Yep, Google bought G.me and it now forwards to Google+
Friday, July 27th, 2012
Google adds another one letter domain name to its collection.
In May I wrote about how Google may have purchased the domain name G.me. The domain name was registered to Mark Monitor’s DNStinations, which often times registers domain names on behalf of the company.
Now it’s official: Google was the buyer.
The nameservers for the domain also point to Google.com now. Type g.me in your browser and you’ll be forwarded to the plus.google.com.
The domain name was previously a registry reserved domain name, which means Google probably bought it directly from the .me registry.
Google has acquired a number of other “g dot” domains, including g.co. Google uses g.co as a URL shortener.
I don’t really understand buys like this if just to forward to a third level domain. Seems unnecessary, they will probably mention to people that you can also go to “g.me” as a shortcut but I doubt it will get much advertising budget spent on it, and everyone will still go to plus.google.com or whatever they have been trained to do.
JP, you’ve gotta think ahead
A good way to put g.me to use is much like Facebook implemented facebook.com/username.
Currently G+ has no system that makes it easy to remember the URL of member profiles. G.me/username could be one possible solution. It’s definitely easier to type than plus.google.com/username
Then again, it could also be one of those “defensive” pickups
It could be an alternative way to say “friend me” … “G me”
Claiming trademark rights on “friending” will be more difficult than claiming rights to “G me”
I bet Google is behind the registered trademark G.COM disguising themselves as G-dotcom LLC .http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=78765291
Unfortunately Overstock also holds a registered trademark on G.COM having secured O.CO and O.INFO.
http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=78670745
Could this turn out to be the greatest trademark battle in history?
@ Brian – I highly doubt that’s Google. Look at the specimen that was submitted with the application.
@ Andrew – I have seen the specimen but I still believe Google has a hand in this. A good example is Amazon’s A.Com . http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=78765287
I have been following these applications for a while , started as a mysterious company then suddenly the application was taken over by an Amazon Attorney, abandoned and paved way for the current Amazon’s A.COM trademark.
http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=78765319
Same old tricks of going through MarkMonitor or private individuals .
It could be an
alternative way to say
“friend me” … “G me”
Claiming trademark
rights on “friending”
will be more difficult
than claiming rights to
“G me”
like seriously it’ll be cool