Google Chinese Name Sparks Wave Of Domain Name Registrations

[sarcle]

Google's announcement (http://www.pacificepoch.com/newsstories/59458_0_5_0_M/) of its Chinese name Gu Ge in Beijing on April 12 has sparked a wave of registration of Guge-related domain names. Domain names including guge.org, guge.net, guge.tv, guge.info, guge.com.cn, guge.name, guge.cn, guge.net.cn, guge.biz, guge.org.cn, guge.com, guge.cc have been registered recently. A post on Baidu's BBS says that the domain name gugeguge.cn is being auctioned starting at 20,000 Yuan. There have been many reports that the Chinese domain name 歌谷.com was sold for 10,000 Yuan on April 12.

According to local media reports, Google registered the Chinese domain name 谷歌.cn on January 16. A domain names related to an English translation of Google's Chinese - valleysong.cn - has been registered by Hangzhou company 99dns.com. 99dns.com has also registered many other Google-related domain names including gbuy.cn, googlemail.cn, googletalk.cn, googletalk.com.cn, googleoffice.com.cn, googlemovies.com.cn, greader.cn, gcode.cn and imagesearch.cn.

Despite all the hoopla surrounding the new name launch, the Gu Ge name does not seem to appear anywhere on the Google.cn site.


http://www.pacificepoch.com/blog/59750_0_31_0_C/

[Rubber Duck]

http://www.pacificepoch.com/blog/59750_0_31_0_C/

Yes, the issuing of ICP licence seems to be the crux of this move, much as I suspected. If the Chinese issue a ICP licence for this IDN version then Google will more or less be forced to convert, which will create an avalanche or registrations in dot CN IDN from other western companies facing similar frustrations.

All sounds to me as though the Chinese authorities are being quite cunning, if not a little manipulative.

[touchring]

I saw a funny thread on guge alike names on a chinese forum. Someone registered 谷谷歌.com or gu gu ge.com, and one person post asking if he wants to open a website selling goose/turkey. :)

[blastfromthepast]

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41553000/jpg/_41553248_googlechina203ap.jpg

[Rubber Duck]

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41553000/jpg/_41553248_googlechina203ap.jpg

This is starting to look much more than precautionary registration. That looks like the launch of a rebranding of Google in the Far East to me. I would think that the symbols will probably be used in Korea and Japan as well.

Nice Once!

[blastfromthepast]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4903434.stm

[Rubber Duck]

Google is now using these symbols on the Google.cn website. Wonder if the IDN Url is working?

No, I can't get it to resolve but watch this space!

[touchring]

Both 谷歌.com and 谷歌.cn can't resolve.

Whether google is going to promote which one is going to affect the extensions.

[Rubber Duck]

Both 谷歌.com and 谷歌.cn can't resolve.

Whether google is going to promote which one is going to affect the extensions.

I think you can assume that they will publicise the dot CN. Google have a pattern of using local extensions for local markets, so I would expect that to continue especially as they are trying to snuggle up to Beijing. Of course having the dot com makes a lot of strategic sense as well.