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AdultBlock launched to block .XXX and other domains

by — Services 1 Comment

MMX releases new service to block brands in adult domain name extensions.

Logo for AdultBlock domain blocking serviceTop level domain registry MMX has launched a new service for companies to block their names on .xxx, .sex, .adult and .porn domains.

Called AdultBlock, the service blocks second level domain names in all four of its adult domain names. Brands can use AdultBlock+ to block variants of their domain, such as homoglyphs.

While wholesale pricing is not disclosed, the company states that it is priced at about a 35% savings over the equivalent price for registering a single name in all four extensions.

I can’t find any registrars promoting the service yet, but a likely candidate is 101domain.com, which works with lots of corporate customers. It charges $89.99 per year for each of MMX’s adult domains. A 35% discount would put the basic service at $234 per year.

Instra, another corporate domain registrar, charges $119 per year for adult domains. A 35% discount would put a block at about $310 per year.

While these are just estimates, it appears a one year block in the basic service will be in the $200-$350 range, and a ten year block will be over $2,000.

The service also covers premium domain names, so this could be a good way for a brand holder with a generic name to block domains without paying a hefty registration fee.

AdultBlock is open to companies with a record in the Trademark Clearninghouse or who participated in the .xxx Sunrise B program. Sunrise B was a post-sunrise program in which companies could pay to block their names in .xxx.

 

The beginning? Google to kill apps in favor of mobile web

by — Services 12 Comments

Company is killing its Adsense iOS and Android apps.

Picture of iPhone screen with app icons with words "Who needs Apps?"

Is it really necessary to have dozens of apps on your phone when businesses can duplicate the experience through a mobile-friendly website?

Here’s one answer to the question that might be a sign of things to come: Google is getting rid of its Adsense iOS and Android apps in favor of a common mobile website interface.

The company says this will allow it to focus its resources on one common interface that supports all platforms rather than managing three separate interfaces.

A lot of apps are merely dressed-up versions of what you can find on the company’s website. Still, I find that apps can be helpful for sites and services you access frequently. It’s nice to be able to just press an icon and be logged in to the service you want with a simplified interface.

At the same time, it seems wasteful for companies to have to manage two apps (iOS and Android) on top of a website. New technologies make it possible to simplify this into one interface with similar functionality.

41,000 .UK domains registered in first week

by — Services 14 Comments

41,000 .uk domains registered during massive drop of second level domains.

Over 41,000 second level .uk domain names were registered last week, the first week they were available to people that didn’t have a matching third-level .uk domain.

Back in 2014, .UK namespace overseer Nominet started allowing people to register second level domains such as example.uk. Before that, they had to register third level domains such as example.co.uk.

For five years, owners of existing third level domains were grandfathered and could register the matching second level domain.

The grandfathering period has ended and the second level domains are now available for registration by anyone.

Nominet says Z.uk was the most contested domain released last week. 80 registrars tried to register it on Friday. (Registrar “Dmitry Morgan” snagged it. That’s not a public registrar.)

Other highly contest domains include law.uk, k.uk and wedding.uk.

Of the 1.8 million newly-released second level domains, 2.26% were registered in the first week. There are a total of 3.65 million second level .uk domains registered so far.

BrandBucket acquires competitor Brandroot

by — Services 6 Comments

Large brandable domain marketplace swallows another.

Picture of domains at BrandBucket

BrandBucket, which specializes in brandable domain names, has acquired competitor Brandroot.

Brandable domain marketplace BrandBucket has acquired competitor Brandroot, the company announced today. The acquisition was completed June 20 and the price was not disclosed.

Combined, the two companies have 70,000 domain names and 1,000 domain sellers. Brandroot is the smaller of the two with about 20,000 domain names.

The site uses logos to sell complete brands to startups and other businesses.

As of now, both sites are operating. I wouldn’t be surprised if BrandBucket pulls Brandroot’s inventory into its own site and sunsets Brandroot in the future.

The company said sellers should stay tuned for more announcements about the acquisition and integration plans.

C’mon domain marketplaces, let’s make search better

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Another good search tool is gone, and I hope the domain marketplaces fill the void.

Graphic with the words Domain Search above a search box

I’ve commented before about how it’s frustrating that domain marketplaces such as Sedo and Afternic have horrible search. They are leaving lots of money on the table by not making their entire inventory searchable by more metrics.

This weekend I went to DomainTools’ marketplace section. It used to have a nifty tool to search for domains in the aftermarket. It scored each domain, giving a relative quality marker to its sorting algorithm.

Alas, DomainTools shut down its marketplace tools earlier this year. A message on its website states “DomainTools has retired the Domain Marketplace functionality as we increase focus on our security mission.”

I really hope marketplaces will take notice and make it easier for investors to search through their inventory. Sedo took some baby steps with its expired domain inventory but it’s time to do more.

I think that marketplaces could have a significant impact on liquidity and sell-through rates by improving the search experience.