December 15, 2006

Google Apps Gets a "D"

For Domain Registration, that is. Google announced today that Google Apps for Your Domain now offers domain name registration services via eNom and GoDaddy.com, as part of the website management services offered by Google.

For $10 per year, the price of a domain via Google Apps includes private registration to protect your personal information. Google's new domain service automatically configures everything so your domain name instantly works with all of the services available through Google Apps for Your Domain, and offers full control of your domain settings, so you can use your domain for other services not provided by Google.

Google Apps for Your Domain includes Gmail web email, Google Calendar shared calendaring, Google Talk instant messaging, Google Page Creator web page creation tools, and the Start Page feature for creating a personalized home page for users on your domain.

Posted by Elisabeth Osmeloski at 12:10 PM | Permalink

November 6, 2006

Google Owns AdSense.com Now

Nathan Weinberg reports that Google is now the owner of the domain adsense.com. The story goes a bit back when a company named the AdSense Consulting Group became Fed Up With Google AdSense, after receiving tons of unwanted traffic and inquiries on AdSense consulting services. They did not disclose the amount AdSense.com was sold for, but you can still visit the AdSense Consulting Group at www.adsense2.com. I wonder if Google will do the same with UTube.com, kinda similar to News.com's story that YouTube.com sued by UTube.com.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:16 AM | Permalink

September 26, 2006

Google's Index Bench: Build Your Own Google Search Engine?

Gary Price reported that Google registered a few new interesting domain names including bench-index.com, benchindex.com, index-bench.com and indexbench.com. Since then Garett Rogers speculated that this may mean Google is building a product to allow users to build their own flavor of the Google search engine, much like how Rollyo does. Philipp Lenssen guesses that Google may be releasing some sort of Alexa engine. Some folks at Philipp's forum suggest that "IndexBench could be tools that measure the quality of an index." Loren Baker leans to siding with Garett Rogers's guess. Me? I have no better guess at this time.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:23 AM | Permalink

August 28, 2006

Google Apps for Your Domain Live

Google announced the official launch of Google Apps for Your Domain. Everyone is talking about how this is an enterprise solution because it allows companies use Google products, currently Gmail, Calendar, Page Creator and Talk on their own domain. You can expect many of Google's other products to be rolled into this service, including Google Analytics, Google Notebook, Google Spreadsheets and others.

Let's step back, on February 10th Google launched a beta program named Gmail for Domains, they initially got some universities to sign up and then some small business also signed up (from what I hear).

Do you think IBM, Oracle, Pitney Bowes or other Fortune 500 would switch over? Is it Google's hope that they would consider it? Google seems like they will be offering a premium version of this service, but they don't have one at this time. Would I sign up my company on this program? Honestly, I highly doubt it. Why? Privacy, configurability, security, expandability and something doesn't sit right with moving my email or calendaring systems over to a free service - I need to pay someone in order to have someone to be held accountable.

Want to discuss in our forums? Join our Search Engine Watch Forums thread named Google Apps for Your Domain.

Postscript From Danny: Information Week has a long story on the program here, and there's lots of coverage from elsewhere you'll find on Techmeme here.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 8:01 AM | Permalink

August 18, 2006

Fighting For GoogleCheckout.com & More Google Complaints Against Others Who Registered Google-Like Domain Names

ResourceShelf has compiled sources of historical complaints Google has issued to those who have registered Google-like domain names. To do so, ResourceShelf searched through the "World Intellectual Property Organization's Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) database and the National Arbitration Forum Domain Name Dispute Proceedings and Decisions database for the information. The most recent domains to be transferred to Google's ownership include; googlecheckout.com, googlematching.com, googleoutdoors.com. More details on how to find more of these names at ResourceShelf.

Postscript From Danny: Be sure to read the complaint resolution about Google Checkout. Some highlights:

+ Respondent states that her intended business name is not "GOOGLE Checkout," which ostensibly is identical to the disputed domain name , but rather the term "Go Ogle Checkout," which Respondent contends is not. She intends to use this term in conjunction with an online dating service....

+ Further, just some six days after Respondent registered the name, the media widely reported that Complainant planned on launching its online payment service -- as indicated by the articles, a copy of which appear in Exhibit A to Complainant's Additional Submission, that appeared in, e.g., The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the Associated Press.

With respect to bad faith, Complainant points to the $ 1.25 Million price at which Respondent offered the names for sale as evidencing bad faith. Complainant contends that Respondent's reply, in and of itself, to Complainant's cease and desist letter is not bad faith, rather Respondent's unsolicited offer, in response, to sell the names is. Further, once Complainant rejected this offer, Respondent then reduced her offer to $ 375,000 which again shows Respondent's bad faith....

