Archive for August, 2008

.UK Registrations Surpass 7 Million

Nominet, the registry that manages the .uk extension, announced that the top level domain has passed the 7 million mark in total registrations including one million registrations since July 2007.
“We are pleased to see that the .uk registry is growing year on year,” said Phil Kingsland, director of marketing and communications at Nominet. “This, coupled […]

eNom Changes Website and Increases Registration Fees

eNom has recently made two significant changes. First, the domain registrar introduced their redesigned website which provides additional emphasis on their reseller service. Next, they announced a hike in domain registration fees that was directly impacted by Verisign’s October Price Increase announced in March.
If you’re going to purchase or renew your domain names, you should […]

Lifetime Networks Makes First Digital Purchase

Lifetime Networks, the leader in women’s television and one of the top rated cable networks, has made its first ever digital acquisition by purchasing ParentsClick Network, Inc.
ParentsClick Network is a privately held digital media company that has developed an online community application that allows active parents to create their own content-rich websites. Also included in […]

SnapNames/Moniker auction hit by Human Error again

In the Silent Domain auction for the SES conference, which originally was supposed to end yesterday, the domain “iq.net” was re-listed accidentally, even though it had originally been reported as sold at the Internext for $17,000.00. Participants in the auction were informed about the problem via email a few hours before bidding ended. Recently Moniker/Snapnames […]

Web Hosting Service Trade Association, Issues Call for Advisory Members

Chicago, Illinois - (The Hosting News) - August 29, 2008 - The Association of Internet and Hosting Service Providers (AIHSP), has issued a call for industry professionals, to join five distinguished advisory subcommittees.

Paul Hirsch, President of the AIHSP Founding Committee explained, ”Our advisory subcommittees will play an important role in shaping the future of this organization, laying the groundwork for the realization of our goals. Today, we are a small but agile group of dedicated volunteers, and we see these advisory subcommittees as an opportunity to involve the greater community and benefit from the collective wisdom therein. It is crucial that AIHSP be driven by its constituents, and that the energy and founding philosophy be widespread among the vast spectrum that is the web hosting and Internet services industry.”

The AIHSP is the first-ever trade association serving the shared interests of providers and vendors in the Web hosting and Internet services industry, today announced a call for qualified industry professionals to join five distinguished key advisory subcommittees, each charged with critiquing and improving the organization’s roadmap to implementing core initiatives.

Launched last month at HostingCon 2008, the largest annual gathering of web services professionals, AIHSP has received broad attention for its intention to unify the Web hosting and Internet services industry and use collective power to resolve problems within the marketplace and provide greater public and political representation.

The AIHSP Founding Committee seeks qualified industry professionals to sit on five key advisory subcommittees: AIHSP Benefits and Professional Services Subcommittee; AIHSP Standards and Ethics Subcommittee; AIHSP Industry Representation and Advocacy Subcommittee; AIHSP Systems and Infrastructure Subcommittee; and AIHSP Research Investigatory Subcommittee. Each subcommittee will meet online and in teleconference calls over a six week period to fulfill its charge and provide the necessary guidance and advice to help AIHSP reach its 14 inaugural goals (www.aihsp.org/About-AIHSP/AIHSP-Goals.php).

Tyrone Adams, Ph.D., Director of the AIHSP Founding Committee and the Richard D’Aquin Professor of Journalism and Communications at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette noted, ”The formation of AIHSP advisory subcommittees is critical in terms of getting quality feedback from service providers, and more importantly, is highly relevant in the process of organizational structuration. One of the most important missions of the AIHSP will be to continually generate panoramic snapshots of the industry in action, and build apparatus to address the problems and inefficiencies we find.”

All qualified industry professionals are strongly encouraged to nominate themselves to take part in a subcommittee. The AIHSP Founding Committee will announce the final selection of subcommittee members in early September after careful review of those interested in taking part. Self-nominations may be made at www.aihsp.org/About-AIHSP/Build-AIHSP.php.

The five key Advisory Subcommittees, as charged include:

AIHSP Benefits and Professional Services Subcommittee
The AIHSP Benefits and Professional Services Subcommittee will collaborate to research viable sources for essential employee benefits (medical, dental, vision, life); research viable sources for essential small business services for AIHSP retainer on behalf of its members (accounting, tax preparation, legal, public relations); and compare and contrast providers in order to make recommendations to the founding committee.

