Changes

== History ==

== History ==

* 1993 Tucows began in Flint, Michigan. It was originally started by [[Scott Swedorski]] as a website to offer software on a freeware or shareware basis.

* '''1993''' Tucows began in Flint, Michigan. It was originally started by [[Scott Swedorski]] as a website to offer software on a freeware or shareware basis.

* 1995 Tucows is aquired by Toronto based ISP Internet Direct.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_gx5202/is_2007/ai_n19123779/ Tucows aquired by ISP Internet Direct]</ref>

* '''1995''' Tucows is aquired by Toronto-based ISP Internet Direct.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_gx5202/is_2007/ai_n19123779/ Tucows aquired by ISP Internet Direct]</ref>

* 1999 Tucows is accredited by [[ICANN]] as a domain name registrar.

* '''1999''' Tucows is accredited by [[ICANN]] as a domain name registrar.

* 2000 Tucows launched an OpenSRS platform and began accepting domain name registrations from [[ISP]]s and web hosting companies.<ref>[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-56905150.html Tucows launches OpenSRS]</ref>

* '''2000''' Tucows launches an Open[[SRS]] platform and began accepting domain name registrations from [[ISP]]s and web hosting companies.<ref>[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-56905150.html Tucows launches OpenSRS]</ref>

* 2001 Tucows merges with Infonautics, Inc., an internet information services company.<ref>[http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/nbreader.asp?ArticleID=17104 Tucows merged with Infonautics] </ref>  

* '''2001''' Tucows merges with Infonautics, Inc., an internet information services company.<ref>[http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/nbreader.asp?ArticleID=17104 Tucows merged with Infonautics] </ref>  

* 2006 Tucows acquires [[NetIdentity]]. At that time [[NetIdentity]] owned 68 percent of all US and European surnames.<ref>[http://seekingalpha.com/article/12y87-tucows-podcast-on-its-netidentity-acquisition-transcript Tucows acquires NetIdentity]</ref>

* '''2006''' Tucows acquires [[NetIdentity]]. At the time, [[NetIdentity]] owned 68% of all US and European surname domain names.<ref>[http://seekingalpha.com/article/12787-tucows-podcast-on-its-netidentity-acquisition-transcript Tucows acquires NetIdentity]</ref>

* 2007 Tucows acquires ItsYourDomain.com,, a privately held [[ICANN]] accredited wholesale registrar offering domain services through a network of over 2,500 affiliates with over 700,000 domains under management.<ref>[http://blog.domaintools.com/2007/07/itsyourdomain-acquired-by-tucows/ Tucows acquires ItsYourDomain.com]</ref>

* 2007 Tucows acquires ItsYourDomain.com,, a privately held [[ICANN]]-accredited wholesale registrar offering domain services through a network of over 2,500 affiliates with over 700,000 domains under management.<ref>[http://blog.domaintools.com/2007/07/itsyourdomain-acquired-by-tucows/ Tucows acquires ItsYourDomain.com]</ref>

* 2008 Tucows launches [[Hover.com]]. Tucows discontinues ItsYourDomain.com, NetIdentity, and DomainDirect, merges them, and forms Hover.<ref>[http://tucowsinc.com/news/2008/12/say-hello-to-hover/ Tucows launches Hover.com]</ref>

* 2008 Tucows launches [[Hover.com]]. Tucows discontinues ItsYourDomain.com, NetIdentity, and DomainDirect, merges them, and forms Hover.<ref>[http://tucowsinc.com/news/2008/12/say-hello-to-hover/ Tucows launches Hover.com]</ref>

* 2008 Tucows announces the launch of [[Butterscotch.com]], an online video network with video tutorials to explain internet technology.<ref>[http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2008/06/c5625.html Tucows announces launch of Butterscotch.com]</ref>

* 2008 Tucows announces the launch of [[Butterscotch.com]], an online video network with video tutorials to explain internet technology.<ref>[http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2008/06/c5625.html Tucows announces launch of Butterscotch.com]</ref>

*2010 Tucows announces that it has undertaken a "Dutch auction" to purchase 3.9 million shares of its stock for a $.70 per share. <ref>[http://tucowsinc.com/news/ TUCOWS]</ref>

* 2010 Tucows announces that it has undertaken a "Dutch auction" to purchase 3.9 million shares of its stock for a $.70 per share.<ref>[http://tucowsinc.com/news/ Tucows]</ref>

==Business==

==Business==

Apart from Tucows.com, Tucows also owns many other sites:

Apart from Tucows.com, Tucows also owns many other sites:

* http://www.opensrs.com/ : A platform for resellers.

* [http://www.opensrs.com/ opensrs.com]: A platform for resellers.

* http://www.ispbilling.com/ : Platypus billing system for ISP, WISP and Web Hosting Business.

* [http://www.ispbilling.com/ ispbilling.com]: Platypus billing system for ISP, WISP and Web Hosting Business.

* http://www.butterscotch.com/ : An online video network with video tutorials to explain internet technology.

* [http://www.butterscotch.com/ butterscotch.com]: An online video network with video tutorials to explain internet technology.

* http://www.yummynames.com/ : Domain name registration service.

* [http://www.yummynames.com/ yummynames.com]: Domain name registration service.

* https://www.hover.com/ : Domain name registration service.

* [https://www.hover.com/ hover.com]: Domain name registration service.

== Products and Services offered by Tucows==

== Products and Services offered by Tucows==

According to their official website, Tucows provides domain names, email and other services through an extensive reseller network, called OpenSRS. They sell these services directly to consumers and small businesses through a retail group known as Hover.

According to their official website, Tucows provides domain names, email and other services through an extensive reseller network called OpenSRS. They sell these services directly to consumers and small businesses through a retail group known as Hover.

OpenSRS manages over ten million domain names, millions of mailboxes for a network of over 10,000 web hosts, [[ISP]]s, and other resellers around the world.

OpenSRS manages over ten million domain names, millions of mailboxes for a network of over 10,000 web hosts, [[ISP]]s, and other resellers around the world.

YummyNames oversees the tens of thousands of domain names owned by Tucows. YummyNames offers domain name consulting services specifically designed for marketers, along with sales and leasing of premium domains from the Tucows portfolio through the YummyNames website.

YummyNames oversees the tens of thousands of domain names owned by Tucows. YummyNames offers domain name consulting services specifically designed for marketers, along with the sales and leasing of premium domains from the Tucows portfolio through the YummyNames website.

Platypus Billing System is specifically designed for ISP, WISP and Web Hosting business.

Platypus Billing System is specifically designed for [[ISP]], [[WISP]] and Web Hosting business.

Butterscotch.com is an online video network with video tutorials to explain internet technology.

Butterscotch.com is an online video network with video tutorials to explain internet technology.

* [https://www.hover.com/ Hover]

* [https://www.hover.com/ Hover]

* [http://www.butterscotch.com/ Butterscotch]

* [http://www.butterscotch.com/ Butterscotch]

[[Category: Companies]]

[[Category: Companies]]

[[Category: Registrars]]

[[Category: Registrars]]

[[Category: Past Sponsor]]

[[Category: Past Sponsor]]