Domain Movers is a series where I detect recent domain name movements, mainly all by large companies. These include domain name registrations, domain name acquisitions and domain names simply moving for one reason or another. My main source is the whois database on these changes and whois doesn’t always reveal the exact or whole story so I try to back things up with other means but whois information are the main factor of information stated below, so keep that in mind!
Here we go with the latest Domain Movers:
Nintendo Of America Inc. registered the domain names StarFoxZero.com and TriForceHeroes.com adding to its domain name portfolio of over 5,900+ domain names. Both games were announced at E3 2015
Charter Communications Operating, LLC registered the domain names UltimateSpectrum.com and the reverse SpectrumUltimate.com adding to its domain name portfolio of about 680 domain names.
The domain names ShowtimeHulu.com, ShowtimeOnHulu.com, HuluShowtime.com and HuluWithShowtime.com were all registered using generic whois data currently, but was registered by one of the companies.
Ecpu.com has been acquired by a currently unknown CSC Corporate Domains client. The domain name was listed for sale using DomainNameSales.com and was owned by a Eunjung O according to whois records.
Johnson & Johnson registered the domain names MicrofibrePlus.com and DentAsked.com adding to its domain name portfolio of about 42,000 domain names.
ABC, Inc. / Disney registered the domain names FostAndFound.com /.org as well as HollywoodFastChat.com, HollywoodFastChatter.com, HollywoodTitTat.com and LasVegasBuninessChronicle.com
Apple Inc. has taken ownership of the domain names SkyVines.com |.net|.org|.info|.biz after acquiring cloud startup Union Bay Networks in November 2014.
Hershey Chocolate & Confectionery Corporation registered an attention grabbing domain name with KeepOnSucking.com |.net|.org and also registered TheSuckingCandy.com |.net|.org
Staples, Inc. registered several new domain names and those include: SourceByStaples.com, StaplesSource.com, StaplesProcures.com and ProcureSmarter.com
Time Inc. registered the domain names FoundByStylists.com, HomeFashionFinder.com, HomeStyleHunter.com, DecorDrop.com, and LovedByStylists.com
Experience.com has been acquired by SYMPLICITY from ConnectEDU. ConnectEDU filed for bankruptcy in April 2014 and Symplicity announced the acquisition on June 18, 2014. This was more than just a domain name sale as there is a website with it and business behind the site that “millions of students rely on” according the the announcement made by Symplicity.
Frito Lay which I had reported acquired the domain name EverydayEscapes.com in an earlier article has now launched a website on the domain. The domain was purchased from Pat Hartary who acquired the domain in an expired domain auction at GoDaddy for $15, sold the domain for $1,595 to Frito Lay. The domain name was parked with Sedo but the domain was acquired through Afternic.com.
Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America registered the domain name AchievingTomorrow.com adding to its domain name portfolio of over 2,100+ domain names.
Microsoft Corporation registered a bunch of domain names (250+), that I would consider “odd” and they also went on to an uncommon name server: NS3.MICROSOFTINTERNETSAFETY.NET
Some of those domains include GoogleSafeBrowsing-ads.com, WhiteGeckoStudios.com, CurveChild.com, DietFitnessLiving.com, AppleCommandCCrafting.org, FreePornFaces.org, WalletFere.com, TruckTulip.com, PupiKola.com, MyGirlFriend-PamelaAnderson.com and many, many more. I’m not sure what is up with this so I reached out to Microsoft for comment. Microsoft wasn’t able to share any details.
Microsoft also made some normal domain registrations that included BingMapBuilder.com /.net and MicrosoftLiveWell365.com /.net
Paypal Inc. has acquired the domain name Pypl.net to go along with Pypl.com which it had recently acquired to match its stock symbol. Pypl.net was acquired via SnapNames according to whois records and was owned by DomCollect prior. DomCollect became the owners of the domain name 2 days after it expired on May 6, 2015 according to whois records from a Christine VanPelt who had it registered at 1and1 since May 6, 2014.
