Archive for August, 2011
Salesforce to launch yet to be revealed Do.com, get things done with anyone
Salesforce.com has been announcing a number of new products recently, but one product that it hasn’t publicly announced as of yet, is a productivity app called “do” which can be found on the website Do.com.
The slogan on the homepage reads: “The app to get things done with anyone”
The Coming Soon page went live today.
I discovered the site earlier this evening, after noticing that the domain name transferred from the marksmen.com server to its current server awsdns-52.com on August 26, but for the past several days no website was online.
In July I stumbled upon socl.com a secret Microsoft project while monitoring Marksmen’s name servers. Marksmen brokered the sale of socl.com and also co-brokered the sale of social.com for $2.6 million to a mystery client.
The mystery buyer behind social.com has yet to be revealed, but you can officially add Salesforce.com to the bunch. Social.com is the largest publicly reported domain sale so far in 2011.
Dreamforce, the cloud computing conference held by Salesforce.com is currently being held in San Francisco until September 2.
Is Dropbox integrating with Google Docs? DropboxDocs.com registered
It looks like Dropbox the file hosting service that has been valued by some at $5 billion may finally be officially integrating with Google Docs.
The company went on a domain buying spree this week, purchasing the domain names DropboxDocs.com, DropboxDocs.net, and DropboxDocs.org through the registrar MarkMonitor.
There are services that help you sync your files between Google Docs and Dropbox like Cloudhq, but easily creating and collaborating on Google Docs from within Dropbox is missing.
It’s been rumored that Dropbox is raising additional capital, which may be used to launch a marketing campaign in addition to new features as it competes with companies like Box.net, who joined forces with Google Docs back in June.
While the “DropboxDocs” domains clearly show Dropbox Inc. as the owner, additional domain names hinting at an online marketing campaign were also registered at the same time using MarkMonitor’s privacy service DNStination. As a result, the owner behind the domains is unknown, but considering the timing, there’s a good chance they too belong to Dropbox. The names centered around the phrase “Files are Dead”, which followed recent articles in the news suggesting the Dropbox use case may not survive the cloud.
The names included:
http://whois.domaintools.com/arefilesdead.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/arefilesdead.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/filesaredead.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/filesaredead.net
Here’s a look at the Whois record for Dropboxdocs.com, which was registered on August 29.
Registrant:
Domain Administrator
Dropbox, Inc.
760 Market St Suite #1150
San Francisco CA 94102
US
Domain Name: dropboxdocs.com
Registrar Name: Markmonitor.com
Registrar Whois: whois.markmonitor.com
Registrar Homepage: http:// www. markmonitor.com
Created on…………..: 2011-08-29.
Expires on…………..: 2013-08-29.
Record last updated on..: 2011-08-30.
At the time of this story, neither dropboxdocs.com nor filesaredead.com resolve to a web page.
Discussion: Techie Buzz
Activision registers CallofDuty.com in simplified Chinese, China version closer
Earlier in the year Activision announced it would be launching a new online Call of Duty game as a free-to-play game in China.
This week Activision registered CallofDuty.com and CallofDuty.net using simplified Chinese characters — 使命召唤.com and 使命召唤.net.
While nothing concrete has been announced by the company and very little information has been given out, the registrations could be signs of a possible launch in the near future.
Here are the punycode versions of the domain registrations (使命召唤.com) and (使命召唤.net).
Registrant:
Mary Tuck
Activision Publishing, Inc
3100 Ocean Park Blvd.
Santa Monica CA 90405
US
Domain Name: xn--2rqt1iomsv.com
Registrar Name: Markmonitor.com
Registrar Whois: whois.markmonitor.com
Registrar Homepage: http://www. markmonitor.com
Created on…………..: 2011-08-25.
Expires on…………..: 2013-08-25.
Record last updated on..: 2011-08-26.
Registrant:
Mary Tuck
Activision Publishing, Inc
3100 Ocean Park Blvd.
Santa Monica CA 90405
US
Domain Name: xn--2rqt1iomsv.net
Registrar Name: Markmonitor.com
Registrar Whois: whois.markmonitor.com
Registrar Homepage: http:// www. markmonitor.com
Created on…………..: 2011-08-25.
Expires on…………..: 2013-08-25.
Record last updated on..: 2011-08-26.
Discussion: IDN Forums
ModernWarfare4.com domain no longer hostage to ZiiP community [Updated]
The domain name ModernWarfare4.com which grabbed headlines in 2009 seems to have a new home.
The story of ModernWarfare4.com started years ago with a threat to hurt a clown if the game development studio behind Modern Warfare, Infinity Ward, didn’t play ball with the ransom demands of the owner of ModernWarfare4.com — a domain name owned by James Galland (aka Jester) of the ZiiP gaming community.