+ 'Google' is now a verb in the dictionary. 'Go' and 'Ogle' are also generic terms in the dictionary, as is 'checkout', 'matching,' and 'outdoors.' I took three common names out of the dictionary and put them together and coincidentally they happen to spell GOOGLE in them, which is also a common word in the dictionary. Therefore, my domain names do provide a basis for distinguishing them from Complainant's mark....

+ On May 22, 2006, Complainant received a reply email (a copy of which appears in Exhibit 13 to the Complaint) from Respondent through which Respondent stated:

Hi there. I have received your email and do not actively have these domain names in use. ... I am the proud owner of these domain names and others. I am wiling to do a transfer of these domain names to the google property rights at a cost of my expenses and time and future loss of business. I would possibly be willing to accept an offer of $ 1,250,000.00 as a package deal for all three domain names....

+ Later, through an email dated May 23, 2006 (a copy of which appears in Exhibit 15), Respondent offered to sell the names to Complainant as a package deal for $375,000, and in so doing specifically stated:

I have done enough research to notice many other domain names with google's name (not owned by google) and they have active websites, making incomes off of these sites. ...

I am willing to transfer these names over without any further discussion for $ 375,000....

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 8:29 AM | Permalink

July 13, 2006

AdSense Consulting Group Fed Up With Google AdSense

Wired has a story on AdSense, not Google AdSense, but AdSense Consulting, the company who registered AdSense.com back in 1996.

If you visit adsense.com, you will notice Google does not own the site, and they do not provide Google AdSense services.

In fact, they have a message on the site that reads, "If you think you can get rich quick placing other people's ads on your site or blog, please contact Google who has taken and used our business name without permission or compensation."

I find it funny that Google AdSense, which is a contextual ad program, developed to provide relevant sales leads, has done the exact opposite for AdSense Consulting.

AdSense Consulting apparently gets hundreds of irrelevant phone calls and emails to answer Google AdSense customer support related questions, something nothing to do with their business. Sounds incredibly frustrating to me.

The article notes the company has now sold the domain to another company, which has not yet been named. Google declined to purchase it from her, apparently. Google also decided her site didn't qualify to carry AdSense ads, either.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:32 AM | Permalink

January 11, 2006

New Article Looks at Google, the Domain Registrar

Via Jim Boykins blog, a guest article by domain name expert Nick Wilsdon that looks at what Google knows about domain names. It's not only a great look at how the domain name industry works but also shares info about what info Google has access to as a domain name registrar. The company became a registrar in February 2005. A very interesting read.

Nick writes: However it seems that Google did not start signing as a Registrar in order to buy or sell domains; they did this to have greater access to domain information. Now to clear some of the FUD that was speculated about this. Google as, say a .com Registrar, does not have access to all the customer records of Verisign. They can only access the further details of domains which they personally sold. Tucows and GoDaddy are both Registrars with Verisign, do you think they have access to each other?s entire customer database? Certainly that information would be well worth the $3500 fee. No. Unless the domain is within their own account they have exactly the same access as you or me using the public WHOIS records.

He goes on to offer his views, what he later calls speculation, on why Google became a registrar: I believe Google has built or is building a tool to analyse domain names. The API access they were given as a Registrar allows them to carry out the level of automated queries they needed for this. I would also go further and suggest this tool is building up a historical picture of each domain through regular scraping of their WHOIS records.

Postscript: Since we're on the subject of domain names, let me answer I question I frequently receive. When I share newly registered domain names on the blog I get the information using a combination of my time and the WHOIS.sc Mark Alert service. For $15/month I receive daily updates of domains that are registered containing the word Google. I track not only the word "Google" but numerous other names. The service tracks .com,.org,.net,.info,.us,.biz, and .web domains.

Then, I spend some time each week reviewing the lists and checking the ownership. It's not only useful (I hope) but also interesting (often amazing) to see what people are registering. That same $15 fee includes access to the Whois History database that provides historical ownership info back to about 2001. If you're looking for some basic domanin name stats, WHOIS.sc offers them for free on this page.

If you're wondering, the answer is yes, other services exist that can provide similar types of info more quickly and in an easier to use format. However, they are often very expensive. Examples include: + MarkMonitor + Thomson Compumark + Dialog offers file 225, offering fielded searching (numerous options) of domain name info back to 1997. Caveat: The last time it was updated was September 2004.

Again, all of these services are fee-based.

