2008 press releases

During 2008, the UK’s largest web hosting group, Webfusion, has achieved many milestones across its various brands; Webfusion, 123-reg, Donhost and SupaNames covering all market segments and with a management team that has extensive hosting industry experience.

2008 has seen the Webfusion group continually invest in its infrastructure to create stability across its platforms and support upgraded product ranges such as the launch of the revamped Webfusion shared and dedicated hosting packages. As well as upgrading its products, customer service has also seen a revamp. Call centre management for example, has increased its service levels to 93.3 percent in July compared to 30 percent in April the previous year.

There has also been a variety of significant launches for the group this year. Donhost launched its new website in 2008, November saw the US launch of Webfusion and January will see the doors of its brand new, £2 million data centre in Leeds open. Efficiency has also proven to be a key word for Webfusion in 2008 with the consolidation of its Manchester servers into the new 24/7/365 facility.

Thomas Vollrath, Managing Director of the Webfusion group explains, “2008 has been a year of stability and improved efficiency at Webfusion. We have invested a lot of time and effort in making sure, no matter what we do, the customer benefits from it in the end. Making sure our new data centre is in the UK for example, benefits customer service whilst also allowing us to consolidate our servers from Manchester and Harbour exchange there.

“We now offer even more choice for those businesses looking to set up online. Because of our improved efficiencies and the VAT reductions we have been able to pass on the cost savings to our customers, take for example the price reductions on our WebFusion and Donhost dedicated servers.”

In the domain name realm, 2008 has seen 123-reg.co.uk continue to reign as the UK’s largest domain registrar and introduced many new Top Level Domains (TLDs). Expanding its product range across Europe and Asia, 123-reg now include .cn (China), .dk (Denmark), .it (Italy), .at (Austria) and .ch (Switzerland) domains. July saw the launch of .me and other popular offers included the.eu and .info domains. WebFusion has also launched a domain parking facility.

About Webfusion

Webfusion Group Ltd is the largest web hosting organisation in the UK with 1.9 million hosted websites and almost 2 million registered domains. Webfusion offers cost-effective, feature-rich hosting packages for a diverse customer-base – from web developers, designers and hobbyists to businesses with complex e-commerce operations. Webfusion’s customers benefit from market-leading security and service, including 24×7 technical support and state-of-the-art data centres.

For more information, please visit www.webfusion.co.uk

Webfusion slashes the cost of its Fusion Professional and Fusion Developer shared hosting packages to help pass on VAT savings to its customers. For a limited time only, Webfusion customers can take advantage of six months at half price on any annual contract*. For as little as £4.48* per month customers can use the shared hosting packages to create effective websites.

Thomas Vollrath, Managing Director at Webfusion explains, “Online trade is still booming in the face of the credit crunch, so there are plenty of opportunities for e-tailers. On 1 December 08, a record 4.6 million online transactions were made and now the cost of setting up online shouldn’t deter any novice or expert user from gaining a slice of this action.

“The upgraded Webfusion shared hosting packages can benefit a wide range of users. Increased capabilities, such as larger webspace and data transfer rates, offer greater choice for customers. Coupled with our price reductions, customers will get a very competitive package with the high standards of support and service they expect from Webfusion.”

Customers taking advantage of the offer can choose either Windows or Linux platforms. Both packages include essential hosting features that help to build an effective website, including a free .co.uk domain, free set up, a 99.99% uptime guarantee and up to 20GB web space. Users also benefit from free 24/7 comprehensive support via the Webfusion website, customer service helpline and email.

All packages offer a thirty-day money back guarantee.

* For full terms and conditions please visit http://www.webfusion.co.uk

About Webfusion

Webfusion offers cost-effective, feature-rich hosting packages for a diverse customer-base – from web developers, designers and hobbyists to businesses with complex e-commerce operations. Webfusion’s customers benefit from market-leading security and service, including 24×7 technical support and state-of-the-art data centres.

For more information, please visit www.webfusion.co.uk

123-reg is offering three months free on its shared hosting solutions this winter. The offer is available on Starter Plus and Starter Pro shared hosting packages as well as the InstantSite Pro website building tool when customers sign up for 12 months.*

Alongside hosting reliability, Starter Plus and Starter Pro from 123-reg also give users free webmail, free web analytics, a £30 Google AdWords voucher and a £50 Microsoft adCenter voucher.

InstantSite Pro helps users create a professional website in just five easy steps. Users can set up an online shop, share photos online, upload their CV or even start their very own social networking revolution. Features such as blogs, forums, photo galleries, web polls and surveys provide users with all the tools they need to get their website online quickly and easily.

*Terms and conditions apply. Please see website for details.

About 123-reg

123-reg, the UK´s number 1 registrar with over 1.9 million domain names, leads the market in both domain name registration and web hosting solutions.

With extensive experience of the industry, the company is able to offer high quality, technically-advanced yet cost-effective products to both businesses and consumers.

