NeuStar
Encyclopedia
Neustar, Inc. is a provider of clearinghouse and directory services to the global communications and Internet industries.
Within the United States and Canada, Neustar operates the authoritative directories that manage virtually all telephone area codes and numbers, and enables the routing of calls among thousands of competing Communications Service Provider
s (CSPs). All telecommunications service providers (TSPs) that offer telecommunications services to the public at large must access the Neustar clearinghouse to properly route virtually all of their customers’ calls. Also, Neustar provides clearinghouse services to emerging CSPs, including Internet service provider
s (ISPs), mobile network operator
s, cable television
operators, and voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) service providers.
Neustar offers internal and external managed DNS
services that play a key role in directing and managing traffic on the Internet, manages the authoritative directories for the .us
and .biz
Internet domains, and acts as the worldwide "registry gateway" for China's .cn
and Taiwan's .tw
Internet domains outside of these two countries. Neustar also provides back end registry services for .co
Top Level Domain. Neustar manages a collection of these directories that maintain addresses to direct, prioritize and manage Internet traffic, and find and resolve Internet queries and top-level domains on behalf of its enterprise customers. Neustar serves as the provider of registry services and manages directories of similar resources, or addresses, that its customers use for access and connectivity.
Neustar also operates the authoritative directory for U.S. Common Short Codes, part of the short messaging service (SMS) relied upon by the U.S. wireless industry, and provides solutions used by mobile network operators to enable mobile instant messaging for their end users.
Neustar provides the Digital Rights Locker for the consortium of Hollywood studios, consumer electronics manufacturers and retailers behind the UltraViolet digital content scheme to provide consumers with "buy once, play anywhere" capabilities. Neustar is also working with the Open Mobile Video Coalition(OMVC) to manage the Mobile DTV Trust Authority (MDTV). The MDTV will issue a hierarchy of digital certificates and provide secure, efficient and easy-to-use on-line systems to manage the full lifecycle of Mobile DTV trust relationships from registration to ordering, delivery, authentication, status checking and revocation.
s (CLECs), wireless service providers, and long distance carriers. The company also serves emerging communication service providers (CSPs) and providers of VoIP services.
In addition to serving traditional CSPs, Neustar also serves a growing number of customers who are either enablers of Internet services or providers of information and content to Internet and telephone users.
History
Neustar was incorporated in Delaware in 1998. It started as a business unit within Lockheed Martin Corporation. It spun off to keep the neutrality that was essential to its original core contract with the nation's telecommunications providers.Business overview
Neustar provides technology services upon which its carrier and enterprise customers rely to manage a range of technical and operating requirements. These services include:Within the United States and Canada, Neustar operates the authoritative directories that manage virtually all telephone area codes and numbers, and enables the routing of calls among thousands of competing Communications Service Provider
Communications Service Provider
A communications service provider or CSP is a service provider that transports information electronically. The term encompasses public and private companies in the telecom , Internet, cable, satellite, and managed services businesses.The market in which a communication service provider specializes...
s (CSPs). All telecommunications service providers (TSPs) that offer telecommunications services to the public at large must access the Neustar clearinghouse to properly route virtually all of their customers’ calls. Also, Neustar provides clearinghouse services to emerging CSPs, including Internet service provider
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
s (ISPs), mobile network operator
Mobile network operator
A mobile network operator , also known as mobile phone operator , carrier service provider , wireless service provider, wireless carrier, or cellular company, or mobile network carrier is a telephone company that provides services for mobile phone subscribers.One essential...
s, cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
operators, and voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) service providers.
Neustar offers internal and external managed DNS
Domain name system
The Domain Name System is a hierarchical distributed naming system for computers, services, or any resource connected to the Internet or a private network. It associates various information with domain names assigned to each of the participating entities...
services that play a key role in directing and managing traffic on the Internet, manages the authoritative directories for the .us
.us
.us is the Internet country code top-level domain for the United States and was established in 1985. Registrants of .us domains must be United States citizens, residents, or organizations, or a foreign entity with a presence in the United States...
and .biz
.biz
biz is a generic top-level domain in the Domain Name System of the Internet. It is intended for registration of domains to be used by businesses...
Internet domains, and acts as the worldwide "registry gateway" for China's .cn
.cn
.cn is the country code top-level domain for mainland China.The domain name administration in People's Republic of China is done through a branch of the Ministry of Information Industry. This ministry oversees everything from telecommunications to broadcasting similar to the Federal Communications...
and Taiwan's .tw
.tw
.tw is the Internet country code top-level domain for the Republic of China . The domain name is based on the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code TW. The registry is maintained by TWNIC. Registrations are accepted by commercial registrars...
Internet domains outside of these two countries. Neustar also provides back end registry services for .co
.co
.co is the country code top-level domain assigned to the Republic of Colombia. It is administered by .CO Internet S.A.S., a strategic venture formed between Arcelandia S.A. and Neustar, Inc...
Top Level Domain. Neustar manages a collection of these directories that maintain addresses to direct, prioritize and manage Internet traffic, and find and resolve Internet queries and top-level domains on behalf of its enterprise customers. Neustar serves as the provider of registry services and manages directories of similar resources, or addresses, that its customers use for access and connectivity.
Neustar also operates the authoritative directory for U.S. Common Short Codes, part of the short messaging service (SMS) relied upon by the U.S. wireless industry, and provides solutions used by mobile network operators to enable mobile instant messaging for their end users.
Neustar provides the Digital Rights Locker for the consortium of Hollywood studios, consumer electronics manufacturers and retailers behind the UltraViolet digital content scheme to provide consumers with "buy once, play anywhere" capabilities. Neustar is also working with the Open Mobile Video Coalition(OMVC) to manage the Mobile DTV Trust Authority (MDTV). The MDTV will issue a hierarchy of digital certificates and provide secure, efficient and easy-to-use on-line systems to manage the full lifecycle of Mobile DTV trust relationships from registration to ordering, delivery, authentication, status checking and revocation.
Customers
Neustar serves traditional providers of communications, including local exchange carriers (LECs), competitive local exchange carrierCompetitive local exchange carrier
A competitive local exchange carrier , in the United States, is a telecommunications provider company competing with other, already established carriers ....
s (CLECs), wireless service providers, and long distance carriers. The company also serves emerging communication service providers (CSPs) and providers of VoIP services.
In addition to serving traditional CSPs, Neustar also serves a growing number of customers who are either enablers of Internet services or providers of information and content to Internet and telephone users.
See also
- Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement ActCommunications Assistance for Law Enforcement ActThe Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act is a United States wiretapping law passed in 1994, during the presidency of Bill Clinton...
- CompuwareCompuwareCompuware Corporation is a software company with products aimed at the information technology departments of large businesses. The company's services also include testing, development, professional services automation, project and portfolio management, cloud-based collaboration and performance...
- NeotysNeotysNeotys develops software solutions to improve the quality and performance of information systems; its flagship solution, NeoLoad, tests the performance of web applications using customizable scenarios for load and stress...
- Keynote SigosKeynote SigosKeynote SIGOS GmbH is a German diversified technology-based telecommunications corporation and the leading supplier of mobile data network testing and active service monitoring systems to major wireless operators in Europe and around the world...
- PingdomPingdomPingdom is a service that tracks the uptime, downtime, and performance of websites. Based in Sweden, Pingdom monitors websites from multiple locations globally so that it can distinguish genuine downtime from routing and access problems....
Further reading
- NeuStar, Inc. (February 26, 2010), U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Form 10-K, FY2009, http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1265888/000095012310018171/w77295e10vk.htm