Note: Dialog's Open Access Service offers limited access to the Dialog 225 file. It's very limited in the what fields you can search. So why mention it? It doesn't require a subscription use, searching is free, and you can pay for records with a credit card.

Posted by Gary Price at 12:01 PM | Permalink

November 13, 2005

Google Registers A Few New Domain Names

The folks in Mountain View have registered a few new domains in the past couple of days.

+ GoogleMagazines.com also registered in the .net, .org, and .info domains.

+ GooglePapers.org also registered in .net and .info domains. GooglePapers.com is registered to a person in British Columbia.

+ GoogleMicrofilm.com also registered in the .net, .org, and .info domains. Forget books. We do know that LOTS of microfilm needs to be digitized. (-: Other than that, speculate all you want, or not.

+ GoogleLibrary.org GoogleLibrary.com, .net, and .info are registered to others. Here's a chance to get at least one domain.

Want to review more Google registered domains? Check this list.

Posted by Gary Price at 9:26 PM | Permalink

October 12, 2005

Looking For Secret Google Subdomains

With all the watching of Google subdomains and what they might indicate, such speculation over a Google Calendar, Google Blogoscoped points to research Tony Ruscoe did to try and uncover any hidden Google subdomains out there. After scanning 60,000 words. Tony tells more in Google Subdomains, mainly that he didn't find much of interst. He also points to an earlier bit of research done by Jeff Palm here.

If you're looking for a growing list of domains that Google has officially registered (some held by a holding company these often used) Gary has put together this unofficial compilation that he has expanded several times during the past week. Many of these domains are not active but could share some light on current and past Google projects. Three domains registered to Google Gary's discovered in the past day or so include:

+ Googlemastercard.com (Hmm, a bit of Google plastic in the works?)

+ GoogleBuyers.com

+ GoogleMother****er.com

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 10:23 AM | Permalink

October 9, 2005

Google Registered Domain Name List Updated

A note to let you know that I've updated our non-comprehensive but nevertheless lengthy list of domains registered to Google Inc. today with several more domains (new and old). New additions include:

Googlereader.com
Google-reader.com
Googlereader.info
Google-reader.info
Googlereader.net
Google-reader.net
Googlereader.org
Google-reader.org

All of these domains were registered a day or two prior to the release of the Google Reader product.

The Googlereader.com domain was originally registered by a person in Seattle in April 2004. This registration expired in April 2005.

Posted by Gary Price at 2:20 PM | Permalink

September 28, 2005

A List of Domain Names Registered by Google

I'm a list fanatic. Many years ago, I started compiling a web-based lists of lists while I worked as a librarian at George Washington University. That compilation remains online and under the management of my friend, Trip Wyckoff. A new list that I've been compiling over the past few weeks offers a look at many of the domain names that are registered to Google Inc. I used various sources to compile the list.

This is not a 100% comprehensive list. Repeating, this is not a 100% comprehensive list. The primary focus of the list is on the .com, .org, .net, .biz and .info domains but it's very likely that some of the domains that Google has registered are not included. In fact, it's also a strong possibility that some domains are registered to domain "holding" companies that we just don't know about and/or haven't discovered yet.

Nevertheless, I think what follows is an interesting list and one I hope to update in the future. You'll also notice that many of these names come from acquisitions that Google has made over the years. I hope this list is not only useful but also fun for all of the Google geeks out there.

Now, click here to access a list of domains registered (with a few exceptions) to Google Inc.

Posted by Gary Price at 10:09 PM | Permalink

A Google Calendar and Some Domain Name Research

As someone who watches Google domain names closely, I learned about this post on the Google Addiction Blog that points out that GCalendar.com (an online Google calendar?) is a domain name that's currently registered to Data Docket, an Idaho company that often "holds" domains in their name (so nosy researcher types (-: don't get clued in) to new Google services until the service or search tool is just about ready for launch. I've seen the Data Docket many times in the past.

Here's a recent example of Data Docket's involvement with Google, specifically, Google Earth. Before Google Earth was officially released, the domain name was registered to Data Docket. On May 31st, the domain was transferred to Google Inc. (and Google domain servers) just a few weeks before Google Earth launched.

So, does this mean that a Google has plans to release an online calendar program very soon? Who knows? Let's watch and see if GCalendar's registration moves to Google sometime soon. That said, I don't think many would be surprised if/when they do offer some form of online calendar.

