Archive
Business.com sells for $350 million
The internet market is hot. Business.com, one of the most valuable domain names in the planet, and all of its business has been acquired by R.H. Donnelley Corp. Bidders included Dow Jones Corp. and NY Times.
I am surprised that no major internet company was mentioned as a bidder of such a valuable internet asset. Yahoo! would’ve been an ideal owner and they have $2.4 billion in cash sitting in their vault. Even Murdoch could’ve used such a great domain to fuel his Internet vision.
The sale of $350 million seems to be a bargain when you consider that Facebook has received and refused much higher offers, despite Facebook’s major asset being memberships, which historically have proven to be fickle.
Congratulations to R.H. Donnelley and to all involved in the sale.
Domain Name Story on Fox News and CNN
The woman was certainly not a domain expert, but it goes to show that domain names are getting some attention in the general population.
CNN Story:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/biztech/07/23/domain.name.dealing.ap/index.html
.info on demand
.info, the extension for informational websites has scored a major sale with travel.info for $116,000. The sale took place in Sedo and marks the biggest .info sale ever. Another rumor is surfacing on a $70,000 .info sold.
The .info extension is a logical choice for companies looking to make a distinction between the crowded commercial (.com) space and the purely informational website. I expect .info sales, especially one word .infos, to continue their strong growth in value.
Travel.com would have a prohibitive price tag of several million dollars if you are lucky to convince the owner to sell. The same goes for most high quality generics. On the other hand, high quality .info generics are available in the market for about $10,000 to $40,000.
Being Master of your Domain, no longer enough
As the ICANN meeting ended, I’ve gotten several people asking how they can form their own domain extension! Discussions on the policies to submit new gTLD requests were a hot topic at the ICANN meeting. The most felt interest was from organizations looking to create gTLDs for cities, a la .paris, .nyc, et al. The major concern from the people at the room was the freedom of expression and the liberties ICANN granted on the creation of those new extensions. Those ahead of the curve are all lined up to register the rights for all the “.whatever” you can think of.
Now here was my main concern:
How can you talk about freedom of expression and liberties in a system that by default will grant exclusive rights to a single entity to manage and establish registration rights for the new gTLD?
Take .church for example. In this gTLD that has so much individual and collective meaning, the assignment of the gTLD to a single entity would suppose that only that entity would decide who gets to register a domainname.church and under what conditions. The same would go for any other gTLD, .love, .i, or .black.
French government representative Bernard brought the example of allowing the registration of an offensive gTLD like .nigger or .negro, to which ICANN responded they wouldn’t allow, because of their offensive nature. However, because Negro is an offensive word in America, that means that I cannot request that gTLD despite it’s inoffensive Spanish meaning “Black”? Is the American social context of a word the bar for whether a gTLD can be registered?
Another reason for ICANNs delay in the creation of new gTLD policies is that they want to ensure the economic “stability and viability” of the applicant. Are there any finance or economics professionals in that board? .travel is nearly bankrupt at this point, and I can guarantee that many more will. The nature of business and achieving efficiencies in the market require that some businesses fail.
A whole book can be written about all the cultural, ideological, and financial ironies from the current approach of ICANN for the assignment of new gTLDs.
To make this short, let me present the most important shift in thinking that I propose for ICANN: Forget about assigning a new gTLD to a “good representative” of that gTLD. You are oversimplifying the meaning of words, and as a result – complicating the process of assigning the new gTLD. Do you seriously think that there is a single ideal entity to represent the gTLD .god?
The simplest, most economically stable, unbiased and socially respectful way of launching new gTLDs is by assigning them to the world wide web.
Lets make this simple: Registrar and Registrant.
A registrar’s concern is technical. Registrar’s provide the infrastructure to register a domain name. They make money for that service. This is what they should continue to do.
A registrant’s concern is buying a domain name. Registrant’s are the ones that find a purpose for the domain and develop it accordingly. They are the ones interested in the meaning.
