Tag: Microsoft domains

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Microsoft Corporation registers domain names for ‘Xbox Summer Stadium App’

Xbox Summer Stadium App

Microsoft has picked up two new domain names this week hinting at an upcoming ‘Summer Stadium’ app for the Xbox.

On April 30, 2012, Microsoft registered the hyphenated domains, xbox-summer-stadium-app.com (Whois) and xbox-summer-stadium-app.net (Whois), through the internet brand protection company MarkMonitor.

With baseball season in full swing, now is as good a time as any to release a stadium app for the Xbox. But it’s unknown at this time whether the app will be used for sports or music concerts taking place this summer.

MLB.com has a number of apps, including At the Ballpark which offers mobile check-in, social media, offers, rewards and exclusive content.  It also provides other information like current game details including team schedule, ticket information and sales and promotional event listings.

At the time of this story, Microsoft has not announced anything about the Summer Stadium app for the Xbox.

Currently, the domain xbox-summer-stadium-app.com does not resolve to a web page, while xbox-summer-stadium-app.net redirects visitors to Bing.

(Image of Xbox Live via Xbox.com)

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News Video Games

Microsoft Corporation privately registers slew of “Halo: Infinity” domain names

Halo: Infinity

Microsoft has made some interesting domain name registrations this week, picking up several “Halo Infinity” domains like HaloInfinity.net (Whois) and HaloInfinityMultiplayer.com (Whois) through the internet brand protection company MarkMonitor.

Microsoft didn’t stop there either.

Additional domain names that were registered include: HaloInfinity.org, HaloInfinity.co.uk, HaloInfinity.mobi, HaloInfinity.de, HaloInfinityMultiplayer.net, HaloInfinityMultiplayer.org, HaloInfinityMultiplayer.co.uk, HaloInfinityMultiplayer.mobi and HaloInfinityMultiplayer.de.

Infinity was a popular multiplayer level exclusive only to the PC for Halo: Combat Evolved, so it’s possible Microsoft will be offering it as a multiplayer map for Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.

Other domains that were registered the same week through MarkMonitor include SpartanOps.org (Whois), SpartanOps.net, and MorethanJustamap.com (Whois).  These too, were privately registered.

Microsoft hasn’t officially been confirmed as the buyer of the Halo: Infinity domains since the registrant of each name is hidden behind Whois privacy, but the names were registered through MarkMonitor, and Microsoft is among their high-profile clients. Microsoft’s own Microsoft.com is registered through MarkMonitor.

I won’t speculate on what Microsoft is planning, but to register this many names means something is on the way.

None of the domains resolve to a web site at the time of this story going online, and Microsoft has not announced anything official.

[Updated Apr 5, 2012 at 9:50am EST:. Microsoft registered additional domains including: SpartanOps.in, SpartanOps.jp, SpartanOps.tw, SpartanOps.co.uk, SpartanOps.mobi, SpartanOps.de, HaloInfinity.in, HaloInfinity.jp, HaloInfinity.tw, HaloInfinityMultiplayer.in, HaloInfinityMultiplayer.jp and HaloInfinityMultiplayer.tw.]

Discussion: GameSpot, Joystiq, N4G, IGN, VG247, Game Rant, Geek, tweakers.net, MCV, NOW Gamer, G4 TV (blog), Cinema Blend, This is Xbox, Xbox 360 The Official Xbox Magazine, Computerandvideogames.com, Xbox 360 Achievements, Shack News, Gameranx, Game Revolution, Complex.com, GamingBolt (blog), Capsule Computers, Halo Waypoint, iNSIDE, Softpedia, NeoGAF, Videogameszone, Geeky Gadgets, juegosDB, PlayNation, Buddha Gaming and GameZone

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News Video Games

Microsoft Corporation registers XboxFL.com, XboxFL.net domain names

Xbox FL

Early this month, I wrote about Microsoft secretly acquiring the domain names Halo5.com and Halo9.com.

Now, the company has made two more interesting domain purchases this week.  On March 28, 2012, Microsoft Corporation registered XboxFL.com (Whois) and XboxFL.net (Whois).

So, what on earth is “Xbox FL”?

Your guess is as good as mine.

At the time of this story, both domain names redirect visitors to Bing.

[Updated March 31, 2012 10:57am EST:. Microsoft added another domain to the list.  The company registered registered XboxFL.cz on March 30.  .cz isthe country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for the Czech Republic.]

