Reglikedomain industry desk

Best Buy promotes “phone freedom” in Super Bowl, but not fresh domain name

Best Buy promotes “phone freedom” in Super Bowl, but not fresh domain name

Firm protected brand with domain purchase but doesn’t use it yet.

Best Buy’s Super Bowl commercial yesterday promotes what Best Buy calls “Phone Freedom”, although it doesn’t call it that by name in the ad.

But it helps explain why the firm paid $2,588 to buy PhoneFreedom.com last month.

I received an email promotion from the firm today that touts phone freedom:

At the bottom of the email is a link to BestBuy.com/phonefreedom.

Paying such a modest price for PhoneFreedom.com certainly makes sense, even if the firm doesn’t plan to push traffic to PhoneFreedom.com. It’s good for brand protection.

That stated, I’m baffled by the decision to not at least forward PhoneFreedom.com to the Best Buy site. I think someone dropped the ball here.

Also on the wire

Other reporting from the domain desk.

Patent for evaluating typeability of domain names — Verisign getsUncategorizedPatent for evaluating typeability of domain names — Verisign getsOffer Asian IDNs starting April 15 — .Co toUncategorizedOffer Asian IDNs starting April 15 — .Co toRUncategorizedReturns to Host Domain Masters Radio Show — Victor PittsIUncategorizedIn Da Club, 50 Cent, and Fresh TLD marketingCUncategorizedCould be 20,000 or 30,000 TLDs in 20 years: Frank SchillingReglike Turns 13: Happy BirthdayUncategorizedReglike Turns 13: Happy BirthdayOUncategorizedOf .travel, .aero, .pro, .museum and more — The fateBe a bad phishing campaign for stealing domains — This couldUncategorizedBe a bad phishing campaign for stealing domains — This couldDUncategorizedDonuts releasing 2 character domain names this stretch