Reglikedomain industry desk

Launches Sans Domain Name — Facebook Deals

Launches Sans Domain Name — Facebook Deals

Facebook gets its deals on, but without FacebookDeals.com.

Facebook formally launched its fresh deals offering today in five test cities (counting my hometown of Austin, Texas.) Here’s what I see when I go to Facebook.com/deals:

One thing the social networking behemoth doesn’t have is the domain name FacebookDeals.com. That domain was registered way back in 2006 and has been protected by a whois proxy ever since.

Not having this domain isn’t a bit loss for the firm. People come to Facebook.com anyway, and I suspect most awareness of the Deals offering will come through social interaction while users are logged in to Facebook.

The caveat is that the domain name could be used in a way that damages Facebook’s brand, such as an online sweepstakes that looks like it’s part of Facebook. Or a phishing attempt.

For now the domain name resolves to a simple 1&1 “coming soon” page.

Also on the wire

Other reporting from the domain desk.

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