Cybersquatters aim US presidential candidates!

The bad guys are at it once again! Unscrupulous cybersquatters are taking up domain names that have the name of one or the other from amongst the US presidential candidates!!!

They have registered some really interesting names. Check it out…

The lead up to the US presidential election has seen a dramatic surge in cyber-squatters keen to cash in on the public’s thirst for information.

Domain name management service NetNames said that over 1,900 domain names related to the presidential candidates have been registered as online speculators try to cash in on the heightened media coverage.

Hillary Clinton is the most popular candidate online with 1,080 domain names registered in her name including sites such as Clintonsucks.org.

- VNU Net

Network Solutions Gets kicked in the butt!

Yeah, I have been waiting for this and was hoping it’d happen soon!

Network Solutions has been sued for its holier-than-though policy of reserving domain names a potential buyer searched for on its website, practically disabling the poor guy to register it anywhere else but with Network Solutions at a price higher than other registrars.

Being a victim myself, I was hoping that it would happen real soon. Had I been a US resident, I’d have done it myself! The bozos thought that they had a good little scam running that nobody would blow the whistle on. Now, as I rub my hands with glee… I wish I could see the guys squirming in their seats with a potential PR nightmare at hands… something not even a seasoned public relations professional would be able to get them out of!

For those who came in late, please read the heads-up on the practice of Network Solutions at DomainTools.com

Here’s the excerpt.

I am confirming that Network Solutions steals domain ideas when people check domain availability on the Network Solutions website. They seem to have started the practice of stealing domain ideas on December 16th 2007 according to our Domain History database but I was just made aware of this practice today. I am appalled at the concept of taking people’s domain ideas and registering it before the consumer has the ability to manually register the domain.It is a deplorable action that Network Solution would announce potential domain names to the entire world. If a customer chooses not to register the domain name with Network Solution they are forced to wait 4 days for Network Solutions to delete the domain name in the Free Add Grace period. After the four day hostage period the consumer is free from the hostage situation and can register the domain somewhere else. However Network Solutions has now exposed those domains to Domain Tasters that will snipe those domain up milliseconds after Network Solutions deletes them. By registering the domain Network Solutions is exposing the domain in the DNS and every computer in the world now knows about the domain. These domains are now easy fodder for scammers and it is mind blowing that Network Solutions would expose their customers queries to the world in this manner.

- DomainTools

Their strategy was as good as those of the lowly domain tasters and try to profit from people’s ideas and that too on an automated basis. What a bunch of creeps!

.Asia Landrush opens with 300k Domain Applications

DotAsia Organisation, the registry operator of the “.Asia” Internet domain has literally redefined the rules of new domain name extensions and has set kind of an example for newer registries to learn with its phased launch of the .Asia domain names.

Here’s their latest press release:

DotAsia Organisation, the registry operator of the “.Asia” Internet domain has announced the successful launch of its Landrush period. A total of 266,663 applications were received by the registry within the first 24 hours, demonstrating great interest from around the world to stake claims in the most prestigious cyber real estate in Asia. Including Pre-Sunrise, Sunrise, Pioneer programs and the first day of Landrush, the total number of domain applications to date is 298,861.

Asia Landrush opened Feb 20 and will close on March 12, 2008. Unlike conventional first-come-first-served processes, DotAsia is utilizing a model that treats all applications received equally no matter if you submit the application within the first second or on the last day of the Landrush period. For domains receiving two or more applications, an auction will be held between the applicants. Domains with only one application will be allocated directly without auction. It also means you must apply during the Landrush period (Feb 20 – Mar 12, 2008) in order to be eligible to participate in the domain auctions.

“We are very excited about the smooth launch of Landrush. The volume of interest demonstrates strong demand for .Asia. Unlike conventional opening rushes where the best names are snatched in the opening seconds, you still have 20 days to submit your application without losing out,” says Edmon Chung, CEO of DotAsia. “We are also excited to see strong participation from Asia, with 5 out of the top 10 registrars coming from Asia.”

Over 35% of the Landrush applications received came from Asia, with 40% from North America and 24% coming from Europe. A total of about 28,000 domain names received more than one application on the first day. The top 10 registrars in the first day, in order, are: Dotalliance Inc. (www.dotalliance.asia), EuroDNS S.A. (www.asiadns.asia), Communigal Communications Ltd., GoDaddy.com, Gabia, HiChina Web Solutions Ltd., Key-Systems (www.domaindiscount24.asia), NamesBeyond.com, DomainPeople Inc. (www.domainpeople.asia), eName Corp.

Well, guys, domaining was never so exciting before

Am real glad to have become a domainer!

Perfect Domain for Design Studio

The first of my domains that I would like to showcase is UK Design Studio!

The domain makes perfect business sense for a web design or graphic design company offering services to the geographical market of Britain or the UK.

The additional benefit is that this particular domain is indexed in Google and has PageRank 2! Anybody in the domaining business knows that a PR2 domain could be an instant asset!

If you are a web designer or a graphic designer based in the UK, it could help you get interesting business online!

If interested, please visit the web page and send me an offer that I can’t resist!

What is Domaining

Domaining is what a domainer indulges in!

Domaining is the business of buying, selling, developing and monetizing Internet domain names.

A domainer’s domain name portfolio often includes marketable generic dictionary-word domain names, or domains whose registrations have expired yet still retain reasonable traffic.

Many a time, a domainer has no actual intention to use any of the domain names with the exception of generating advertising revenue through domain parking.

Domaining is quite a lucrative business for those who have the patience to master the art and the science of it!

What is a Domainer

Domain name registration is such an innocuous  task for many and then there are an elite few for whom it is a religion! These people earn unimaginable money through their virtual real estate, the domain names, that they accumulate and nurture over years.

So, who are these people… they are what you call… domainers!

Domainers are individuals whose passion, obsession and profession is the accumulation of generic internet domain names. Domainers are also sometimes referred to as domain investors.

Although critics compare domainers to cybersquatters but domainers point out their differentiation and legitimize their profession by avoiding trademarks and potentially disputable domain names, and refraining from typosquatting.

Domainers consider their business of buying, selling, and developing domain names to be equivalent to real estate investments.

Domainers generate huge revenue streams either through

• domain parking,
• resale of domain names
• developing domain names into feature rich and popular websites

Hello world!

I am a domainer and I am into domaining!

Need I say any more about what this blog is gonna be like?

Three cheers to the power of domain names!