Bureau of Meteorology has acquired the domain name BOM.net which was listed on Flippa and using its name servers. The domain had a minimum offer of $6,000 and a buy it now of $8,000. Bom.net also sold February 2013 for $2,515 via NameJet.
GuardiansGuild.com has been acquired by NetScout Systems Inc. from HugeDomains.com. The domain had a $2,395 buy now price and was registered April 16, 2013.
Disney Enterprises, Inc. also registered the domain names EpicOffender.com /.net, EpicOffenders.com /.net and OffenderNation.com/.net
RAINBOW MEDIA HOLDINGS LLC (AmcNetworks.com) has acquired the domain name Benders.com, a domain that was owned by New Ventures Services ([email protected]) according to whois records. The domain has been under whois privacy for years at eNom, so it is not clear when New Ventures Services became the owners, but just prior to selling, the domain came out of whois privacy revealing New Ventures Services, which is owned by Web.com, but they claim not to.
Amazon Technologies has registered the domain name AmazonBookerly.com and giving a clue to what that might be? registered the domain BookerlyFont.com. They currently do not own Bookerly.com based on whois records. They continued with PaperWhiteHD.com, PaperWhiteBookerly.com and KindelPaperWhiteHD.com.
Amazon has also revealed they were behind the registration of the domain name SabersEdgeGame.com, a domain that was registered using generic whois data on June 4, 2014.
Google Inc. has obtained LearningThermostat.com from an unknown party as the domain name was under whois privacy at GoDaddy. There is potential that Nest owned the domain already and it simply transferred into Google’s name now. The domain was using Amazon hosting while under privacy and still is, with it redirecting to Nest.com Archive.org does not have any records for the domain. They also acquired LearningThermostats.com.
OMS Investments, Inc. (Scott’s) registered several “claims” domain names like ScottsClaims.com, ScottsClaimTracker.com, ScottsTracker.com and ScottsClaimProcess.com
Roll Global LLC / The Wonderful Company continues to be an active domain name buyer and has acquired the domain name YouAreWhatYouDrink.com, a domain that has been registered since May 9, 2003. The domain was acquired on April 9, 2014 when it was parked with DomainNameSales.com.
Starz Entertainment, LLC registered the domain names SaveOurPower.com/.net and SaveMyPower.net
Facebook, Inc. has registered the domain names ParseCommunity.com/.org adding to its growing domain name portfolio of over 2,300 domain names.
Ford Motor Company registered the domain name FocusIsMore.com adding to its domain portfolio of over 4,200 domain names. Ford does offer a car call Focus.
Johnson & Johnson registered the domain name HairCharge.com adding to its other 42,770 domains.
Carlsberg Breweries A/S has acquired the domain name OpenForFun.com, which has been registered since October 19, 2006 and was under whois privacy prior. The domain has a listing remaining at Afternic with a minimum offer of $1,000.
Coca Cola / Honest Tea, Inc has registered the domain name MakeItHonest.com. DP Beverages Limited, which is also part of Coca Cola, which registered the domain name FuzeIcedTea.com on May 5, 2015 is readying a site on it as they have switched to Amazon hosting.
Ben Piddington who is a NetNames client has acquired the domain name MadeInDreams.com which was owned by BuyDomains.com. The domain had a $1,888 buy now price tag.
SuperMedia LLC is now doing business as Dex Media. Dex One and SuperMedia agreed to a $100 million dollar merger in 2012. SuperMedia owns domain names like City.net, SuperPages.com, Classifieds.net, LocalSearch.com and many more, totaling about 1,600 domain names. SuperMedia is a CSC Corporate Domains client. Dex One Services Inc. is also a CSC Corporate Domains client and owns about 175 domain names, with a couple of those being RHD.com, LocalLaunch.com, TheDex.com and DirectorySource.com.
Epium LTD. has potentially sold the domain name Poker.net. The domain name was registered with SafeNames and was using SedoParking for awhile but the domain name now has transferred to Fabulous.com under whois privacy and using the Fabulous DNS. Poker.net, Casino.net and Sports.net have been on the market since around 2011. To note, Poker.org did sell for $1 Million.