For further information, please visit www.123-reg.co.uk

Customers have only two weeks left to take advantage of the substantial discounts on Webfusion’s Dell dedicated server packages*. For the month of September, both Linux and Windows users can save up to an impressive £960 a year for the lifetime of the account, with discounted packages starting at £89.99 per month (excl. VAT).

Webfusion’s dedicated servers use Dell’s highly reputable and reliable hardware giving users the confidence of 99.9 per cent uptime. Up to 8Gb of RAM and fast SAS disks are on offer, running at up to 15,000rpm. Customers also have access to a Tier 1 network, world class, UK-based data centres and managed services, such as a fully managed Cisco firewall.

The dedicated servers come with an option of either fully managed or full root level access, providing users with complete control and flexibility. Packages also include unlimited bandwidth, unmetered traffic, two dedicated UK IP addresses, Webalizer statistics and FREE comprehensive UK-based 24/7 support services, as well as free patching and software upgrades.

*Terms and conditions apply. Please see website for details.

Price comparison table (prices exclude VAT):

About Webfusion

Voted the most reliable UK hosting company by Netcraft in January 2008, Webfusion offers cost-effective, feature-rich hosting packages for a diverse customer-base – from web developers, designers and hobbyists to businesses with complex e-commerce operations. Webfusion’s customers benefit from market-leading security and service, including 24×7 technical support and state-of-the-art UK data centres.

For more information, please visit http://www.webfusion.co.uk

E-tailers must ensure secure payment facilities are offered as increasing numbers of consumers recognise the dangers of online fraud. According to research from the UK’s largest domain registrar, 123-reg, payment gateways are the first thing customers look for when deciding if to trust a website.

Following a survey of just over 500 online shoppers, 50 per cent identified that a recognisable payment gateway is the first point of trust they look for. Paypal, has become a household name since its purchase by eBay, so when potential customers see the Paypal logo it inspires the confidence to buy.

Other elements participants cited when identifying a website’s trustworthiness are; listing a postal address (13.5 per cent), listing a contact telephone number (10.8 per cent) and having terms and conditions (10.5 per cent).

“It’s imperative for the online customer to know that their payment details are being processed securely,” says Thomas Vollrath, Managing Director at 123-reg. “It gives customers the confidence to purchase from a website when they recognise trusted brand logo’s, such as Paypal and WorldPay. Coverage of online fraud in the press has raised the profile of the issue to a level that is now at the forefront of an online shopper’s mind.”

123-reg offers a range of payment processing facilities in its ecommerce packages including Paypal, Paypal Express and Pro, WorldPay, Google Checkout and ClickandBuy.

About 123-reg

123-reg, the UK´s number 1 registrar with over 1.9 million domain names, leads the market in both domain name registration and web hosting solutions.

With extensive experience of the industry, the company is able to offer high quality, technically-advanced yet cost-effective products to both businesses and consumers.

For further information, please visit www.123-reg.co.uk

Webfusion has teamed up with Dell to offer substantial discounts on its dedicated server packages*. For the month of September, both Linux and Windows users can save up to an impressive £960 a year for the lifetime of the account, with discounted packages starting at £89.99 per month (excl. VAT).

Webfusion’s dedicated servers use Dell’s highly reputable and reliable hardware giving users the confidence of 99.9 per cent uptime. The dedicated servers are specifically designed for performance with up to 8Gb of RAM and fast SAS disks, running at up to 15,000rpm. Customers also have access to a Tier 1 network, world class, UK-based data centres and managed services, such as a fully managed Cisco firewall.

The dedicated servers come with an option of either fully managed or full root level access, providing users with complete control and flexibility. Unlimited bandwidth and unmetered traffic mean the dedicated servers are ideal for business critical websites, such as e-commerce, travel or local authority sites – as well as for bandwidth hungry and highly popular websites likely to see huge spikes in demand. Instant activation means users can be up and running quickly and easily.

Thomas Vollrath, managing director at Webfusion, comments, “We’re really excited to be offering this discount to our customer. In today’s economic climate, many businesses are feeling the pinch and we’re happy to be supporting our customers through this period. Webfusion’s dedicated servers continue to provide a reliable platform for businesses of all sizes, high-end users or resellers dealing with business websites.”

Each package comes complete with two dedicated UK IP addresses as well as MySQL, FTP server and Webalizer statistics applications. Subscribers can either pay monthly or on an annual basis and will benefit from free set-up with annual payment plans, UK based 24/7 online, email and telephone support services, as well as free patching and software upgrades.

*Terms and conditions apply.

Price comparison table (prices exclude VAT):

About Webfusion

Voted the most reliable UK hosting company by Netcraft in January 2008, Webfusion offers cost-effective, feature-rich hosting packages for a diverse customer-base – from web developers, designers and hobbyists to businesses with complex e-commerce operations. Webfusion’s customers benefit from market-leading security and service, including 24×7 technical support and state-of-the-art UK data centres.

