I have no idea how old BNLS really is. It's more than 2 years.
But I wrote BNLSProtocolSpec.txt in June 2002.

Btw, we're thinking of modifying BNLS so it doesn't require accounts (like it was before July 28, 2002). Oh, we don't want your opinion about it or anything. I just wanted to say this to create some mass hysteria and laugh at it later.

The first mention I have of BNLS is from Skywing in my MSN Messenger logs.

April 4 2002 (was discussing future plans for my clients when Skywing mentions this):
[quote]Skywing says:
use BNLS
Skywing says:
BNLS is the best thing ever
Spht says:
What's BNLS?
Skywing says:
battle.net logon server
Skywing says:
super neat[/quote]

About a week later (after several server bug fixes) EternalChat supports Warcraft III Beta using BNLS.

[quote author=Spht link=board=17;threadid=7299;start=0#msg65696 date=1087504223]
The first mention I have of BNLS is from Skywing in my MSN Messenger logs.

April 4 2002 (was discussing future plans for my clients when Skywing mentions this):
[quote]Skywing says:
use BNLS
Skywing says:
BNLS is the best thing ever
Spht says:
What's BNLS?
Skywing says:
battle.net logon server
Skywing says:
super neat[/quote]

About a week later (after several server bug fixes) EternalChat supports Warcraft III Beta using BNLS.
[/quote]

you keep logs from that long ago?

My April 2002 logs are really neat.

[quote][06:11:11] Skywing: Major breakthrough if they're supporting NLS for all clients now.
[06:11:24] Skywing: Everything according to plan if that happens!
[06:11:28] Yoni: hehe
[06:11:30] Moonshine: omg
[06:11:32] Moonshine: your evil
[06:11:37] Skywing: Yes.[/quote]

And of course

[quote][07:46:41] Skywing: can you take care of maintaining BNLS while I'm gone in case something really gay happens like evil crash bug?[/quote]

You and skywing should feel very proud Yoni...