Google Starts a New Product And Guess Who Owns The .Com

While I was using Google today, I stumbled on a Google product that I have not seen before. All new Google products start in beta. However, since I did not see this new service yet on it’s “more Google products” page, it must be in double secret beta or possibly a sub service of a Google service such as Maps. The product is called “Favorite Places”. According to Google’s site describing the service :

“We’ve identified over 100,000 businesses in the U.S. as “Favorite Places on Google” based on Google users’ interaction with local business listings. Each business is receiving a window decal with a unique QR code that you scan with your phone to read reviews, star the business as your own favorite and more. Check out a few of the favorites below, and try scanning a code”.

The domain FavoritePlaces.com has always been travel related and will continue to be so. How do I know that. I own the .com

NameMedia and Oversee.net Create Strategic Partnership

NameMedia and Oversee.net joined forces today in the form of an acquisition and sales partnership. Oversee.net will start using Namemedia’s AfternicDLS, which is a sales distribution network consisting of Afternic, BuyDomains and 40 other distribution partners. More than 35 million searches are made on the AfternicDLS each month, thereby expanding Oversee.com’s exposure for domain name sales. Namemedia it seems will start using Oversee’s Snapnames auction system. This deal seems to work well for both parties. Could there even more things happening between these 2 Domain companies? i guess only the future will tell.

Here’s the full Press Release:

NameMedia and Oversee.net Expand Domain Name Sales, Acquisition Partnership

Oversee to Join NameMedia’s Domain Listing Service for Reselling its Large Inventory

LOS ANGELES & WALTHAM, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–NameMedia and Oversee.net said today that Oversee would join NameMedia’s Domain Listing Service at AfternicDLS.com to open a new sales channel for its large domain name portfolio.

“NameMedia’s domain name portfolio of nearly one million names has been built over the last ten years by our acquisition team identifying the best sources of domain name inventory”

“This alliance expands our companies’ long-term relationship,” said Oversee President and CEO Jeff Kupietzky. “NameMedia has built the industry’s largest global reseller network for domain names, particularly for retail buyers and small and medium businesses. DLS will help Oversee tap into this retail channel and expose its inventory to millions of customers looking for a premium domain name.”

AfternicDLS is the leader in reaching retail buyers of premium domain names through its websites at Afternic.com, BuyDomains.com and a network of over 40 distribution partners, including many of the world’s largest registrars.

“Oversee’s portfolio is one of the largest in the world and will significantly enhance the size of the inventory offered to NameMedia’s reseller network,” said Kelly Conlin, Chairman and CEO of NameMedia. “More than 35 million times each month, consumers looking for domain names access our available inventory, so adding Oversee’s domains improves the chance of a good match—and the velocity of sales in our network”

Conlin also underlined the value of its participation on Oversee’s SnapNames platform. “NameMedia’s domain name portfolio of nearly one million names has been built over the last ten years by our acquisition team identifying the best sources of domain name inventory,” he said. “SnapNames continues to be one of the most productive sources of domain names for our buyers, and we look forward to continuing to find outstanding domain names every day through the SnapNames auction platform.”

About NameMedia

NameMedia is a leader in the acquisition; development and trading of digital real estate through a network of highly targeted websites and a marketplace for premium domain names. The company’s website development focuses on creating compelling online communities in niche categories. The company’s marketplace allows owners of premium domain names to list their domain properties for sale, and for domain buyers to review the largest available inventory. Through its ownership of one of the largest domain portfolios in the world, its innovative website development platform, and its broad distribution, NameMedia now serves more than 50 million visitors to its network of websites and sells domains to customers in more than 100 countries.

Headquartered outside Boston in Waltham, Massachusetts, more information is available at www.namemedia.com.

About Oversee.net

Oversee.net® is the Leader in Internet Real Estate™, specializing in monetizing, registering, selling and developing domain names. The company’s unique optimized technology connects consumers and advertisers with highly relevant advertisements. The company provides an array of managed services to domain investors, corporations and individuals across more than ten million web sites. Oversee owns one of the largest portfolios of domain names in the world.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, the company’s core brands include DomainSponsor®, SnapNames®, Moniker®, and LowFares.com™.

Goodbye Dad, You Will Be Missed.

Last night my Dad passed away. He had been sick for quite some time. He was from a generation that is much different than today. He had no clue what domain names are or even what the internet is. I believe that I got from him my sense of humor and good looks. While his life was hard, he never complained.