AIHSP Standards and Ethics Subcommittee

The AIHSP Ethics, Standards and Certifications Subcommittee will collaborate to establish ethical standards of business operation; establish criteria for businesses to be considered in good standing; establish processes for updating ethical standards; establish grievance processes for businesses and consumers; and establish mediation guidelines and policies.

AIHSP Industry Representation and Advocacy Subcommittee
The AIHSP Industry Representation and Advocacy Subcommittee will collaborate to explore and determine key legislative objectives and priorities to ensure the sustained success and viability of the hosted services marketplace and fair competition within: research the viability and feasibility of implementing a direct lobbying campaign to influence existing and pending legislation; draft an initial series of communication goals and priorities for AIHSP as a representative body for business; and determine the scope, scale and objectives of an AIHSP media relations and crisis communications apparatus.

AIHSP Systems and Infrastructure Subcommittee
The AIHSP Systems and Infrastructure Subcommittee will collaborate to develop a project scope for the following systems: technical certification tracking system, grievance process tracking, research repository database, crisis communication system, intelligent business directory, employment portal and fraud database; determine most appropriate technologies for development of these systems; determine the hosting architecture best suited to these systems; research developers/firms for in-kind work and compensated work; make recommendations regarding custom development versus off-the-shelf application use; and research application security vendors for systems auditing.

AIHSP Research Investigatory Subcommittee
The AIHSP Research Investigatory Subcommittee will collaborate to determine the paramount research priorities and needs of its hosting and Internet service provider constituents; refine these compelling issues into a prioritized, ordered hierarchy for AIHSP advocacy and lobbying efforts; define which research data should be culled for in a members-only State of the Industry quarterly report for longitudinal tracking and archival purposes; and identify and maintain a database of emerging threats to the industry, whether political, economic, technological, or legislative.

Launched in July, 2008, the Association of Internet and Hosting Service Providers (AIHSP) is an innovative collaboration of businesses and professionals in the Web hosting and Internet services industry, working together to unify the industry, achieve meaningful representation, and secure a more prosperous marketplace for all.

To nominate yourself to join an AIHSP Advisory Subcommittee, please visit: www.aihsp.org/About-AIHSP/Build-AIHSP.php.

For more about AIHSP, please visit: www.aihsp.org.

Web Hosting Provider, Newtek Data Center, Completes SAS 70 Type II Audit

Phoenix, Arizona - (The Hosting News) - August 29, 2008 - Provider of Windows-based web hosting, and CrystalTech parent company, Newtek Technology Services’ i/o Data Centers, has completed a SAS 70 Type II audit.

Tony Wanger, Senior Managing Director of i/o Data Centers remarked, ”i/o Data Centers designs, builds and operates best in class data centers. By putting our controls and procedures through the rigorous SAS 70 process, our customers, like CrystalTech Web Hosting, have confidence that they can rely on the services provided by i/o.”

The SAS 70 Type II audit is a rigorous third-party evaluation of internal procedures, policies, and controls in accordance to the standards set by the AICPA. The completion of this audit, which was performed by independent service auditor Deloitte and Touche LLP, provides assurances that Newtek Technology Services’ data center space has the necessary controls in place to effectively manage and protect customer data.

Robert Cichon, President and Chief Operating Officer of Newtek Technology Services noted, ”The completion of the SAS 70 Type II audit at i/o Data Centers further illustrates why we chose to locate our data center and network operations at its Scottsdale facility. Our commitment to providing a safe and secure hosting environment goes beyond the controls we have in place; it is just as critical that our partners and service providers adhere to this commitment as well.”

i/o Data Centers is a completely integrated data center services firm that designs, builds and operates world class raised-floor data centers, including data center space, conditioned uninterruptible power, network neutral telecommunications access and internet bandwidth.

i/o Data Centers, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, delivers high performance data center and colocation services to enterprises of all sizes.

As a wholly owned subsidiary of Newtek Business Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: NEWT), Newtek Technology Services is a premier provider of web technology solutions to the small- to medium-sized business market, providing services to customers in over 100 countries, ranging from small businesses to Fortune 100 corporations.

