Network Solutions says the 100-year plan would save customers more than 70 percent on its standard yearly rate. However, the $9.99 rate is only available to customers of the 100-year plan. The company does not appear to be focused on competing for price, as its standard yearly rate of $34.99 is considerably more than the lowest rates, many of them in the range of $6.

According to Network Solutions, the service is designed to ensure that domains cannot be allowed to expire, either by accident or by oversight. The service works by registering the domain for the maximum time allowable by the registry, adding years to the term on an annual basis until the full 100 years has expired.

The Network Solutions Web site says the offer is not transferable or refundable, and that if a customer were to transfer registration, "The number of registration years that transfer to a new registrar will be the current term of the registration at the time of transfer, as reflected in WHOIS."

In a blurb on its site, the company says the 100-year service "is perfect for individuals or businesses that place a high value on keeping their domain registration indefinitely, and don't want to worry about losing their registration because they didn't open a renewal notice or have their credit card information up-to-date."

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