In this simple scenario, ALL registrars would offer the new gTLDs – .god, .you, .love, .xxx, et al. The registrant would then determine the name they want to buy and for what reasons.
Will there be conflicts? The answer can be answered with two questions – Are there conflicts now? Were there conflicts before domains existed?
ICANN is not responsible for creating a utopian Internet. People will register many of these names and conflicts will rise as a result. Governments, international and national laws are responsible for resolving these conflicts – and they are. BMW just launched a case against the registration of BMW.cat by a different entity. Why? That’s not ICANN’s question to answer. That’s WIPO’s area of jurisdiction. There are other organizations more qualified and with the proper authority to resolve the conflicts that will inevitably rise from the interaction of billions of different interests expressing themselves in cyberspace.
Solution:
Keep the process lite.
Assign the new gTLDs to the entire web, sold indiscriminately to all.
Let the proper organizations deal with the socioeconomic conflicts that will inevitably rise.
Impressive Domain Auction Ends in NYC
There were some good results from Moniker’s Domain name auction in New York this week.
Here are some Key indicators from the list:
Total Sales:
$10.87 million
Averages:
$93,687 per domain sold
Average sale by domain extension:
- .com – $119,808
- .net – $27,062
- .info – $19,000
- .org – $18,500
- .biz – $15,000
- .mobi – $14,875
- .us – $14,500
- .de – $9,750
Percentage sold by extension:
- .biz – 100% (1 sale)
- .de – 100% (1 sale)
- .info – 100% (2 sales)
- .org – 77.78% (7 sales, 2 no sale)
- .net – 61.54% (16 sales, 10 no sale)
- .com – 54.49% (85 sales, 71 no sale)
- .us – 50% (2 sales, 2 no sale)
- .mobi – 18.18% (2 sales, 9 no sale)
.mobi might be losing steam. After several six figure sales in their launch, the mobile extension failed to reach the reserve on 9 of their 11 offerings, despite most of them having reserves in the mid 5 and 4 figures. I wrote an earlier post on why .mobi might lose its worth.
.tv also saw a no sale on its only offering at the auction – StockMarket.tv. Its reserve was at a mere $7500, raising serious doubts on the extension’s future as the Television central in the web. The Moldova extension .md, trying to identify itself as the medical extension, made an unsuccessful appearance too with Z.md.
Overall the auction can be seen as a success and shows a strong domain market. It will be interesting to hear what happens next week when I attend the ICANN meeting where they will be discussing the future of gTLDs and the possibility of introducing new ones.
Full list:
1. VintageAirplanes.com 5700
2. StageRental.com 0 (5600 no sale)
3. Toy.net 26000
4. StockTrades.com 25000
5. BondFund.com 12000
6. IrishWhiskey.com 8000
7. BakingSupplies.com 12000
8. PrivateTutors.com 16000
9. PrivatePilots.com 20000
10. Historian.com 25000
11. TechnologyFund.com 10000
12. PinkRoses.com 10000
13. VintageMotorcycles.com 14000
14. Booksellers.com 30000
15. Houses.net 75000
16. ComicBooks.com 0 (400,000 no sale)
17. Supplies.com 0 (250,000 no sale)
18. Breathalyzer.com 0 (70,000 no sale)
19. Invest.net 0 (50,000 no sale)
20. PX.net 0 (15,000 no sale)
21. Tightrope.com 18000
