Sign in Subscribe
Software industry

Centraal Corp. Secures $13 Million in Investment from Network Solutions, Compaq, and Amerindo

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Network Solutions, Inc. (NSI), Compaq Computer Corp., and Amerindo Investment Partners have invested $13 million in Centraal Corp., a Palo Alto, Calif.-based Internet domain name service provider. As part of the deal, NSI will gain a 20% stake in Centraal and appoint one member to Centraal's board. NSI will also market Centraal's RealNames Web navigation service, which enables Web site owners to direct Internet traffic to their sites using their brand names and trademarks.

Key Takeaways:

  • Centraal Corp. has received a $13 million investment from NSI, Compaq, and Amerindo, with NSI gaining a 20% stake in the company.
  • NSI will appoint one member to Centraal's board and market Centraal's RealNames Web navigation service.
  • RealNames enables Web site owners to direct Internet traffic to their sites using their brand names and trademarks.
  • NSI will offer the RealNames service through its channels and marketing programs, including the Alliance, Premier, and Affiliate channels in the U.S. and abroad.
  • Keith Teare, CEO of Centraal, described RealNames as a "multilingual" service that translates information at the Web site into the user's language.
  • Doug Wolford, NSI's senior vice president-sales and marketing, stated that a company is "nowhere" until it has a "domain name" and that RealNames helps generate traffic to the site.
  • NSI and Centraal are described as the "yin and yang" of the Internet domain name space, with NSI providing domain name registration and Centraal providing a service directing users to Web sites.

Statistics:

  • Investment amount: $13 million
  • Parent company stake: 20% (NSI in Centraal)
  • Number of board members to be appointed by NSI: 1
  • Number of marketing channels: 3 (Alliance, Premier, and Affiliate)
  • Geographic coverage: U.S. and abroad
  • Language support: Multilingual (Keith Teare's statement)

Sources:

  • "NSI, Compaq and Amerindo Invest $13 Million in Centraal Corp.", no date given, but mentioned as a previous action
  • Keith Teare, interview and conference call, no date given, in relation to the RealNames service

Read more