Domain registration

A domain name registry, is a database of all domain names registered in a top-level domain. A registry operator, also called a Network Information Center (NIC), is the part of the Domain Name System (DNS) of the Internet that keeps the database of domain names, and generates the zone files which convert domain names to IP addresses. Each NIC is an organisation that manages the registration of Domain names within the top-level domains for which it is responsible, controls the policies of domain name allocation, and technically operates its top-level domain. It is potentially distinct from a domain name registrar. [1]
Domain names are managed under a hierarchy headed by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), which manages the top of the DNS tree by administrating the data in the root nameservers.
IANA also operates the .int registry for intergovernmental organisations, the .arpa zone for protocol administration purposes, and other critical zones such as root-servers.net.
IANA delegates all other domain name authority to other domain name registries such as VeriSign.
Some name registries are government departments (e.g., the registry for Sri Lanka nic.lk). Some are co-operatives of internet service providers (such as DENIC) or not-for profit companies (such as Nominet UK). Others operate as commercial organizations, such as the US registry (nic.us).
The allocated and assigned domain names are made available by registries by use of the WHOIS system and via their Domain name servers.
Some registries sell the names directly (like SWITCH in Switzerland) and others rely on separate entities to sell them. For example, names in the .com TLD are in some sense sold "wholesale" at a regulated price by VeriSign, and individual domain name registrar sell names "retail" to businesses and consumers.

European fine sends Intel into the red

Intel reported a net loss of 398 million dollars for the April-June period after being hit with a 1.45-billion-dollar fine in May for allegedly abusing its stranglehold on the semiconductor market to crush its main rival, AMD.

Intel said that excluding the effects of the European Commission fine, it recorded earnings per share of 18 cents for the quarter, better than the eight cents per share expected by Wall Street analysts.

"Intel's second-quarter results reflect improving conditions in the PC market segment with our strongest first- to second-quarter growth since 1988 and a clear expectation for a seasonally stronger second half," Intel president and chief executive Paul Otellini said in a statement.

"Intel's strategy of investing in new technologies and innovative products, combined with ongoing focus on operating efficiencies, continues to yield benefits that are evident in our strengthening financial performance," he said.

Intel reported second-quarter revenue of eight billion dollars -- up from 7.14 billion dollars in the first quarter -- and a net profit of one billion dollars excluding the European Commission fine.

The European Commission, Europe's top competition watchdog, accused Intel of using illegal loyalty rebates to squeeze rivals out of the market for central processing units (CPUs) -- the brains inside personal computers.

The Santa Clara, California-based company dominated the 30-billion-dollar market for the ubiquitous x86 CPUs with a 70-percent share during the more than five years it was accused of breaking EU antitrust rules.

The commission said Intel had used wholly or partially hidden rebates to get PC makers such as Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo and NEC to buy all or almost all their CPU supplies from Intel instead of US rival Advanced Micro Devices (AMD).

Intel said it expected revenue of 8.5 billion dollars in the current quarter, better than the 7.79 billion dollars forecast by analysts.

It said revenue from its Atom microprocessors and chipsets was 362 million dollars in the April-June period, up 65 percent over the previous quarter.

It said its gross margin was 50.8 percent in the second quarter, higher than expectations and the 45.6 percent in the key indicator recorded in the first quarter.

Intel said it expected an even better gross margin of 53 percent plus or minus two percentage points in the current quarter.