RealNames Announces Keyword Registration Web Service; New SOAP-Based Keywords Registration Service Built in Less Than Two Weeks with Microsoft Visual Studio .NET.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 13, 2002

RealNames Corporation, the extended naming services company, today announced the availability of its Keywords Registration Service as a XML Web service. It was developed using Microsoft Visual Studio .NET. RealNames' Registration Service application programming interface, or approximately 35 interface calls, will be available as a XML Web service to the more than 50 RealNames registries and registrars, who can deploy it to sell and manage Keywords on their Web sites.

Keywords are modern Web addresses that complement the Domain Name System (DNS), making Internet naming and navigation easier with simple names and brands that work in all languages and character sets. Like DNS, RealNames Keywords are available through a worldwide channel of registries, registrars and resellers, each of whom implements the RealNames Registration platform on their Web sites to sell and manage Keywords.

The new SOAP-based Registration Web service interface, in combination with Microsoft Visual Studio .NET, will enable RealNames channel partners to deploy their Web sites up to three times faster than they can now, with significantly enhanced consistency. The more than 35 interface calls enable RealNames partners to quickly create the functionality to, for example, subscribe Keywords, check Keyword availability, and manage customer accounts.

"RealNames is making use of XML Web services to integrate with their business partners. This is an excellent example of the ways in which organizations are able to quickly and easily extend their business relationships with a minimum of technical fuss," said Mike Culver, group program manager for the Developer and Platform Evangelism Division at Microsoft Corp. "Microsoft is pleased that RealNames used Visual Studio .NET to accomplish the goal."

"For our channel partners around the world, getting ramped up to sell Keywords as quickly and easily as possible is imperative," said Keith Teare, founder and CEO of RealNames. "Our Registration Web service does exactly that, vastly simplifying the process of launching retail Keywords sites. Microsoft Visual Studio .NET and the .NET Framework are an excellent foundation for us and our distributed channel network."

"With Microsoft Visual Studio .NET we were able to design, prototype and build a beta Registration Web service in less than two weeks," said Zelidrag Hornung, senior director of engineering at RealNames. "We were thrilled to get the beta up so quickly and easily, because this new Registration Web service will dramatically simplify implementation for our partners. They'll be able to focus on building the right business logic and on getting up and running in a matter of days, not weeks."

About RealNames Corporation

RealNames Corporation, the extended naming services company, simplifies Internet naming for the next generation Internet with the Keyword platform. Keywords are modern Web addresses that complement the Domain Name System, making Internet naming and navigation easier with simple names and brands that work in all languages and character sets. The RealNames registration and resolution name services platform provides a modern naming layer on top of DNS that is available to all application developers. The RealNames Keyword system is integrated into the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser software.

RealNames Keywords and name services are available through a worldwide channel of Registries and Registrars. RealNames has developed a business model where local country Registries, having negotiated the exclusive license to Keywords in their territory, will license Registrars to sell Keywords directly to customers. The country Registry retains local control over the Keyword namespace while sharing revenues from Keyword sales among the local channel partners. This model encourages the proliferation of Keywords as the next generation naming standard for the Internet. For more information on RealNames Global Registry Services and to apply for a country Keyword Registry or Registrar license, please e-mail [e-mail]. Founded in 1996, RealNames is headquartered in Redwood City, California. For more information, please enter Keyword: RealNames to visit our Web site.

Note to Editors: RealNames and RealNames System are either service marks or registered service marks of RealNames Corporation. Other product and company names are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

To access the RealNames press center go to:

Keyword: RealNames Press Room