A wait-listing service (WLS) provided by a domain name registry provides the ability to option a domain name that is already registered.
A move to introduce this service by ICANN-accredited registries drew fire in 2003 as anti-competitive.
Currently domain name registrars provide a similar, non-guaranteed service by continually querying the registry if a domain name is available.
If it should become available, the registrar quickly tries to register the domain to the new party.
The Waiting List Service was proposed as an ICANN service by Verisign on March 21, 2002, and requested ICANN to include the WLS in the .com and .net registry agreements for a $35 subscription fee.