22. Sale.mobi 0 (55,000 no sale)
23. AutoClassifieds.com 0 (135,000 no sale)
24. Six.com 0 (1,000,000 no sale)
25. Scotland.com 0 (3,000,000 no sale)
26. Pedestrians.com 0 (7,500 no sale)
27. EgyptianPyramids.com 7500
28. RentalProperty.org 8500
29. Clap.com 21000
30. TattooParlor.com 0 ($27,500 no sale)
31. LimousineService.com 30000
32. ZN.com 95000
33. 46.com 0 ($70,000 no sale)
34. Flights.net 0 ($85,000 no sale)
35. Scores.mobi 0 ($115,000 no sale)
36. Planet.com 0 ($350,000 no sale)
37. PressReleases.com 0 ($2.5M no sale)
38. Seniors.com 1800000
39. ClubSoda.com 20000
40. Tied.com 13000
41. Polling.com 0
42. EC.com 0 ($250,000 no sale)
43. Ethanol.com 0 ($600,000 no sale)
44. Vacations.mobi 0 ($30,000 no sale)
45. CreditCheck.com 3000000
46. VictorianHouses.com 8500
47. JewishDeli.com 9000
48. Hospitals.us 0 ($8,000 no sale)
49. Catalogs.net 0 (15,000 no sale)
50. FM.org 18000
51. Fountain.com 95000
52. Union.com 0 (185,000 no sale)
53. Stuff.com 0 (1.5M no sale)
54. Slots.com 0 ($4.5M no sale)
55. CarSales.com 400000
56. PDA.net 0 (25,000 no sale)
57. CateringService.com 0 (15,000 no sale)
58. AirlineReservations.de 9750
59. HelicopterCharters.com 18000
60. NoLoadFund.com 12000
61. RecyclingCenters.com 13000
62. FT.net 22500
63. Grandmothers.com 25000
64. Snuff.com 45000
65. DiscountPerfumes.com 80000
66. Draw.com 0
67. Amethysts.com 13000
68. Highspeed.net 27000
69. 62.com 0
70. InternetRadio.com 0
71. Commodities.com 0
72. Elections.com 0 (600,000 no sale)
73. IncomeFund.com 20000
74. Surgeon.net 21000
75. 555.mobi 0 (7,500 no sale)
76. Text.mobi 0 (21,000 no sale)
77. Forbiddencity.com 0 (20,000 no sale)
78. Lips.com 135000
79. CheapGames.com 45000
80. Clock.com 175000
81. Student.com 0 (3M no sale)
82. PuertoRico.com 0 (3.5M no sale)
83. Passover.com 0 (50,000 no sale)
84. Bhutan.com 0 (50,000 no sale)
85. HY.com 0 (100,000 no sale)
86. Fitnesscenter.com 0 (100,000 no sale)
87. Comedy.net 25000
88. Villas.net 25000
89. BachelorDegrees.com 42500
90. FinancialPlans.com 17000
91. Houston.info 17000
92. DUI.net 18000
93. Cantaloupe.com 25000
94. Glamorous.com 60000
95. CustomMotorcycles.com 0 (55,000 no sale)
96. HighDefinition.com 0 (65,000 no sale)
97. Bulk.com 100000
98. Pay.mobi 0 (45,000 no sale)
99. NewYorkRealty.com 0 (120,000 no sale)
100. Locals.com 250000
101. Dollars.com 0 (600,000 no sale)
102. DSL.com 0 (1.25M no sale)
103. TalentAgent.com 0 (35,000 no sale)
104. PropertyManagement.net 0 (20,000 no sale)
106. MegaYachts.com 150000
107. Z.md 0
108. MarriageCounselor.com 36000
109. HorseRacing.com 0 (4.5M no sale)
110. Gin.com 0 (250,000 no sale)
111. 401kPlans.com 0 (250,000 no sale)
112. FreeAuction.com 50000
113. TGP.com 0 (225,000 no sale)
114. InsuranceRates.com 0 (150,000 no sale)
115. Manufacture.com 0 (75,000 no sale)
116. HeartrateMonitor.com 55000
117. Telephone.org 13000
118. GrowthFund.com 25000
119. Dermatology.com 0 ($4-$5M no sale)
120. SecurityEquipment.com 0 ($20,000 no sale)
121. ChocolateCandy.com 0 ($25,000 no sale)
122. IndividualRetirementAccounts.com 0 ($20,000 no sale)
123. Carburetors.com 0 ($25,000 no sale)
124. Pesos.com 0 ($35,000 no sale)
125. Males.com 55000
126. Pit.com 60000
127. MastersDegree.com 0 ($60,000 no sale)
128. Note.com 115000
129. Cats.com 0 ($2M no sale)
130. Naked.com 0 ($1.5M no sale)
130A. 212.net 10000