Newtek’s 10 business service lines include:

Electronic Payment Processing: electronic solutions to accept non-cash payments, including credit and debit card, check conversion, remote deposit capture, ACH processing, and electronic gift and loyalty card programs.
Business Lending: broad array of lending products including SBA 7(a), conventional commercial real estate and SBA 504 loans, account receivable financing, business lines of credit and business credit cards.
Web Hosting : Full-service web host which offers shared and dedicated web hosting and related services including domain registration and online shopping cart tools.
Insurance Services: commercial and personal lines of insurance, including health and employee benefits in all 50 states, working with over 40 insurance carriers.
Web Design and Development : Customized web design and development services for a powerful web presence.
Data Backup, Storage and Retrieval : Fast, secure, off-site data backup, storage and retrieval designed to meet the specific regulatory and compliance needs of any business.
Payroll: Complete payroll management and processing services.
Outsourced Digital Bookkeeping : Bookkeeping and financial information management solutions at a fraction of the cost of in-house staff.
Tax Preparation and Advisory Services : Expert tax planning and consultation for your business.
Business Plan Preparation : Professional business plan development.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Newtek Business Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: NEWT), Newtek Technology Services is a premier provider of web technology solutions to the small- to medium-sized business market, providing services to customers in over 100 countries, ranging from small businesses to Fortune 100 corporations.

Newtek Business Services, Inc. is a direct distributor to the small to medium-sized business market under the Newtek brand. According to the SBA, there are over 26.8 million small businesses in the United States, which in total represent 99.7% of all employer firms, generate 60 to 80% of all new jobs annually and create more than 50% of non-farm private GDP. Since 1999, Newtek has helped these business owners realize their potential by providing them with the essential tools needed to manage and grow their businesses. Newtek focuses on providing its 88,000 customers with access to financial, management and technological resources that enable them to better grow and compete in the marketplace. Newtek’s products and services include:

  • Electronic Payment Processing:
    Electronic solutions to accept non-cash payments, including credit and debit cards, check conversion, remote deposit capture, ACH processing, and electronic gift and loyalty card programs.
  • Web Hosting:
    Full-service web host which offers shared and dedicated web hosting and related services including domain registration and online shopping cart tools.
  • Business Lending: Broad array of lending products including SBA 7(a), conventional commercial real estate and SBA 504 loans, business lines of credit, and business credit cards.
  • Insurance Services:
    Commercial and personal lines of insurance, including health and employee benefits in all 50 states, working with over 40 insurance carriers.
  • Web Design and Development: Customized web design and development services.
  • Data Backup, Storage and Retrieval: Fast, secure, off-site data backup, storage and retrieval designed to meet the specific regulatory and compliance needs of any business.
  • Accounts Receivable Financing Receivable purchasing and financing services.
  • Payroll:
    Complete payroll management and processing services.
  • Outsourced Digital Bookkeeping:
    Bookkeeping and financial information management solutions.
  • Tax Preparation and Advisory Services: Expert tax planning and consultation for your business
  • Business Plan Preparation: Professional business plan assistance providing a roadmap for success

Founded in 1992, CrystalTech Web Hosting, Inc. is one of the largest Windows-based web hosting companies in the world, hosting customers in over 100 countries, ranging from small businesses to Fortune 100 corporations. CrystalTech uses a data center that includes redundancy throughout core systems such as, power, air conditioning, network connectivity, network transportation, as well as a secured environment for their network operations center. CrystalTech is a subsidiary of Newtek Business Services, Inc., a provider of business services and financial products to small and medium-sized businesses.

For more information about i/o Data Centers, please visit: www.iodatacenters.com.

To learn more about Newtek, please visit: www.newtekbusinessservices.com.

For more about CrystalTech, please visit: www.crystaltech.com.

Reseller Web Hosting Provider, Cirtex, Develops Exclusive Video Script Installer

New York, New York - (The Hosting News) - August 29, 2008 - Hosting reseller and multiple domain web hosting provider, Cirtex Hosting, has launched its value-added, exclusive feature, designed to allow video sharing scripts to web sites, for shared hosting and Virtual Dedicated Servers.

John Xie, President of Cirtex Corp. noted, ”For the past several years, we have seen the real value and growth in online video and we have made a series of moves to help secure our spot as a leader in the video hosting market. With today’s launch of Video Script Installer we continue our commitment to offering our customers the tools they need to succeed and compete as the web continues to evolve. VSI enables our customers to setup a fully-functional, automated video sharing portal in less than three minutes.”