Discussion: Gamespot, Joystiq, ComputerAndVideoGames.com, Neowin.net, Game Rant, ITProPortal, GameRevolution, Gaming Examiner, This is Xbox, Gaming Bolt, The Tech Report, LLC and Geeky gadgets

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News Video Games

Microsoft looking to future, secretly acquires Halo5.com, Halo9.com

Halo 5

Remember last year when Microsoft acquired Halo4.com for an undisclosed amount from its previous owner?  

Well, it looks like Microsoft is at it again, this time with the domains Halo5.com and Halo9.com.

According to Whois records, Microsoft has secretly acquired Halo5.com (Whois) and Halo9.com (Whois) from their previous owners using brand Corporation Service Company’s shell company Name Rally.  Name Rally is the same intermediary Microsoft used to acquire AnswerDesk.com.

Of course, these acquisitions may be nothing more than Microsoft defending its intellectual property, but it’s also possible the company is looking far ahead to the eventual releases of Halo 5 and even Halo 9.

So, what’s Microsoft’s current report card on Halo domains up through Halo 10, as of today? 

Here’s a look.

Halo.com – registered and active website owned by HALO Brand Solutions, not Microsoft.
Halo1.com – registered and active website owned by HALO ONE, not Microsoft.
Halo2.com – owned by Microsoft Corporation.
Halo3.com – owned by Microsoft Corporation.
Halo4.com – owned by Microsoft Corporation.
Halo6.com – Parked at Network Solutions by Colby Thiesen, not owned by Microsoft.
Halo7.com – privately registered and active website, not owned by Microsoft.
Halo8.com –  registered and active website owned by Halo 8 Productions, not Microsoft.
Halo10.com – owned by Microsoft Corporation.

I’ve reached out to the previous owner of Halo9.com to learn more about the transaction and will update this post if I hear back.

Discussion: This is Xbox and Redmond Pie

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News Video Games

Xbox720.com owner redirects domain to US PlayStation 3 website [UPDATED]

Xbox 720

Xbox 720

Update 2 on Feb. 24 at 8:16pm Est: Jeremiah Germany has commented on the story by e-mail.  Jeremiah wrote, “Yes, I still do own the domain.  I switched to namecheap after the godaddy SOPA fiasco, which came with free Whois Privacy.  Yesterday I was testing the redirect with namecheap.  Apparently more than my friends saw the joke; it doesn’t get a lot of hits. I believe you asked me earlier, No, Microsoft hasn’t approached me.”

Update 1 on Feb. 23 at 2:52pm Est: Xbox720.com has stopped forwarding to the US Playstation 3 site.  The web address now sends visitors to a different site operated by Jeremiah Germany (the apparent owner of Xbox720.com), in an obvious ploy to get attention for his site.   Jeremiah has not responded to a request for comment.  I e-mailed Jeremiah earlier today when this story was first posted.

Original story on Feb. 23 at 3:27am Est: It appears the owner of the domain Xbox720.com is none too happy with Microsoft or simply playing an online joke.

As of today, type the web address into your browser and you’ll be redirected to the US PlayStation 3 site (us.playstation.com/ps3).

It’s unknown what prompted the change.  Previously, the domain was monetized using the Google Adsense for Domains program, which Google announced only yesterday would be shut down by mid-April.

Last year we saw a similar case of a web address being redirected to a rival’s site with ModernWarfare3.com, when the disgruntled owner of the domain name sent visitors to the official website of Electronic Arts’ Battlefield 3, Activision’s competitor.  The redirect of ModernWarfare3.com was short-lived as Activision moved swiftly to get the domain name by filing a complaint with the National Arbitration Forum.

As I wrote about in November, neither Sony, Nintendo, nor Microsoft own the domains for their next consoles.

Xbox720.com was registered to a Jeremiah Germany of New York as late as November 2011, but the contact information became protected after going into Whois Privacy in December.

Since first being registered, Xbox720.com has been host to a number of different sites ranging from a Les Paul guitars site in 2006 to a Google Custom Search page in 2008.   In 2009 the site began earning money using Google Adsense for Domains.

I’ve reached out to the most recent owner on record for more information, and will update this story if I hear back.

I’d imagine the redirect will not last long.

Discussion: N4G, Joystiq, Gameranx, Myona News and Bölüm Sonu Canavarı

(Image of Xbox 720 concept by ~djeric on deviantART)