131. Lick.com 60000
132. SoccerLeague.com 28000
133. TelevisionShow.com 35000
134. Nashville.us 23000
135. 300.mobi 0 ($4,000 no sale)
136. AirlineTickets.net 17500
137. MartialArts.com 0 ($600,000 no sale)
138. 06.com 0 ($60,000 no sale)
139. Fees.com 55000
140. Saginaw.com 55000
141. Europe.mobi 0 ($14,500 no sale)
142. FireEngines.com 32500
143. PrescriptionMedication.com 0 ($35,000 no sale)
144. Text.com 300000
145. Menopause.com 0 ($1.75M no sale)
146. ComputerEquipment.com 0 ($110,000 no sale)
147. Psychologists.com 160000
148. Brackets.com 56000
149. Phones.mobi 0 ($35,000 no sale)
150. Teri.com 28000
152. Pensions.net 10000
153. GlobalFunds.com 20000
154. Jody.com 29000
155. Blogging.com 135000
156. Auction.com 0 ($4.5M no sale)
157. Bald.com 400000
158. Lean.com 55000
159. OBGYN.com 0 ($1M no sale)
160. QR.com 0 ($85,000 no sale)
161. Wrestling.org 30000
162. SoundEngineer.com 8000
163. EquityFund.com 30000
164. Laptops.mobi 4750
165. GY.org 0 ($11,000 no sale)
166. Artist.com 0 ($750k no sale)
167. GasolinePrices.us 6000
168. Pimple.com 82500
169. Camping.net 60000
170. 82.com 0 ($70,000 no sale)
171. Rollercoaster.com 0 ($100,000 no sale)
172. Tourist.com 0 ($750,000 no sale)
173. Whiskey.com 0 ($400,000 no sale)
174. CD.net 0 ($22,500 no sale)
175. Manhattan.info 21000
176. Mayor.net 0 ($5500 no sale)
177. StockMarket.tv 0 ($7500 no sale)
178. GED.net 0 ($15,000 no sale)
179. Charters.com 140000
180. Cardiology.com 550000
181. Program.net 17500
182. Fresno.us 0 ($4,000 no sale)
183. GXD.com 5000
184. Male.org 12000
185. MovieProduction.com 14500
186. VenusFlytrap.com 0 ($27,500 no sale)
187. Documentaries.com 48000
188. How.com 0 ($600k no sale)
207. Laptop.net 40000
189. Bourbon.com 0 ($300,000 no sale)
190. Spend.com 0 ($70,000 no sale)
191. MT.org 25000
192. MedicalLabs.com 10000
193. BeerKegs.com 12000
194. Mortgages.mobi 25000
195. SO.net 0 ($25,000 no sale)
196. Sub.com 71000
197. Coed.com 0 ($75,000 no sale)
198. Spices.com 220000
199. RadioPersonality.com 7000
200. EmailList.com 14500
201. Character.com 0 ($27,500 no sale)
202. Smoothie.com 0
203. DomainPark.com 0 ($60,000 no sale)
204. DiscountInsurance.com 60000
205. Racism.com 0 ($125,000 no sale)
206. Subways.com 50000
208. PP.org 0 ($30,000 no sale)
209. MP4Player.com 0 ($15,000 no sale)
210. Tart.com 30000
211. Shows.net 0 ($23,500 no sale)
212. ZZ.org 23000
213. Dont.com 30000
214. Shaft.com 17500
215. Mortgages.biz 15000
216. Dancing.net 10500
217. FHAHomeLoan.com 9000
218. FreeStuff.net 28000
(list source: DomainName Wire)
Apple iPhone could hurt the .mobi extension
Could .mobi have a shorter lifespan than expected? First, look at this video advertisement by Apple for the iPhone:
The real web is shown on the phone through a brilliant UI. With a massive adoption of iPhones in the market, followed by countless imitators incorporating similar Internet browsing techniques, will there be a need for a mobile version of the Internet? I have to say that I am always happy to find a mobile version of the Internet when I am browsing on my 700p, but functionality is always very limited. On top of that, the amount of websites that offer mobile versions are very few. The ones that do, in my experience, do not use the .mobi extension. Rather, they use m.domain.com or domain.com/mobile.
