DynDNS

Dynamic Network Services, Inc. is a network services company best-known for its free DynDNS dynamic DNS service, which allows users to have a subdomain that points to a computer with regularly-changing IP addresses, such as those served by many consumer-level Internet service providers. An update client installed on the user's computer, or built into a networked device such as a router or webcam, generally keeps the hostname up to date with its current IP address. DynDNS also offers paid domain registrations, recursive DNS, e-mail forwarding and redirection, SSL certificates, network monitoring, and URL redirection.

History
Dynamic Network Services was started in 1998 as a free service; within 3 years it had 20,000 users and has grown well past the two million milestone and keeps expanding at an ever-increasing pace. The first paid offerings cost a one-time fee of US$30 through PayPal for unlimited use. The company grew to the point where they began accepting credit cards and changed the fee structure for services (paid services now have a yearly fee).

The company became a Massachusetts limited liability company on October 24 2001. In July, 2003, the company reorganized into a Delaware corporation. On April 1, 2004, the company moved from Worcester, Massachusetts, to Sundial Avenue in Manchester, New Hampshire, in order to provide office space for expansion.

In 2006, the company moved again to a location on Elm Street in Manchester, New Hampshire, with nearly triple the space of the previous office.

Third-party usage
The DynDNS update API is used by many other businesses and systems. Released as an open system, the intent was to allow easy control by third-party developers. Since its inception in 1998, the DynDNS API has been used by a number of different applications and companies, including OpenDNS and No-IP.org.

A number of router manufacturers have adopted the API to include update capabilities in their devices, including Linksys, Netgear, D-Link, Sonicwall, Belkin, Acorp and many others. Due to the open nature of the API, clients are not regulated and therefore it is impossible to track how many different devices support the API.

There is a certification program available for third-party products, but certification under the program is not required for use of the API.

In May 2004, the company started providing DNS services for top-level domains, starting with the .cx TLD. DynDNS is also the sole Domain Name System (DNS) provider for the .coop TLD.

The company also provides DNS for several other TLDs: Christmas Islands (.cx), Mauritius (.mu), Solomon Islands (.sb), as well as of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (.tl).

Awards

 * In April 2006, DynDNS received a "Best Buy" rating and a perfect 10 out of 10 rating on Overall Value, Performance, and Ease of Use from the Consumer Guide.


 * In January 2007, DynDNS was named "One of Business NH Magazine's Best Company to Work For in NH"


 * In September 2007, DynDNS was ranked 73rd in the US among the "Top Companies in Telecommunications" and 11th overall in New Hampshire by trade publication Inc., thanks to a 208.7% growth rate since 2003.


 * Also in September 2007, DynDNS was listed on the new Inc. 5000 list, an add-on to the Inc. 500 list, which is for companies that have seen stellar growth during the past several years.


 * In December 2007, DynDNS was rated the number one small business to work for in NH by Business New Hampshire magazine.