It ended, with the website (pictured here) featuring the clown and a poll on what to do with the domain finally being taken down earlier this month.
As of August 6, 2011, the web address ModernWarfare4.com is no longer registered to James Galland, and now is hidden behind Whois Privacy Protection Services at ENOM.
Here’s a look at the Whois record:
Domain name: modernwarfare4.com
Registrant Contact:
Whois Privacy Protection Service, Inc.
Whois Agent ()
Fax:
PMB 368, 14150 NE 20th St – F1
C/O modernwarfare4.com
Bellevue, WA 98007
US
Administrative Contact:
Whois Privacy Protection Service, Inc.
Whois Agent ()
PMB 368, 14150 NE 20th St – F1
C/O modernwarfare4.com
Bellevue, WA 98007
US
Just because the registrant information changed, doesn’t mean the owner changed since the domain is behind Whois privacy.
However, it’s entirely possible that James Galland got spooked by the saga of ModernWarfare3.com. Activision has a dispute filed with the National Arbitration Forum seeking ownership of the domain ModernWarfare3.com.
It’s also possible Activision acquired the domain by offering money.
I’ve reached out to James to learn more, and will update the story if I hear back.
Updated August 27, 2011: I received a response from James who still owns the domain name. The website has been updated since this story was published. James wrote:
Hi there JB.
Oh my god.. shhh… don’t tell anyone. I went to feed the clown the other night – and I might (I stress might) have left the door unlocked. I came back in the morning and he had gone. All that was left was a note saying “Screw you guys, I’ve had it being a clown – I’ve gone to re-train as a plumber”. I guess the promotion prospects of being a tortured-clown prisoner aren’t enough for some people. Sheesh. His name was Mario though.. go figure.
On a slightly more serious note…
I can happily report that we still own the domain. We have no real interest in profiting from it – was all the clown’s idea. We’re not freaked out at all by the MW3 site saga as there are worst things happening in the world. Actually: Thanks for highlighting the site being down.. I was playing around with my webserver and must have hit the “turn off joke sites” button by accident.
As for the WHOIS thingy changing, that was ment to be done when I purchased the domain – but someone forgot to turn it on. Not really fussed, but I don’t like paying for something and then not getting it : )
Happy Days,
James
**
Google files ‘Spot’ trademark, registers domains for programming [UPDATED]
Updated November 30, 2011 at 5:39am EST: Google has now apparently acquired the domain name GoogleSpot.com through MarkMonitor. According to WHOIS records, the name switched hands on November 28. While MarkMonitor is listed as the registrant, Google regularly uses the brand protection service to secure domains.
**
Looks like Google may have some sort of plan for its own programming language called ‘Spot’.
The search engine giant has filed a trademark application for ‘Spot’ according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
The filing (Serial Number: 85403946) took place on August 22, 2011 and covers computer programs and downloadable computer programs that implement an object-oriented computer programming language.
At the same time Google was filing the trademark, it registered several domain names.
The registrations include domains such as spotlang.com, spotlanguage.net, spot-lang.com, and spot-lang.net.
Registrant:
DNS Admin
Google Inc.
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View CA 94043
US
Registrar Name: Markmonitor.com
Registrar Whois: whois.markmonitor.com
Registrar Homepage: http://www. markmonitor.com
Created on…………..: 2011-08-22.
Expires on…………..: 2013-08-22.
Record last updated on..: 2011-08-23.
Discussion: Engadget, Y Combinator, 9to5Google and Meneame
Groupon India rebranding SoSasta as Crazeal, website revealed early
Groupon registered domain names around the word ‘Crazeal’ back in July such as Crazeal.com and Crazeals.com, and now we know why.
Groupon is re-branding its Indian subsidiary which it acquired early this year, currently called SoSasta as Crazeal.
An early website has gone online at crazeal.com (as seen in the picture above) with no deals listed as of yet. According to a description on the home page, “ Crazeal promises to deliver deals that will leave you shaking your head in disbelief, telling your friends and family and having them shake their heads in disbelief as well.”
In June you may recall that Groupon accidentally leaked the entire user database of Sosasta.com online. The data was even indexed by Google.
At the time of this story, Groupon hasn’t put any word out.
Discussion: Penn Olson
Blip.tv acquires the domain Blip.com from Marvel for an unknown price
In a strange turn of events, Blip.tv has acquired the domain blip.com from comic books giant Marvel.
What’s so strange about the acquisition?
For starters, in mid-June Marvel filed eight trademark applications centered around “Blip” and “Blip.com”, applications it has yet to abandon.
And as I reported in June, in addition to the trademark applications, Marvel also acquired the domain name blip.com around the same time.
Well, as of yesterday, the domain name blip.com redirects people to blip.tv, the original web series site which according to Quantcast gets over 2 million visitors worldwide each month.
