It looks like AOL Inc. plans to launch a new social networking site called NVIBE, more than a year after selling Bebo, a social networking site it had acquired for $850 million in 2008.
On September 9, 2011, AOL became the owner of the domain name nvibe.com. On the very same day, the company filed five different trademark applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office covering a range of goods and services including online local and community social networking services.
So far, AOL has made no announcement, and no other technology or news site has mentioned NVIBE, but by the looks of things, NVIBE.com is slated for some type of local social network.
Here’s a quick look at the five trademark applications, filed last week with the USPTO.
Serial Number: 85419192
Online social networking services; online local and community social networking services
Serial Number: 85419185
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: 85419176
Providing neighborhood and community information in the fields of education, entertainment, local events and activities, current events, shopping, arts, culture, and sports; Providing information about community and neighborhood livability
Serial Number: 85419162
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: 85419151
Providing information and news in the field of local business
At the time of this story, nvibe.com does not resolve to a web site. Here’s the current Whois record for nvibe.com.
Discussion: ReadWriteWeb, Techmeme, Business Insider, Webrazzi, San Francisco Chronicle, Financial News Network Online, @mathewi, The Motley Fool, BusinessWeek and Denver Post
Updated September 15, 2011 5:24am:. I discovered AOL also owns neighborhoodvibe.com and registered five trademarks for “Neighborhood Vibe” in August 2011, similar to the NVIBE trademarks; serial numbers 85391630, 85391628, 85391626, 85391625 and 85391623.
