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Goldkey Acquired by BuyDomains
Domain parking and monetization firm GoldKey says it has new ownership:
Today we are pleased to announce that GoldKey has been acquired by Domain Services, LLC (a division of YesDirect, Inc.). YesDirect also owns and operates BuyDomains.com, Seeq and the YesDirect Network, with more than 100 category sites. By joining the forces of these domain name industry leaders, we expect to significantly enhance domain parking performance, experience and overall value. In the coming weeks, look forward to new enhancements, features and opportunities to enjoy the benefits of the new Goldkey.
Posted by RichM 
March 17, 2006 | Permalink | Newsletter
March 2, 2006
1&1 Offers Free .info Domains
For a limited time, 1&1 Internet AG is offering .info domains at no charge for the first year of registration. "As less .com domains are available, it is important to give people the flexibility and alternatives they need to still have the Web identity that's best for them," said 1&1 Chairman Andreas Gauger. "This offer will allow more small businesses and individuals alike to make their distinct mark on the Internet."
1&1 cited recent studies finding that .info domains are becoming a viable addition or alternative to .com addresses. Some 2 million .info domains have been registered worldwide and Gauger said there are still plenty to go around. "As quickly as the .info extension has grown in popularity and acceptance, there is still a lot of room for new registrants to get their ideal address," he said. "And for those that do have a .com extension, it's very wise to register at .info as well. And now is the perfect time to do that with 1&1 because it's free!" The company did not say how long the free domain names would last.
Posted by RichM March 2, 2006 | Permalink | Newsletter
March 1, 2006
ICANN Approves VeriSign .com Agreement
After months of controversy, the ICANN board has voted 9-5 to approve the revised agreement with VeriSign for management of the .com registry ... perhaps forever. Bloggers Joi Ito and Susan Crawford were among the five board members to vote against the deal, which had been vigorously opposed by most major registrars.
This shouldn't come as a surprise anyone who has been tracking this issue. But the consternation over this agreement will last for some time, and may have implications for future support for ICANN. As has been widely noted, the agreeement gives VeriSign the ability to raise prices on an almost annual basis, with a cap of 10 percent per year.
Posted by RichM March 1, 2006 | Permalink | Newsletter