Moniker Launches New Domain Name Escrow and Transaction Service

August 23, 2007; 06:20 AM

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. /PRNewswire/ -- Moniker, the first and only provider of Domain Asset Management(TM) services, today announced the launch of its new, automated domain name escrow service. This launch marks another first in the industry innovation by Moniker.

"As a registrar and escrow agent, Moniker will act as a neutral, third party and will hold the domain and funds in a special escrow, secure account to maintain the integrity of the transaction as well as offer customization for payment plans and agreements, lease-to-purchase options and more," said Monte Cahn, co-founder and CEO of Moniker.com. "Moniker is the only company that offers true domain escrow. Our system can accommodate any kind of transaction, including regular domain purchases, leases, monthly payments, etc."

With Moniker's Domain Escrow Service, customers are guaranteed top-quality customer service and protection even if the transaction is not completed. Sellers are protected because Moniker maintains control of the domain until payment on the transaction is made. If the transaction falls through, sellers are immediately given control of the domain again.

Domain name buyers are also protected using Moniker's Domain Escrow Service. If a seller does not properly transfer a domain to escrow or to the new owner, Moniker will issue a full refund on a transaction. Moniker also validates ownership of the domain prior to transaction completion and can perform escrow services in more than 160 country code domain extensions world wide.

The new, easy-to-use system allows any domain buyer or seller to initiate an escrow transaction once a sale price has been agreed upon. Automated account updates are provided through the customer's Moniker account. The transaction can also be setup for automated funds transfers from Moniker account to expedite transaction wait times.

Moniker has opened its escrow account at one of the largest and most financially secure financial institutions, Citigroup, to bring buyers and sellers the utmost in security. Moniker was the first company to create and conceptualize the domain escrow process in 1996, and has now revolutionized the service for any type of domain transaction.

Information required to open an escrow transaction includes: e-mail addresses of both parties, sale price of the domain, and any corresponding payment terms. Moniker will produce the contracts and will verify both parties have fulfilled their obligations before finalizing the transaction and transferring assets.

Interested parties can find out more or start a new escrow transaction at http://www.moniker.com/aftermarket/domain-escrow.jsp

Building On 2007 and Continuing Momentum Into 2008

In 2007, Moniker has already hosted six domain name auctions at various industry events throughout the world including T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Las Vegas and the inaugural New York City show. Moniker also brought domain name auctions to new vertical markets including the Affiliate Summit in Miami, Fla., the Casino Affiliate Convention in Amsterdam and Internext Expo, the world's largest business-to-business online and digital media adult conference.

Moniker auctions have been incredibly successful, selling more than $40 million worth of domains throughout the events combined. In addition, bidding at these events has also led to the sale of some of the top domains of the year including:
    - Porn.com                 $9,500,000
    - CreditCheck.com          $3,000,000
    - Seniors.com              $1,800,000
    - Scores.com               $1,180,000

"T.R.A.F.F.I.C. NYC marked a milestone in Moniker's Live auction format as it was the first Live auction to surpass the $10 million mark, and it happened in less than four hours," Cahn noted. "With every auction, we strive to surpass previous records and give our customers the best possible experience each time."

Beyond Moniker's success at the domain name auctions, Moniker's Marketplace has also been a platform that many of the top domain name investors have turned to for premium domains. Moniker's Marketplace inventory contains millions of names ensures that individuals interested in purchasing a domain can find the best names to match their business niche and budget.

Mark Your Calendar: Remaining 2007 Domain Name Auctions

Moniker will continue to host a variety of domain name auctions at industry events and conferences around the country this year. Upcoming events include:

Event                            Auction Type           Date                         Location
T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Miami Premium Domains    October 8-12, 2007   Miami
                                     Live & Silent
                                      Auctions

Associated Cities        GeoDomains         November 15-17, 2007     San Francisco
GeoDomain Expo       Live & Silent
                                     Auctions

Casino Affiliate     Casino Domains     November 28-29, 2007     Macau, China
Convention           Silent Auction


WebmasterWorld       Premium Domains    December 4-7, 2007   Las Vegas
                                     Live & Silent
                                     Auctions

Official rules and procedures for all Moniker Live and Silent Auctions
can be found by visiting http://marketplacepro.moniker.com/auction/index.html.

About Moniker.com

Moniker is the first and only provider of Domain Asset Management(TM), a complete set of business services that provide companies a single-point-of- access to help manage and maximize the value of their domains. These services include name creation, registration, acquisition, portfolio management, appraisal and escrow services, traffic monetization and after-market sales - all backed by unsurpassed customer service and security.

With more than a decade of experience, Moniker is a top 10 domain registrar, holds the industry's highest customer retention rate and pioneered the industry's first domain appraisal formula. It is considered the industry's premier marketplace to buy and sell domain names.

Moniker, with headquarters in Pompano Beach, Florida, is an operating unit of Seevast Corporation, a company of marketing services firms that drive sales, build brands and leverage core assets for their clients.

SOURCE Moniker