The Video Script Installer (VSI) will be offered to customers on its two flagship hosting brands, CirtexHosting (www.cirtexhosting.com) and HostV (www.hostv.com).

The Video Script Installer, exclusively available from CirtexHosting, is accessible through an intuitive interface within each client’s web site control panel. The interface allows one-click installation of ClipBucket, VidiScript, and PHPmotion. Each of the scripts allows hosting users to build Web sites with similar usability as Google’s popular video sharing site, YouTube. Cirtex Corp. is also making available RED5 and FFMPEG - server side video processing engines - to power the three VSI scripts.

The company recently forged exclusive partnerships with both VidiScript and ClipBucket to offer their scripts to Web hosting customers. Cirtex Corp. clients are able to take advantage of VSI as a value-added feature at no additional charge.

Founded in 2003, Cirtex Hosting is a provider of shared and reseller multiple domain Linux web hosting solutions, offering 24/7 technical support, 99.5% guaranteed uptime, and a 30-Day unconditional guarantee, serving hundreds of small to medium sized businesses internationally. The company serves thousands of customers internationally through three brands - CirtexHosting, MySitesOnline, and HostV.

To learn more about HostV, a provider of Virtual Dedicated Servers and Managed Dedicated Hosting, please visit: www.hostv.com.

For more about CirtexHosting, a provider of Shared and Reseller Hosting, please visit: www.cirtexhosting.com.

Web Hosted Content Management Solution Updated, at Ingeniux

Seattle, Washington - (The Hosting News) - August 29, 2008 - Provider of enterprise 2.0 Web content management software, Ingeniux Corporation, has introduced three new software-as-a-service packages for its hosted web content management solution.

In addition to Ingeniux OnDemand, the company has also opened a second hosting facility co-located in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ingeniux has provided hosted web content management since 2003. However, the Ingeniux OnDemand software-as-a-service solution has grown rapidly over the last 12-months. It now accounts for over 50% of web content management software sales for the company. Ingeniux has launched three new packages designed to meet the needs of small departmental to large enterprise deployments.

Jim Edmunds, President and CEO of Ingeniux noted, ”Software-as-a-Service has become increasingly attractive to our customers: it is less expensive, presents a greener, more energy efficient footprint, and is easier to manage and deploy.”With our new on-demand packages we can provide an affordable, fully managed, web content management solution that scales to meet any customer requirement.”

This ‘Web content management-by-the-Slice’ approach allows customers to purchase exactly as much Ingeniux CMS software as they need and ensures dedicated hardware, bandwidth, and processing in the hosting environment. Ingeniux OnDemand Virtual Server packages include: Ingeniux On-Demand VM Essential - supports up to 15 users and 1 website Ingeniux On-Demand VM Pro - supports up to 50 users and 3 websites Ingeniux On-Demand VM Enterprise - supports up to 200 users and 20 websites Ingeniux OnDemand packages start at $1,900 per month and include Ingeniux CMS software, managed CMS hosting, and technical support. Ingeniux’s virtual server hosting approach for web content management provides several advantages over traditional software-as-a-service solutions.

With dedicated virtual servers Ingeniux customers have much more control over their application environment. They can schedule software upgrades when they want, load custom applications, and more easily integrate with back office applications. Dedicated hardware insures the CMS always runs at peak performance, compared with traditional multi-tenancy solutions that share processing power between customers. Moreover, dedicated hardware gives customers the flexibility to easily switch to an on-premise deployment.

To support growth in software-as-a-service Ingeniux has opened a second data center. Co-located in Las Vegas, Nevada the new hosting facility features energy efficient blade computers and extensive storage and security capabilities. Ingeniux will use the facility for new software-as-a-service customers and offer geographical redundancy for customers with mission critical data requirements.

To learn more about Ingeniux OnDemand and Ingeniux CMS web content management software, please visit: www.Ingeniux.com.

Atrivo Hosts Much Malware: Report

August 29, 2008 — ( <http://www.thewhir.com> WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Web research organization Hostexploit has released a report identifying Concord, California-based web host Atrivo as a major, long-time source of fake anti-virus products, spyware, adware and viruses.

Vistrex Adds Web Design/Hosting Plan

August 29, 2008 — ( <http://www.thewhir.com> WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Vistrex, owner and operator of custom web design firm BestSiteDesign.net, announced on Friday it has launched a complete solution that includes both website design and hosting services for a business or individual’s website.