Daily Domainer

It's been an exciting week for domainers!

Below is a summary of this week's top stories.

If we missed any noteworthy events, topics or opinions, the comments section is all yours.

• RegisterFly's Implosion Nears Its Bizarre End
  What's next? ICANN is authorized to transfer RegisterFly's domains to a new registrar "as soon as practical", according to an April 27, 2007 injunction (pdf file). So far, ICANN has received four applications from prospective registrars. Once the transfer is complete, RegisterFly will likely collapse. Cogit Group (Report), Frank Schilling and others have tried to buy the embattled registrar but were apparently rejected by Kevin Medina.
• Exodus: 8% of .EU Domains Drop
  Some of our readers believe this is a good sign (the exodus could have been much worse), others blame speculators and bureaucratic management for .EU's massive failure to win the hearts, minds and actual websites of Europeans.
• Skype Goes After Skype-Watch.com
  Skype enrages bloggers and domainers by going after one of its most ardent supporters.
• .mobi Breaks 500,000 Barrier
  dotMobi has come a long way and the registry team has proven to have excellent marketing and PR skills. But not everyone is convinced of .mobi's long-term viability.
• Cybersquatting Attracts Media Attention
  MarkMonitor, a company that specializes in brand protection, alerts brand owners that they are at risk of losing brand value, customer loyalty and revenue to cybersquatters, PPC fraudsters, domain kiters, phishers, and other criminals. The solution? Why, MarkMonitor of course. They offer comprehensive services that safeguard brands, reputation and revenue from brandjacking and other online risks.
• .TV is Turned On… Again.
  Demand Media relaunches .TV and sells $500,000 worth of premium domains within the first 24 hours. But, it turns out that the once-off purchase price is also the annual renewal fee, and even that is "subject to change".
• Microsoft + Yahoo = Pump & Dump?
  Friday morning, the New York Post reported in an exclusive story that Microsoft is in acquisition talks with Yahoo. Widespread euphoria and speculation initially sent Yahoo stock up more than 15%. That same afternoon, the Wall Street Journal reported that the talks are no longer active. Was it all an elaborate pump & dump scheme? As with all such stories based on anonymous sources, it's hard to know what to believe. If Microsoft wants to catch up with Google, acquiring Yahoo certainly makes a lot of sense. So does buying out domainers.

If you enjoy the Daily Domainer, consider subscribing to our free daily email newsletter for exclusive features such as domaining tips, a domain marketplace, analysis of domain sales stats, free domain appraisals, and lots more. Subscribe here.