.mobi has been a very hot extension lately. This year we have seen several big sales in the extension such as:
- Sportsbook.mobi – $129,000
- RealEstate.mobi – $85,000
- Stocks.mobi – $70,000
- Casinos.mobi – $52,000
- Girls.mobi – $49,000
- Singles.mobi – $41,000
These domains were sold at a time where the industry wasn’t aware of Apple’s way of mobile browsing. I have a feeling that it will be very difficult to sustain such a premium for .mobi once the market flocks again to Steve Job’s vision.
***Update***
An interesting .mobi discussion at DNforum sparked from this posting
Helping Search Engines be more relevant through proper linking
During my day I get to read many, many blog posts and I have noticed a tendency to create links that aren’t well described. The most popular links are underlined in common words like, “here” or “this”. Despite our search engine preferences, all of us want to be able to search more easily and find higher relevance results. As it is widely known, links play an enormous part in determining relevance. And thus, if we improved our linking practices, we would help search engines pick up and understand the most precise nature of the link. I can talk about it, but the best thing will be to illustrate examples on how to do better linking.
Examples:
Read here for the list of apps launched at the f8 event. – Mashable
Instead, a better linking approach would be:
Read here for the list of apps launched at the f8 event.
——————————
Original Link:
Clearspring powers this interactive widget for the Indianapolis Colts, for instance (the NBA is another big partner we mentioned previously). – Mashable
Better link:
Clearspring powers this interactive widget for the Indianapolis Colts, for instance (the NBA is another big partner we mentioned previously).
—————————-
Original Link:
Previous TechCrunch coverage here. – TechCrunch
Better Link
Previous TechCrunch coverage on Vyew.
or
Previous TechCrunch coverage on Vyew.
In the way that we get used to linking properly, search engines will get smarter on the exact meaning of the page being linked to. So, linking properly is a way of communicating properly, not just with humans but also with robots whom are part of our audience. 🙂
Yahoo! Launches “Quality-Based Pricing”
In an attempt to compete with rival Google Adsense, Yahoo has answered with a similar offering of smart pricing and they are calling it – “Quality-Based Pricing”. Although this is a double edged sword for publishers, advertisers stand to benefit greatly. In the end, happy advertisers means we get more marketing spending transfered to the Internet, which in theory would go back to benefit publishers. Yahoo outlines three main features:
- We’ll evaluate the quality of traffic from our distribution partner’s sites
- Your click charges can be discounted based on the value of the traffic
- Discounts will automatically be applied to your account
Yahoo claims, “Quality is calculated based on conversion rates and other measurements of the ability to deliver more interested and valuable customers to you from particular distribution partner sites.”
3rd party contextual advertisers have had a tough time dealing with the plague of irrelevant websites being created solely to trick visitors into clicking such ads. Just last month, Google responded to this issue by terminating arbitrage accounts that were serving ads through such websites, also know as MFAs (Made for Adsense). Advertisers have been complaining that their online advertising costs are rising due to rampant rises in fraud and the MFAs.
Online Status Availability
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Bill Gates interview with Charlie Rose
When it comes to technology, Bill’s still the man. 50 minute interview with Microsoft Chairman:
Rafael Sosa's Weblog 