My Dad wasn’t sure what I did for a living, which btw I sometimes wonder what I do. Whenever we spoke, the first questions were how are the kids and do you need some money. Last month, we visited him in Florida. It was a tough visit but one which I am glad now that I did. Goodbye Dad, you will be missed.

Off Topic – Funniest Video I Have Seen lately

Weekends are as busy for me as weekdays. With 2 kids there is always something going on. When I have a chance to relax, I enjoy watching TV or Videos that make me laugh. Yesterday I heard a spoof of Jay-Z’s Empire State of Mind called Forest Hills State of Mind. For a Jewish kid growing up in NYC this video hit home. i hope you enjoy it as much as I did.. Btw – this is very much New York humor, like Seinfeld or The Three Stoogies.

Another Huge Domain Name In Bankruptcy Court

I keep a list of domains on my desk. These are domains that I would like to get. I go to that list every few days and pick out 1 or 2 and send a quick email. Recently, one of the domains that I sent an email to, came back as undeliverable. So I took the next step and called the phone number associated in the whois with the domain. This time a get a message that the phone is no longer working. The next step was to google the company. That produces many links regarding the firm going bankrupt. I try to find out where in the bankruptcy process the assets are (include the domain name). Unfortunately it just leads to dead ends. I give it it one last effort and contact a lawyer that I found who was once associated with the firm. As we talk he says that he recently received an email regarding the disposal of assets. He no longer had that email but remembered the name of the firm handling it and gave that information to me.

I called the entity that the lawyer gave me and left a message. I received a return phone call later that day. My heart pumped as I waited to hear if the domain had been sold. IT HAD NOT. He immediately asks me to sign an NDA before he can release further info. After faxes back and forth I wait to hear more about the name. In my head I’m thinking that if it was this hard for me to find out about this, there are probably very few bidders. The phone rings. I listen to them and anxiously await the price of the domain. Will it be $25k , 50 k, less , more? The number then flow out of his mouth that to get the name right now it would cost just short of a million dollars. I was not expecting that to be the number. Is it worth it, I’m not sure, but its very industry specific. As of now, I sit on the sidelines trying to figure out the best way to get this name at a reasonable price. If not for the NDA, I would mention the name. I will keep you informed as I know more.

One Last Post Regarding The Playboy Mansion

Many people read playboy for the articles. Some go to party’s at the playboy mansion strictly for the food and networking. I can honestly say that Domainers do not fit either of those statements. The party this year was for one thing – just having fun. After a amazing group of seminars and great networking, it was time to enjoy the night. Many of us simply were there to enjoy the modern art, which turned out to be many young models that were only wearing painted bikinis.. I must say hanging out in the grotto was an interesting experience. For the short time I was there having a drink with a few friends, there was one young domainer who entered and left 3 times with 3 different girls. Sorry , cant give further details. My favorite line of the night was one I read from on facebook from another domainer. That domainer was at the bar near a conversation between another domainer and a young model. He was asked old he was. The domainer said 39, The model shot back ” Oh, I should introduce you to my mother.”

After the party was over many domainers headed to clubs or to parties at the Hotel (thanks Ammar). I read in Eliot Silver’s blog his story about going clubbing with Ron Jeremy and Justin Brescia of “The Hills”.

All in all amazing night and week.

Ipads.com – Was this site built last year or last week?

My eyes may be tricking me so I thought I’d ask some other domainers if the site Ipads.com was actually a site built last year, or was it built last week and made to look like it was a year old. You might ask why someone would backdate a site. I’m not sure unless it would give some status should Apple come banging on their doors for the domain.

Like most domainers, I typed ipad.com and ipads.com to see what was on those pages following last weeks announcement by Apple regarding the introduction of the ipad. I could have sworn that ipads.com was a registrar’s parking page. However when I went back yesterday, it was a blog, with articles dating back from last year. However, dates can backdated. Also, there no comments on any of the older threads. In addition, archives.org shows no site image from February 12th, 2008 forward.

Please let me know what you think.

Updated: Comtech.com @$60,000, Designer.co.uk @76,300 GBP and lundi.fr @50,000 EUR Heads Sedo Weekly Sales List

While most of the Domain world was concentrated in Santa Monica last week, Sedo continued to have strong sales lead by Comtech.com @$60,000, Designer.co.uk @76,300 GBP and lundi.fr@50,000 EUR. I liked fro the list Hostdns.com for 6000 Eur, purchased.com 5,499 USD, and free-horoscope.com for $3200. As usual, the complete list follows.

