Are off to a strong start with brands — .App domains

Over 2,000 .app domains have been registered during sunrise.

If sunrise is any indication, Google’s .app domain name is going to shoot out of the gates.

Sunrise began March 29 and there are by now 2,225 names in the zone file. During sunrise, only trademark holders that have registered their marks with the Trademark Clearinghouse can register domain names.

I suspect that firms realize this is one of the better top level domain names and are also concerned regarding phishing and fake apps that could be distributed at these domains.

Apple has been particularly active, registering 75 .app domain names by my count. Microsoft has 41 and Bank of America has 27 .app domains.

Following Sunrise, a dutch auction early access period will begin on May 1. General availability starts May 8.

While there is an opportunity for domain investors, many of the names have premium prices. Regarding 2% of the hundreds of names I searched for did not have a premium.

Also, domain names must have an SSL certificate to resolve.

Google paid $25 million for the rights to run .app.

Full details regarding the launch are here.