while ensuring their brands are protected around the world.

When customers come to a Keyword Registrar's Web site they can determine whether a Keyword is available and can register it by listing the countries where they would like it to work. The Keyword is activated immediately upon payment. RealNames also has a Keyword Resolution Platform that resolves a Keyword to a URL and keeps track of the number of times that Keyword is used in order to generate usage reports for the customer and channel partners. Disputes over Keyword ownership will be outsourced to a recognized third party for global arbitration.

For more information on RealNames Global Registry Services and to apply for a country Keyword Registry license, please visit our Web site at Keyword: RealNames GRS, or e-mail [e-mail]. To find out more information on becoming a Registrar, call 650/486-5528, or email [e-mail]. To register a Keyword, go to Keyword: RealNames Registrar, then click on "Register Keywords" at the bottom of the page.

About RealNames Corporation

RealNames Corporation is a global infrastructure provider of Keywords, a superior Web naming and navigation platform that improves on the existing Domain Name System. Keywords replace complicated URLs with simple names and brands and work in the consumer's native language, making the Internet easier to use.

The RealNames Keyword system has been integrated into Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser and Openwave Systems (formerly Phone.com) UP.Link Server as well as in leading search and portal sites. Like DNS, RealNames Keywords are available through a Registry/Registrar worldwide channel. Founded in 1996, RealNames is based in Redwood City, California with offices in New York City, London, Hamburg, Tokyo and Seoul. For more information, please use Keyword: RealNames to visit our Web site.

RealNames, RealNames System, RealNames Service, Real Name Service and RNS are either service marks or registered service marks of RealNames Corporation.