Domain name Price Currency

.Coms
comtech.com 60,000 USD
isdb.com 53,500 USD
golfzone.com 50,000 USD
orbion.com 25,000 USD
pao.com 14,500 USD
russiacalling.com 12,650 GBP
1y.com 10,000 USD
listentome.com 10,000 USD
mobilelearning.com 10,000 USD
thick.com 10,000 USD
socialtalk.com 7,500 USD
require.com 7,000 USD
hostdns.com 6,000 EUR
tereva.com 5,899 EUR
purchased.com 5,499 USD
kaika.com 5,099 USD
celsia.com 5,000 USD
smartdigital.com 5,000 USD
echafaudage.com 4,500 EUR
avocadostore.com 4,500 USD
rateadentist.com 4,000 USD
cloudcraze.com 4,000 USD
couponmonster.com 4,000 USD
eqk.com 3,533 USD
elektrotankstelle.com 3,500 EUR
juchang.com 3,500 USD
coverscans.com 3,400 USD
paris-france-hotels.com 3,300 EUR
free-horoscope.com 3,200 USD
arglasses.com 3,100 USD
vetspace.com 3,100 USD
crittr.com 3,000 EUR
superflorists.com 3,000 USD
linkspy.com 3,000 USD
a9a.com 3,000 USD
mallorca-finca.com 2,850 EUR
fulldeckpoker.com 2,750 USD
gotmojo.com 2,750 USD
krusoe.com 2,750 EUR
planettitan.com 2,600 USD
supergreen.com 2,550 USD
tea2.com 2,500 USD
tevana.com 2,500 USD
bannerproductions.com 2,500 USD
cyclette.com 2,300 USD
hornysluts.com 2,300 USD
gritar.com 2,270 USD
livemaster.com 2,150 EUR
langzeitmiete.com 2,100 EUR
freetm.com 2,000 EUR
cashgiftingprogram.com 2,000 USD
thunderflash.com 2,000 USD
neosecure.com 2,000 USD
edmz.com 2,000 GBP
hotels-discounts.com 2,000 USD
solenergia.com 2,000 EUR
freecollectionletter.com 2,000 USD
kreishandwerkerschaften.com 2,000 USD
tesoltraining.com 2,000 USD
mygrandrapids.com 1,999 USD
no1traveler.com 1,990 USD
prepaidsex.com 1,900 USD
birminghamhotels.com 1,800 USD
mykauai.com 1,750 USD
bluetax.com 1,750 USD
loadingdockequipment.com 1,750 USD
verkaufstraining.com 1,700 EUR
pharmedica.com 1,700 USD
basketballnation.com 1,667 USD
superstudios.com 1,650 EUR
hitnews.com 1,500 USD
mylasiksurgery.com 1,500 USD
b-gov.com 1,500 EUR
water-for-life.com 1,500 USD
brandables.com 1,500 USD
ecoenergo.com 1,500 EUR
omeilleursprix.com 1,500 EUR
powerframe.com 1,500 USD
destinationexperience.com 1,500 USD
agiliant.com 1,500 USD
insquare.com 1,500 USD
bedzy.com 1,500 USD
travelkrabi.com 1,500 USD
brainframes.com 1,500 USD
e-tablet.com 1,500 USD
capitalgames.com 1,500 USD
my411.com 1,500 USD
aveltis.com 1,500 USD
travel-turkey.com 1,499 USD
teachersvoice.com 1,416 USD
iaas.com 1,388 USD
ipbank.com 1,300 USD
vinylsale.com 1,300 EUR
mejoresjuegos.com 1,300 EUR
neuroenhancement.com 1,250 EUR
brainyoga.com 1,245 USD
darvesh.com 1,200 USD
fitmobile.com 1,200 USD
elixys.com 1,200 EUR
musicpracticerooms.com 1,150 USD
business-community.com 1,150 EUR
eagleboys.com 1,100 USD
dailyapps.com 1,100 USD
dogtopia.com 1,100 EUR
namerobot.com 1,075 USD
zese.com 1,050 USD
briefdienst.com 1,049 EUR
foodstats.com 1,041 USD
superhomeinsurance.com 1,000 USD
famequest.com 1,000 USD
justinbell.com 1,000 USD
winterwarm.com 1,000 EUR
afieurope.com 1,000 USD
normajeane.com 1,000 USD
digitata.com 1,000 USD
starmeter.com 1,000 USD
monticellogroup.com 1,000 USD
webvideoproduction.com 1,000 GBP
clinicalondres.com 1,000 EUR
growsure.com 1,000 USD
coolget.com 1,000 USD
livejenny.com 999 USD
rossau.com 995 USD
scorched3d.com 987 USD
datenmeer.com 960 USD
2324.com 954 USD
prcontacts.com 950 USD
loadlok.com 950 EUR
davisenterprises.com 950 USD
replicawatchreviews.com 949 USD
6mablog.com 900 EUR
oblomov.com 900 EUR
outsourcelegal.com 900 USD
directoriofloral.com 900 EUR
lembongan.com 890 EUR
grouporganizer.com 888 USD
greatersanfrancisco.com 816 USD
englishantiques.com 810 EUR
jeanstribe.com 802 USD
heimkinosysteme.com 801 EUR
design-living.com 800 USD
progware.com 800 USD
bidongolf.com 800 EUR
laughterclinic.com 800 USD
menation.com 800 USD
mfsystem.com 800 USD
ledcanada.com 800 USD
kloops.com 800 USD
bubblebridge.com 800 USD
think24.com 800 USD
marketing-shop.com 800 USD
extendedschools.com 800 USD
lickety-split.com 800 USD
themezilla.com 800 EUR
matthewjones.com 799 USD
yorker.com 772 USD
6-3.com 753 USD
formularium.com 750 EUR
eltrago.com 750 EUR
rightfund.com 750 USD
newgirlgames.com 750 USD
roomrater.com 750 USD
drumpower.com 750 USD
progressiveautoparts.com 750 USD
centershop.com 750 USD
peerbot.com 740 EUR
trachtenschmuck.com 720 EUR
modernvilla.com 700 USD
econtext.com 700 USD
pimas.com 700 USD