No announcement has been made by Blip.tv at the time of this posting regarding the acquisition of blip.com.
The domain name changed from Marvel to Blip.tv just today.
Here’s a look at the Whois record.
Registrant:
Blip Networks, Inc.
c/o pairNIC.com Whois Privacy
PO Box 42319
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
US
Domain Name: BLIP.COM
Administrative & Technical Contact:
Jared Klett
Blip Networks, Inc.
c/o pairNIC.com Whois Privacy
PO Box 42319
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
US
Domain Name Servers:
NS1.POKKARI.NET
NS2.POKKARI.NET
NS3.POKKARI.NET
Transfer-Lock Status: ENABLED
Created: March 2, 1999
Modified: August 25, 2011
Expires: March 1, 2021
(Photo of blip on blip edition via Blip.tv)
Evidence on next Kindles being named after elements like Earth, Water, Air
In early August I wrote about Amazon acquiring the domain name KindleAir.com for possible use with its next generation of Kindle devices.
After a little domain sleuthing, the pieces of the puzzle appear to be falling into place and it looks like Amazon will be using elements like Earth, Water, Air and more, to name its next line of Kindles.
KindleAir.com was the first hint, but I’ve now discovered that Amazon has secretly acquired the domain names KindleEarth.com, KindleWater.com and — both domain names were acquired on July 6, 2011.
Although both domains are registered at Go Daddy and hidden behind its privacy service Domains by Proxy, it’s simple to reveal Amazon as the owner by using Go Daddy’s public Account Retrieval System, which in June finally addressed other privacy issues with the tool.
All one has to do is simply try and retrieve a customer number online from Go Daddy’s main website (as shown in the picture below). You select a product from a list (for example “Domain Name”), enter your email address, then enter a security access code by retyping the graphic number shown on the screen.
If everything is a successful match, a “Process Complete” message is displayed indicating the information requested will be sent to the email address entered. I used hostmaster@ amazon.com, the e-mail address Amazon regularly uses when registering domain names through its various registrars including MarkMonitor and Go Daddy.
If something is entered wrong, a message displays stating for example, “Email address not found”.
For both KindleEarth.com and KindleWater.com, the retrieval process was successful and a “Process Complete” message was displayed.
So, just to add a little more fuel to the Kindle rumor fire, it appears Amazon will be using these names for a possible Kindle product line. Similar types of names might also be used like Kindle Wave.com, which DNW wrote about yesterday.
Using Go Daddy and its privacy service, is the same secret method Amazon used before launching its Cloud Reader service in order to keep the product under wraps. The company registered kindlecloudreader.com in late June but didn’t reveal itself as the owner until it unveiled the service in August.
Discussion: SlashGear, MediaBistro, Android Community, Geeky Gadgets, electronista and This is my next…
RIM continues domain name buying spree, this time focused on BBM Music
Research In Motion has officially announced its BBM Music Service and according to This is my next, “users can grow their libraries of available music by connecting with other BBM Music users”.
As with any new product launch at RIM, BBM Music isn’t any different.
There were several new domain name registrations.
Unlike before as we saw with the unveiling of new smartphones and batches of 200+ and 500+ new domains registered, this time the company went a bit lighter than usual, registering less than a dozen.
Here’s a look at the company’s latest registrations:
http://whois.domaintools.com/aboutbbm.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/aboutbbm.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/bbmconnected.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/bbmconnectedapps.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/bbmconnectedapps.net
http://whois.domaintools.com/bbmfeatures.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/bbmfeatures.net
As of today, Research In Motion doesn’t appear to be the owner of BlackBerryMusic.com whose registrant is currently hidden behind Moniker’s Whois Privacy service.
However, even though the company missed out on getting the name first, it may have no problem getting the name rather cheaply if it decides to file a domain dispute with the World Intellectual Property Organziation (WIPO).
Going back to the mid-2000s, RIM has won dozens and dozens of cases over the blackberry domain including blackberrytunes.com and blackberrymovies.com.
Google unveils AccountChooser.com: Next-gen web sign in with OpenID
Google joined the OpenID Foundation in 2008, which provides free technology to eliminate the need for multiple user names across the web by using an OpenID.
In late July, Eric Sachs a Product Manager for the Google Security team and the counterpart to Google’s CIO, registered the domain names AccountChooser.com and AccountChooser.net.
Google’s Internet Identity Research team has been busy working on this project for months.
This week, the Account Chooser web site quietly went live, as shown in the picture above. Account Chooser, is an industry technique to improve the user experience for logging into a website.
“An open standard and user interface guidelines for the next generation of web sign in”, reads the slogan printed across the top of the home page.
According to a blog posted on OpenID’s website this week, “Account Chooser” will be introducted at the “Connect Tech” Summit being held September 12-13, 2011.
Discussion: TechCrunch and Y Combinator
