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Herndon, VA – August 23, 2005 – Network Solutions (www.networksolutions.com), the leading provider of Web solutions and pioneer of domain name registration, is now accepting pre-registration requests for .eu top-level domain names. All .eu domain names pre-registered through Network Solutions or through Network Solutions Partners will be submitted to EURid, the registry for the new domain, at the start of the sunrise period.

The sunrise period provides an opportunity for those with recognized rights to a name, for example registered trademarks, approximately four months to register those names before the general public. The sunrise period for .eu names has not been announced by EURid, but is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2005.

“The .eu top level domain is a tremendous opportunity for eligible organizations and individuals to identify an affiliation with the European Union through its domain name,” said Champ Mitchell, chairman and CEO of Network Solutions. “Our pre-registration request queue for .eu domain names is one more way in which Network Solutions goes above and beyond to ensure that we meet the needs of our customers.”

To be eligible to register a .eu name, applicants must meet certain requirements that have been established by the registry, including in-country presence. Companies with a principal place of business and organizations established within the European Community are eligible, as well as individuals who reside in the European Community.

Upon the launch of the .eu domain registration, there will be two 60-day phases of the sunrise period during which only public bodies (government entities) and those with recognized rights to a name (such as trademark holders) may register. Once the sunrise period ends, general registrations will be taken on a first-come first-served basis.

Registration of .eu domain names will only be available through an accredited .eu registrar. Network Solutions Europe, a subsidiary of Network Solutions, was accredited on August 17, 2005 to sell .eu domain name registrations through EURid, the Belgium-based non-profit organization selected by the European Commission to operate the new top level domain.