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PORTLAND, OR and MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - Domain name infrastructure and data provider SnapNames and VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq:VRSN), the leading provider of digital trust services, announced today that VeriSign Global Registry Services has licensed SnapNames' Parallel Registry technology to develop a VeriSign domain name Wait Listing Service (WLS).

The service would allow parties to be next in line to register a domain name once it is deleted from the registry. SnapNames has customized the service to fit VeriSign's .COM and .NET registry architecture allowing VeriSign Global Registry Services to offer the WLS to all ICANN-accredited registrars. Current wait listing services, implemented at the registrar level, must compete for a domain name when it becomes available. Implementation at the registry level would provide equal access to all registrars and would result in a higher efficacy rate for applicants, as the registration is virtually assured, should the current domain name registration be deleted.

A proposal has been submitted by VeriSign Global Registry Services to all ICANN-accredited registrars (who represent the distribution channel for this service) seeking their comment through January 18. Comments from other registries and other interested ICANN DNSO constituencies will be sought after January 18.

"VeriSign selected SnapNames' technology because it is a proven technology," said Herb Hribar, executive vice president and general manager, VeriSign Global Registry Services. "The VeriSign Global Registry's objective is to provide equal access to all registrars and their registrants."

"This is a positive move for our industry-one that will ensure an equal-access, first-come, first-served, and reasonably priced service that would be available to every registrant, regardless of sophistication," said SnapNames chairman and CEO Ron Wiener. "For years, people have been waiting for a way to be next in line for domain names. WLS would finally and directly meet this need."