ccTLDs
designer.co.uk 76,300 GBP
lundi.fr 50,000 EUR
dachbox.de 14,900 EUR
musiktotal.de 14,000 EUR
bathroomtiles.co.uk 9,000 GBP
ecommerce.it 8,400 EUR
assurancescooter.fr 5,000 EUR
mietwagenreisen.de 5,000 EUR
leerwereld.nl 4,500 EUR
gartenmöbel.eu 4,300 EUR
global.hk 4,300 EUR
rubiz.ru 4,200 USD
svanströms.com 4,153 EUR
urbi.ru 4,000 USD
gluehbirne.de 3,927 EUR
sportszone.de 3,900 EUR
jb.de 3,750 EUR
ecl.eu 3,565 EUR
aerogel.eu 3,500 EUR
tansania.ch 3,500 EUR
bmd.ch 3,200 EUR
maurice.mu 3,000 EUR
avando.de 3,000 EUR
aparthotels.de 3,000 EUR
trovit.cn 3,000 EUR
promovacances.be 2,500 EUR
backöfen.de 2,500 EUR
vornamen-datenbank.de 2,400 EUR
gassprings.eu 2,250 USD
anoniem.nl 2,250 EUR
bookfactory.eu 2,222 EUR
enfant.info 2,000 EUR
wireless.asia 1,750 USD
61.eu 1,750 EUR
schnäppchen.ch 1,650 EUR
verzamelingen.nl 1,500 EUR
flashbay.it 1,500 EUR
marketing-shop.de 1,500 EUR
fahnenmasten.de 1,428 EUR
billares.es 1,400 EUR
dovolená.eu 1,350 EUR
porzelan.de 1,312 EUR
e-business.pl 1,307 EUR
albañil.es 1,300 EUR
funai.es 1,290 EUR
gruenderwelt.de 1,200 EUR
brockmeyer.de 1,200 EUR
motoren-center.de 1,200 EUR
activelife.de 1,175 EUR
ecigarettes.co.uk 1,150 GBP
reisefhrer.eu 1,100 EUR
babystrollers.co.uk 1,070 GBP
betathome.com.pl 1,050 EUR
sauna-clubs.de 1,050 EUR
football-odds.co.uk 1,050 GBP
modular.be 1,050 EUR
nxc.fr 1,000 EUR
energycooperative.co.uk 1,000 GBP
richardmille.us 1,000 EUR
yotta.ch 1,000 EUR
yoga-vidia.de 1,000 EUR
visioneer.cn 1,000 USD
apis.eu 1,000 EUR
myfashion.co.uk 1,000 GBP
paperblog.es 1,000 EUR
eventsuk.co.uk 1,000 GBP
porzellan24.de 1,000 EUR
besser-leasen.de 1,000 EUR
energiedurable.fr 1,000 EUR
b5.de 1,000 EUR
onlinecasino.org.in 1,000 USD
bags.eu 1,000 EUR
barrie.tv 1,000 USD
umzug-muenchen.de 875 EUR
proled.hu 838 USD
schler.eu 810 EUR
kulturstudier.dk 800 USD
steuererklärung.eu 800 EUR
bs.vg 800 USD
designglas.de 800 EUR
businesschannel.tv 800 USD
eurotire.cn 800 USD
careerconcept.de 799 EUR
práce.eu 764 EUR
casino.gd 750 GBP
mp5.nl 750 EUR
asx.nl 750 EUR
pizzabestellung.de 750 EUR
onlineslots.de 750 EUR
tourists.ch 750 USD
sex-in-berlin.de 749 EUR
groomed.co.uk 700 GBP
lockerz.fr 700 EUR