For more information, please visit http://www.webfusion.co.uk

123-reg has increased security for its domain name customers, offering a WHOIS Privacy service. WHOIS Privacy hides domain owner information from public view when the domain is registered, keeping all personal information secure.

When a domain is registered, information such as names, addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers are viewable through the publicly searchable WHOIS database. Costing just £4.99 a year, WHOIS Privacy replaces this information with its own private details. This protects users against various threats, such as domain name renewal scams, as fraudsters don’t have access to information such as the domain expiry date from WHOIS.

Initially available for .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz, .name*, .me, .cc and .tv domains, individuals registering a .uk domain can also hide their details using the WHOIS opt-out option offered during the order process. Once purchased, the WHOIS Privacy function can be turned on and off as the user requires.

WHOIS Privacy can be ordered either during the order process of a new domain or through an existing domain’s 123-reg control panel. Users are allocated an email address so people with legitimate queries can still get in touch. Messages are then forwarded onto the user’s main email address. WHOIS Privacy adds to the other fraud-fighting features 123-reg currently offers such as auto-renewal and domain locking.

*Please note that you must wait 5 days after registering a .name domain before you can add WHOIS privacy.

About 123-reg

123-reg, the UK´s number 1 registrar with over 1.9 million domain names, leads the market in both domain name registration and web hosting solutions.

With extensive experience of the industry, the company is able to offer high quality, technically-advanced yet cost-effective products to both businesses and consumers.

For further information, please visit www.123-reg.co.uk

Donhost and .net magazine have teamed up on a mission to find the ‘Design Agency of the Year’ for the .net magazine Awards 2008. Running for the past ten years, the .net awards combine both public and expert opinion to find the best of what the web has to offer.

20 design agencies have made it through to the final public vote. Votes can now be cast at http://www.thenetawards.com/until 13 October. The resulting top three from the public vote are then put forward to an expert panel of judges who will whittle down the finalists to find a winner. This year’s judging panel includes experts from The New York Times, Yahoo!, BBC and Microsoft. The winner will be announced in the 9 December issue of .net magazine.

From ‘Mashup of the year’ to ‘Best blog of the year’ the .net Awards celebrate the best in web design and development. Last year over 60,000 votes were cast and this year looks set to attract even more than ever.

Thomas Vollrath, Managing Director at Donhost comments, “We are thrilled to be part of the .net Awards. ‘Design Agency of the Year’ is a highly competitive category and we are excited to find out who will come out on top. The judging panel is vastly experienced, so I know whichever agency wins the award will definitely deserve it!”

About Donhost

Donhost provides high-end server and reseller accounts plus business hosting. All packages include everything you need to build advanced websites. And if you need help, Donhost’s expert support team is available 24/7, every day of the year. In short, you can rely on Donhost to take care of your site.

For more information please visit http://www.donhost.co.uk

123-reg puts some sunshine into summer with a massive price slash on professional hosting. For a limited time only, 123-reg is reducing the price of its Starter Pro shared hosting package to just £1 a month for the first six months of a 12 month package*.

Starter Pro shared hosting offers all the features you need to launch your business website. With generous storage of up to 500MB of web space, 5,000MB traffic bandwidth and 35 mailboxes with free webmail, Starter Pro is the biggest of 123-reg’s starter hosting packages ideal for small business users and developers.

123-reg also offers Starter Pro customers up to £30 free Google AdWords pay per click advertising to help drive targeted traffic to your website.

*Terms and conditions apply. Please see website for details.

About 123-reg

123-reg, the UK´s number 1 registrar with over 1.9 million domain names, leads the market in both domain name registration and web hosting solutions.

With extensive experience of the industry, the company is able to offer high quality, technically-advanced yet cost-effective products to both businesses and consumers.

For further information, please visit www.123-reg.co.uk

Webfusion has revamped its entire shared hosting range and, for a limited time only, is slashing the cost of the range with savings of up to 40 per cent. Businesses can now create a more comprehensive and interactive website from just £3.95 per month thanks to Webfusion’s increased webspace allowance and larger data transfer rates. For keen developers, more MySQL databases and up to 5000 mailboxes mean greater choice for the advanced user.

“The upgraded range of hosting packages will benefit a wide range of users, from beginners to experts,” comments Thomas Vollrath, Managing Director at Webfusion. “With the increased capabilities, coupled with our price reductions, customers will get a very competitive package with the support and service they expect from Webfusion.”

Users have the option to either pay monthly or on an annual basis along with 24-hour account activation and 24/7 UK-based support services. All packages offer a thirty-day money back guarantee.

Prices are exclusive of VAT. For full terms and conditions please visit www.webfusion.co.uk/webhosting.

About Webfusion

Voted the most reliable UK hosting company by Netcraft in January 2008, WebFusion offers cost-effective, feature-rich hosting packages for a diverse customer-base – from web developers, designers and hobbyists to businesses with complex e-commerce operations. WebFusion’s customers benefit from market-leading security and service, including 24×7 technical support and state-of-the-art data centres.

For more information, please visit www.webfusion.co.uk