Apple buys "mobileme.com" domain name?
TUAW is hearing that Apple recently acquired the domain name "mobileme.com." This domain name, would of course agree with the recent rumors of the .Mac re-branding to gain the "Mobile Me" name. However, the domain name is currently in the hands of Apple's registrar, Mark Monitor.When you query the domain with a whois search, the following information is revealed about the domain name:
Domain Name: MOBILEME.COM
Registrar: MARKMONITOR INC.
Whois Server: whois.markmonitor.com
Referral URL: http://www.markmonitor.com
Name Server: NS1.MARKMONITOR.COM
Name Server: NS2.MARKMONITOR.COM
Status: clientDeleteProhibited
Status: clientTransferProhibited
Status: clientUpdateProhibited
Updated Date: 07-aug-2007
Creation Date: 23-aug-2002
Expiration Date: 23-aug-2009
This rumor comes after Apple recently bought the me.com domain name.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
xtremesniper said 3:40PM on 6-02-2008
"Creation Date: 23-aug-2002"
Wouldn't that mean they had this in mind for a loooong time coming now?
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conigs said 3:47PM on 6-02-2008
If I remember my whois info correctly, the creation date is the original date the domain was registered. It might not have originally been Apple. Just like it seems they recently purchased the me.com domain from someone else, they might have done the same with mobileme.com (though possibly back in August of 07 judging by the modified date).
NJ said 4:23PM on 6-02-2008
Before going on to the possible new website, how does anyone even have any idea that .Mac is getting replaced? The very file which contains the MOBILE_ME_SERVICE_NAME_ string contains a reference to .Mac using the name .Mac.
Also, many companies use MarkMonitor, as it's a corporate registrar
For example:
Domain Name: GOOGLE.COM
Registrar: MARKMONITOR INC.
What now? Apple buys google.com because it has the name MarkMonitor?
There's no evidence to support a shift from .Mac to MobileMe, so I don't understand what anyone is getting worked up over.
On that note, however, MobileMe could be a brand new service that has nothing to do with .Mac, or even an extension of the service. It could also be a case of "we put it there to make you wonder." I suppose we'll find out on the 9th, in either case.
My take: It's either an application within the iPhone or an extension of .Mac for the iPhone. The Main.strings file in question makes me believe that .Mac is staying around for a while.
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Z said 5:27PM on 6-09-2008
So what do you think now, NJ? All those idiot prognosticators can suck it, right???
NJ said 8:29PM on 6-09-2008
Please, I know how to admit when I'm wrong. I simply don't like rumor mongering, as many websites are apt to do. Often they tend to be very, very wrong. Being skeptical does not mean that I'm going to come back, when I find out I'm wrong, and tell everyone "LULZ SUCK IT" like a moron. Don't come around and make stupid comments using big words that you don't understand trying to defend your precious blog, -only- when you're certain you'll be right. What if they'd been wrong? You wouldn't have commented saying "Wow you were so right, they should all ," I'm sure.
In any case, prognostication implies mystical powers of prophecy. I don't think even the Apple rumor mongers claim that one.
Devin P. said 4:26PM on 6-02-2008
If diffidently for iPhone/iPod Touch. I mean, what about all the people with a .Mac email? The what do they do?
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Kev Orng said 8:27AM on 6-03-2008
Diffidently? It's shy or modest? :)
Devin P. said 3:01PM on 6-03-2008
Oops. :P
Aron T said 4:31PM on 6-02-2008
I'm more curious as to whether they're going to register "mobile.me"
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Joe said 4:49PM on 6-02-2008
If you're going to ask a question in your title, then ask a question. Do not follow a "statement" with a question mark (as in "Apple buys mobileme.com domain name?")
Why not title your article: Did Apple buy mobileme.com domain name?
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Hat said 4:54PM on 6-02-2008
I wouldn't be surprised if Apple means to upgrade .Mac into a more integrated service, that has the communal feel of a Flickr/youtube/facebook mashup. Making is as much about sharing with others as it is about online utilities/storage/hosting etc.
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Zach said 5:08PM on 6-02-2008
I don't care what they call .Mac; I just want it to work.
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Vince said 5:14PM on 6-02-2008
Is anyone else having issues with .Mac mail? Mail can't access the mail.mac.com mail server. :-/
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kory said 5:23PM on 6-02-2008
Yup. I was wondering the same thing. Mine's been down and out of wack for the past few hours.
..
Well shit, I can't even verify this, now can I?
Luboodreau said 7:21PM on 6-02-2008
Just got off the phone with support they had me deselect the SSL check box which changed the port number.
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Athtart said 7:55PM on 6-02-2008
Same here. .Mac email errors - timeouts and bad password errors.
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Sebastian said 8:28PM on 6-02-2008
FYI .mac website appeard to be down, Mail cant access email either...hummm
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PSM said 8:32PM on 6-02-2008
I don't know what to make of the .Mac mail problems today. My email has been messed up for over 7 hours in various ways. Is this because they're upgrading to MobileMe or whatever overnight (it is Tuesday, after all), or just .Mac being as slow and unreliable as ever? Nothing makes me doubt Apple as much as the disrespect they show for .Mac users who pay extra for an email address that becomes unusable for hours at a time, way too often, usually without even a notice on the website to indicate they know anything is wrong. This is my primary BUSINESS email address. If they think it's a toy that they can take away whenever they want then they should give it away for free and state as much.
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mark said 11:11AM on 6-03-2008
@NJ - there are rumors that .Mac will be overhauled/replaced:
http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/29/big-changes-coming-to-mac
"He went through the iCal Localizable.strings file in the recently released 10.5.3 update and found a number of changes. In particular, he found a lot of evidence that the .Mac brand name is going to be replaced. Apple is apparently using a placeholder %@ which will be dynamically replaced by the new name, whatever that is, when it's released."
in previous versions .Mac was hardcoded. why go through the trouble of replacing references with a placeholder if changes aren't on the horizon?
@Devin P.
nothing. messages sent to user@dotmac can be easily redirected to same.user@whatever.the.new.service.is.called
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iMagine_iNnovate_iNspire said 8:16PM on 6-03-2008
This is part of the itunes & google sync bridge -> aka "landmark event in more ways than one [image of twin GG bridges]"
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