A few more facts. The GCalendar.com domain has been registered since 2004. However, it hasn't always been registered to Data Docket. Using a WHOIS History database I was able to track down the following:

GCalendar was first registered in April, 2004
In September, 2004, the WHOIS History database shows GCalendar was registred to Guido Pantnella in Walnut Creek, CA.
On October 6, 2004, the domain was transferred to Trout & Zimmer, a Burbank, CA firm that helps companies register/acquire domains.
On July 7, 2005, the domain was transferred to Data Docket.

Finally, what do we know, at least for now, about Data Docket? Not much. We do know that is is a registered corporation in Utah. You can see for yourself here by entering Data Docket into the "Business Entity" field in in this Idaho public records database.

Caveat: I'm sure as more and more people become aware of a Data Docket/Google relationship, I would expect see Google having another company "hold" domain names until they're ready for launch. Oh well!

Postscript: In case you're wondering, GCalendar.net is also registered to Data Docket. GCalendar.org is registered to Trout & Zimmer, another organization mentioned in this report.

Postscript: Google Addiction is now reporting that calendar.google.com now points to Google.

Posted by Gary Price at 5:35 PM | Permalink

September 19, 2005

Google's Hosting What? Fun With Reverse IP Lookup

Interesting spot via Threadwatch, Reverse IP Tool and Google Servers lists a variety of weird and wacky domain names that come up when checking on IP addresses that are also used by Google servers. Google apparently doesn't own or operate all these domains. If I understand things right, some of the domain owners may simply be pointing their domains at Google. I'm sure someone will poke harder at this, and I'll postscript accordingly.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 2:11 PM | Permalink

August 16, 2005

Google Registers "Movie" Related Domains

For you who track newly registered domains from Google, here are two more for your list. Sometimes, new domains can signal new services in the works, enhancements (Google already offers movie reviews and showtimes). Other times, Google registers a domain to simply keep others from registering it.

Late last month Google registered:

Googlemoviereviews.com
Googleshowtime.com

These domain names along with variations (with hyphens, plurals, etc.) were registered in several tld's. I tried most of the new domains earlier today and they're not presently live.

Quick Comments and Some Google Speculation I'm wondering when Google and Yahoo will begin offering more/some movie ticket purchase options directly from their showtime results pages both on the web and via their SMS service? Presently, Google offers a ticketing option if the theater utilizes the MovieTickets.com service (web only). Yahoo Movies also offers a direct link to purchase tickets for theaters that use the, the Fandango.com service. I was unable to find any links on an Amazon.com showtimes listings page to purchase tickets. To whom it may concern: it sure would be great to have one place to go and find links to purchase tickets from any theater.

Speculation Is Google building a standalone movie info site to go head-to-head with AOL's Moviefone? Will Google partner with other services or begin their own ticket service? What about Yahoo? Might online ticketing be another revenue stream for G or Y? Will Google or Yahoo eventually go up against IAC's Ticketmaster for a piece of the lucrative ticketing business? Finally, when will Gogle and Yahoo begin placing local advertising on showtime results pages? Ads for local resturants, bars, etc. placed next to this info would sure seem to make sense.

More about the movie review and showtime info services that Google launched in February, here.

Posted by Gary Price at 4:04 PM | Permalink

July 29, 2005

Google Analytics? New Domains For Those Who Like To Speculate

Since the blogosphere is always ripe with speculation, I'll toss an item out. Does Google have plans to either begin offering expanding what they currently provide and/or rebranding their services as Google Analytic or Google Analytics in the near future (maybe SES)? We're watching. Why am I mentioning this? In the past week Google has registered both Googleanalytic.com (and other domains) and Google-analytic.com (and other domains). A company that often "holds" domains for Google (before the product/service is launched) has Googleanalytics.com registered. Stay tuned.

Postscript: Google Analytics has launched, as coverd more in Google Renames Urchin Google Analytics, Makes It Free

Posted by Gary Price at 9:32 AM | Permalink

July 21, 2005

Google Earth, Google Moon, and Beyond?

When Google released Google Moon yesterday I wondered if providing imagery of the Moon was just the first step. Does the Googleplex have plans to provide imagery for the entire solar system?

No official word yet BUT I have learned that Google just registered domain names for the entire solar system and beyond.

Of course, this might just be the Googleplex making sure others don't get the names but you never know. Google is so good at keeping people talking, guessing, and speculating (aka creating buzz).

Here's a list of the domain names Google registered on Tuesday:

Googlegalactic.om
Googleuniverse.com
Googlegalaxy.com
Googlesolarsytem.com
Googlesun.com
Googlemercury.com
Googlevenus.com
Googlearth.com
Googlemoon.com
Googlemars.com
Googlejupiter.com
Googlesaturn.com
Googleuranus.com
Googlenepture.com
Googlepluto.com

In case you're wondering, Google also registered variations on these names.