Other
hypothek.net 9,825 EUR
clicks.net 9,599 USD
dental.travel 2,295 USD
pharmacytechnicians.net 2,200 USD
bajarjuegos.org 2,100 EUR
newsworks.org 2,028 USD
heaters.org 2,000 USD
enfant.info 2,000 EUR
kchen.org 1,750 EUR
relaxation.net 1,549 USD
waytohealth.org 1,500 USD
girokontovergleich.org 1,500 EUR
citytour.net 1,500 USD
assetallocation.net 1,275 USD
graaf.net 1,200 EUR
isdi.org 1,183 USD
vinyl.info 1,100 EUR
220.org 1,000 USD
whistle.biz 1,000 GBP
file.biz 1,000 USD
onlinecoupon.org 1,000 USD
designliving.net 995 USD
steamcleaners.org 949 USD
mediasports.net 888 USD
plo.net 850 USD
florida24.biz 750 EUR
roos.biz 700 EUR
kreditkarten-vergleich.org 700 EUR
bags.eu 1000 EUR
onlinecoupon.org 1000 USD
barrie.tv 1000 USD
designliving.net 995 USD
steamcleaners.org 949 USD
mediasports.net 888 USD
umzug-muenchen.de 875 EUR
plo.net 850 USD
proled.hu 838 USD
schler.eu 810 EUR
kulturstudier.dk 800 USD
steuererkl䲵ng.eu 800 EUR
bs.vg 800 USD
designglas.de 800 EUR
businesschannel.tv 800 USD
youtub.co.uk 800 USD
eurotire.cn 800 USD
careerconcept.de 799 EUR
prᣥ.eu 764 EUR
m䮮er.eu 757 EUR
casino.gd 750 GBP
mp5.nl 750 EUR
asx.nl 750 EUR
florida24.biz 750 EUR
pizzabestellung.de 750 EUR
onlineslots.de 750 EUR
tourists.ch 750 USD
sex-in-berlin.de 749 EUR
gnstiger.eu 711 EUR
roos.biz 700 EUR
groomed.co.uk 700 GBP
kreditkarten-vergleich.org 700 EUR
lockerz.fr 700 EUR

What Were 2 Playboy Bunnies and a Domainer doing At A Beverly Hills Hotel ? – Stories from Domainfest

As I promised, I will tell one of the stories told to me at Domainfest. This one is 100% true and told to me by one of the playmates I met this week.
This story was told to me by Playmate A as I will call her. About 2 years earlier, Playmate A was at Kendra’s house hanging out. Kendra for those of you that do not know is also a former Playmate, former Hef girlfriend and a reality star. Kendra had scheduled a lunch with a domainer/businessman at a Beverly Hills Hotel. Playmate A wanted to blow it off but Kendra said she couldn’t do that on such late noticed. Playmate A came along with Kendra to lunch. At the meeting, domain names came up. Playmate A said she would love to get her name (.com) but someone has it and it is impossible to find them. After the lunch the domainer said he will find out who owns Playmate A’s domain name and do everything in his power to try and get it back for her.

Nearly 2 hours later playmate A receives a call from the domainer. Remarkably, he tells her that the name is now in her possession. She is shocked and asks how he did it. Well, said the domainer, it turns out that he owned it. It seems that the domainer had recently a purchased package of domains and her name (.com) was part of the package.

Sometime fact is stranger than fiction.