Minds + Machines: New Pricing for Back-End gTLD Registry Services Announced

SINGAPORE, June 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Minds + Machines, a wholly owned subsidiary of Top Level Domain Holdings (London AIM, TLDH.L) today announced new pricing for back end registry services for top-level domains. For a flat fee of $100,000 a year, the company will provide unlimited registrations for new TLDs using the Espresso platform, with no per-name fee for most new TLDs.

"We've simplified the model," said Antony Van Couvering, CEO of Minds + Machines. "For a simple, low, flat fee, any prospective applicant can be in the TLD business.  Until now, pricing for registry services has been shrouded in secrecy,  and potential applicants have had to try to decipher convoluted pricing tiers.  The new gTLD program, approved on Monday by ICANN, was meant to usher in a new era of choice and innovation.  Minds + Machines is proud to kick that off with our offering."

"ICANN has opened the Internet's addressing system to the limitless possibilities of the human imagination," said Rod Beckstrom, CEO of ICANN.  "We have provided a platform for creativity and inspiration, and for the next big dot-thing," said Peter Dengate Thrush, Chairman of the Board of ICANN.

"The Minds + Machines flat-rate formula is predictable, simple, and attractive," said George T. Bundy, president of BRS Media, operators of .FM and applicant for .RADIO. "We have been using their Espresso platform for .FM, and it is reliable, flexible, and easy to use.  Combined with this pricing it's very attractive."

The new Minds + Machines offering excludes certain high-volume super-generic terms such as .music, and geographic terms such as .nyc. The new pricing will be extended to existing clients.

In addition, for disadvantaged or needy applicants providing services to underserved communities, Minds + Machines will offer the service for a 50% discount.  

"Our goal is to increase the number of new gTLDs, and the new pricing will be a great help.  The fact is that many applicants don't know how many registrations they will achieve," said Van Couvering.  "The better you can predict your costs, the less risk there is to applying for a new gTLD.  An all-inclusive flat fee will give applicants predictable budgets and great savings if they hit their numbers."  

About Minds + Machines, http://mindsandmachines.com

Minds + Machines is a registry services provider that works internationally with commercial organisations, cities, not-for-profits and entrepreneurs to secure and operate new web domains, known as top-level domains (TLDs). Minds + Machines is a wholly owned subsidiary of Top Level Domains Holdings, Ltd.

About Top Level Domain Holdings Limited, http://tldh.org

Top Level Domain Holdings, Ltd. (AIM: TLDH) is a publicly traded holding company listed on the London AIM market. The company is focused on the new top-level domain space. Top-level domains, such as .com, run by VeriSign (NASDAQ: VRSN), and .biz, run by Neustar (NYSE: NSR), are regulated by ICANN. ICANN has announced plans to expand the number of top-level domains. TLDH intends to make targeted investments in this space, focusing on both infrastructure technologies and specific top-level domains.

For further information:

Antony Van Couvering
Tel: +1-917-406-7126
gth media relations
Toby Hall / Christian Pickel
Tel: +44(0)20-3103-3903