Categories
News

eBay Software Foundation? Auction site buys eBay Software Foundation domains

eBay Software Foundation

It appears eBay is making plans to launch their own software foundation.  On September 28, 2011, eBay Inc. registered over half a dozen domain names related to: eBay Software Foundation.

The list of names includes: ebay-softwarefoundation.com, ebay-softwarefoundation.net, ebay-softwarefoundation.org, ebaysf.com, ebaysf.net, ebaysf.org, ebaysoftwarefoundation.com, ebaysoftwarefoundation.net, and ebaysoftwarefoundation.org.

Although nothing has been announced yet so it’s not official, one would imagine that the “eBay Software Foundation” might be a non-profit organization that provides support for the eBay community of open-source software projects, similar to the Apache Software Foundation. 

Less than two weeks ago, eBay Inc. registered six different ‘eBay Insights’ domain names such as eBayInsights.com and eBay-Insights.com,  following the company’s announcement it was building a new division to woo developers and attract merchants called X.commerce.

Here’s a look at the Whois record for eBaySoftwareFoundation.com.

Registrant:
        Domain Administrator
        eBay Inc.
        2145 Hamilton Avenue
         San Jose CA 95125
        US
     
    Domain Name: ebaysoftwarefoundation.com

        Registrar Name: Markmonitor.com
        Registrar Whois: whois.markmonitor.com

    Administrative Contact:
        Domain Administrator
        eBay Inc.
        2145 Hamilton Avenue
         San Jose CA 95125
        US

    Technical Contact, Zone Contact:
        Domain Administrator
        eBay Inc.
        2145 Hamilton Avenue
         San Jose CA 95125
        US

    Created on…………..: 2011-09-28.
    Expires on…………..: 2013-09-28.
    Record last updated on..: 2011-09-28.

At the time of this story going online, none of the domains resolve to a web site.

Categories
News

AOL teases mqVibe launch: Something cool is coming to your neighborhood

mqVibe

I have written about AOL’s rumored plans to launch a neighborhood social networking service using MapQuest called “nVibe” and “mqVibe” in the last two weeks, after I found that AOL had filed a number of related trademarks and registered domains around the terms ‘NVibe’ and ‘Neighborhood Vibe’, as well as mqVibe.   

Today, AOL put up a teaser page on MapQuest.com at the following web address: http://mqvibe.mapquest.com/comingsoon

A message on the homepage reads: Something cool is coming to your neighborhood.

The one page website features nothing more than links to the official MapQuest accounts on Facebook and Twitter.

Once again, here’s a quick look at each of the trademarks, which are similar to the NVibe filings.

Serial Number: 85424935
Providing information and news in the field of local business

Serial Number: 85424931
Providing geographic information, destination information, interactive maps, and driving directions via computer and communications networks; Providing information, news, and commentary in the field of travel via computer and communications networks

Serial Number: 85424926
Providing a website that enables users to connect with people in a particular neighborhood or city; Providing user-defined content and content of others selected and customized based on the known or estimated geographical location of users

Serial Number: 85424918
Online social networking services; online local and community social networking services

At the time of this story, AOL has not officially announced anything about mqVibe.

Discussion: ReadWriteWeb

Categories
News Technology

Amazon goes on a massive buying spree, buys over 500 Kindle Fire & Silk domains

Kindle Fire

The announcement of the all-new Kindle Fire and Silk browser set to be released on November 15, 2011, has ignited a massive domain name buying spree by Amazon. 

On the very same day Amazon unveiled the Kindle Fire, the company registered well over 500 domain names related to the Kindle Fire and Silk browser products, through the brand protection company MarkMonitor.

The names range from 3gKindleFire.com to KindleFireClouddrive.com, and SilkSmartphones.com to SilkHTML5.com

While many of the registrations are certainly defensive in nature, some of the registrations may hint at future plans for Amazon’s newest products.

Because the list of registrations is so long, you can view the registrations here.

Discussion: The Next Web, @RobinWauters, Business Insider, Geeky Gadgets, TechFlash, Media Bistro, CNET News, CNET AustraliaSlashGear, TechRadar and Digital Trends

Categories
News Trademarks

HTC trademarks hint at incentive, reward programs for software developers

HTC Top Honors

It appears that HTC is launching an honors program intended to recognize excellence in the field of technology software development and provide incentive awards in order to promote the development of computer software and applications. 

The program names are “HTC Honors” and “HTC Top Honors” according to four trademark applications filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on September 23, 2011.

Here’s a look at the filings.

HTC Top Honors
Serial Number: 85431028
Providing recognition and incentives by way of awards and contests to demonstrate excellence in the field of technology and software development; providing a website featuring information on an award program for excellence in the field of technology software development

HTC Top Honors
Serial Number: 85431021
Providing incentive award programs to promote the development of computer software and computer software applications

HTC Honors
Serial Number: 85431016
Providing recognition and incentives by way of awards and contests to demonstrate excellence in the field of technology and software development; providing a website featuring information on an award program for excellence in the field of technology software development

HTC Honors
Serial Number: 85431003
Providing incentive award programs to promote the development of computer software and computer software applications

Discussion: Gadgetsteria

Image: HTC

Categories
News

Google registers several new domain names like GoogleParadox.com

Google Paradox

Google has purchased several new domain names through the brand protection company MarkMonitor for possible future projects.

The purchases include names like GoogleParadox.com and GooglePassenger.com, all registered on September 26, 2011.

Here’s the list of new domains purchased in the past few days.

http://whois.domaintools.com/googlearrive.com 
http://whois.domaintools.com/googleconsent.com 
http://whois.domaintools.com/googledepart.com 
http://whois.domaintools.com/googleparadox.com 
http://whois.domaintools.com/googlepassenger.com 
http://whois.domaintools.com/googlerange.com 
http://whois.domaintools.com/googlevolume.com