Reglikedomain industry desk

Free Domains “Gadget of the Year”: NYTimes

Just days following Wired Magazine called the .xxx domain delay one of the top 10 worst tech moments of 2005, The Fresh York Times has called Microsoft’s free domain offer one of the top 10 “Greatest Gadget Ideas of the Year.”

An article by David Pogue published today refers to Microsoft’s Office Live service, which will offer a free domain to all users:

“It took Microsoft, of all firms, to make getting your own dot-com name free. Its fresh Office Live online software suite for modest businesses, now in testing, will offer a domain name, Web site and e-mail accounts free. Yes, you’ll see ads on the screen (unless you pay for the adless version) – but plenty of people won’t mind viewing them in exchange for a free, professional-looking Web presence.”

Perhaps Pogue ought to have called the gadget of the year “cheap domains”, since more and more domain registrars are offering domains at rock-bottom prices. But Pogue isn’t declaring that just free domains are a great gadget, but the way Microsoft makes it easy for modest businesses to launch a web presence with little tech knowledge.

Also on the wire

Other reporting from the domain desk.

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