They also registered these domains for .org, .net., and info.

Postscript: When asked about if Google Solar System was in the works, a Google spokesperson had no comment.

Posted by Gary Price at 2:10 PM | Permalink

June 23, 2005

GooglePorn.com

A post on John's blog talks about a open-letter to Google from a blog that covers the porn industry: An Open Letter to Google RE: Online Payments. It asks the Googleplex to "embrace" the industry since PayPal hasn't.

I'll leave that discussion to others, at least for the present time. However, it's worth noting that all major search engines to our knowledge carry porn ads already. Google's even been criticized for taking porn ads but not gun ads (an issue with Yahoo, as well). And as Danny wrote yesterday, sex and porn still seem among the top terms searched for. Handling porn payment transactions is another thing entirely, of course.

If Google were thinking about getting into porn in some way, at least it's got a good domain for it. GooglePorn.com was registered by Google in 2002. It also owns Google-Yahoo-Porn.com, registered by Google in 2003. Perhaps it was thinking of a mega merger back then and preparing on the porn front.

It's more than likely that Google registered these and other domains as a defensive measure (check out YahooPorno.com to see what I mean, but not if you're a sensitive person) and to perhaps help with spam reduction efforts.

Posted by Gary Price at 4:49 PM | Permalink

April 28, 2005

New Anti-Google Domains & Others Not Owned By Google

I've blogged before about new domains that Google has registered, such as GoogleVillage.com. But in my regular monitoring, here are a few new Googleish domains registered by those outside the Googleplex, including some who seem like they'd never want to step inside of it.

Google-Hates-Me.com: A new message board that also uses an interesting version of the Google logo.
GoogleSucks.biz: Not much there. This person has also registered GoogleSucks.info. In case you're wondering, Google registered GoogleSucks.com and GoogleSucks.org several years ago.
Anti-Google.net: Not live yet, but doesn't sound like they're happy with Google.
MyGoogleLawsuit: Another one that's not yet live.
darth-google: New blog that says it's not anti-Google but trying to raise awareness of getting independent sites ranked. OK, not a new Google domain name registered, but still interesting to include in the list. Ironically, the blog is hosted on Google's Blogger service.
F*Google: We'll spare you the full name. This is a family blog, after all. But relatively new site that probably isn't going to win kudo points with Google.
Googlebut.com: A metasearch engine that uses the Google name and a strikingly similar logo but doesn't actually provide Google results. Like I said the other day about GoogSpy, you've got to wonder if a cease and desist letter is coming from Mountain View sometime soon.

Probably the longest-standing and most substantial anti-Google site remains Google Watch, founded back in 2002. It's been around long enough to have its own anti site, Google Watch Watch. And just in case you're wondering, yes, there's even a Google-Watch-Watch-Watch.org domain registered -- though no web site to go with it.

Finally, Google Watch Watch is a .org web site that isn't associated with Google. But Google does own Google-Watch-Watch.com!

Posted by Gary Price at 2:46 PM | Permalink

February 9, 2005

Google The Registrar

We first blogged about Google becoming an authorized domain registrar about a week ago. Since then, lots of speculation but nothing about Google's exact plans with its new status. Bob Tedeschi offers a review of what we do and don't know about "Google the Registrar" along with comments from people in the domain name business in the article: A New Direction at Google.

Posted by Gary Price at 10:57 AM | Permalink

January 16, 2005

Google Domains For 10 More Countries Now Available

A note on Google Blog points out that 10 new Google's are now online for ten more top-level domains. Now available are: + Indonesia + South Africa + Tonga + Bolivia + Krgyszstan + Jamaica + Belize (English) Spanish version also available. + Seychelles French version also available + the Virgin Islands + and the Cook Islands

Posted by Gary Price at 2:51 PM | Permalink

December 4, 2004

Google Registers Three Domain Names

Google registered a few domain names last week. Here's a list of what I was able to identify:

On December 1, 2004 Google Inc. registered: + GOOGLESHOPPINGLIST.COM ++ Google has also registered: GoogleShoppinglist.org,.net, .info, .us, .biz + GOOGLEREVIEWS.COM ++Google has also registered: GoogleReviews.org, .net, .info, .us, .biz + GOOGLEWISHLIST.COM ++Google has also registered: Googlewishlist.org, .net, .info, .us, .biz

As of Saturday, these domains weren't live.

Posted by Gary Price at 7:22 PM | Permalink

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