Google was very aggressive in applying for new TLDs. They applied for 102 different extensions at a cost of $18.87 million (their actual spend will be higher as explained later). Some where obvious (like .google and .search) and others were head-scratchers (like .lol and .soy). Below I break down all the different TLDs Google applied for.
Brand TLDs
These are the top-level domains that protect Google’s brand and give Google the ability to allow domain sales or personalization (www.dustin.youtube, for example).
- AND (Android)
- ANDROID
- CHROME
- DCLK (DoubleClick)
- GOOG
- GMAIL
- YOUTUBE
Generic TLDs Directly Related To Google’s Business
These are TLDs that are clearly of interest to Google due to current areas that Google operates in.
- グーグル (Google in Japanese)
- ADS (Google Adwords & Ads)
- APP* (Android Apps)
- BLOG* (Blogspot)
- BOOK* (Google Books)
- CAL (Google Calendar)
- CLOUD* (Google Cloud Services or App Engine)
- DRIVE* (Google Drive or Google Self-driving cars)
- DOCS* (Google Docs)
- EARTH* (Google Earth)
- FILM* (YouTube, though this is a stretch)
- GBIZ (Google Business)
- HANGOUT (Google Hangout)
- MAIL* (Gmail)
- MAP* (Google Maps)
- MOV (YouTube .mov files)
- MOVIE* (YouTube)
- MUSIC* (Google Music)
- PAGE (Google Pages or Google+ pages)
- PLUS* (Google Plus)
- SHOP* (Google Shopping)
- TALK (Google Talk)
- TUBE (YouTube)
- SEARCH* (Google Search)
- SITE* (Google Sites)
- STORE (Google shopping or stores)
Generic TLDs Not Related to Current Google Efforts
These are TLDs that Google doesn’t really have a clear business reason to be in. These are interesting to look at as potential markets where Google would like to expand into.
- みんな (“Everyone” in Japanese)
- 谷歌 (“Valley Song” in Japanese)
- ARE
- BABY*
- BOO* (no idea why – Halloween sites?)
- BUY* (perhaps Google checkout or shopping)
- CAR
- CHANNEL
- CORP* (corporation)
- CPA* (certified public accountant or cost-per-aquisition)
- DAD
- DAY
- DDS
- DEV*
- DIY*
- DOG*
- DOT*
- EAT
- ESQ
- EST
- FAMILY*
- FLY
- FOO
- FREE*
- FUN*
- FYI*
- GAME*
- GLE
- GMBH* (German limited liability company)
- GOO* (assume they were thinking another version of Google)
- GUGE (Ancient Kingdom in Western Tibet)
- HERE
- HOME*
- HOW
- INC* (incorporated)
- ING (attempt to grab present tense verbs)
- KID
- LIVE*
- LLC* (limited liability company)
- LLP* (limited liability parntership)
- LOL (laugh out loud)
- LOVE*
- MBA* (Masters in Business Admin)
- MED*
- MEME
- MOM*
- MOTO*
- NEW
- NEXUS
- PET*
- PAGE
- PHD*
- PLAY*
- PROD
- PROF
- RSVP
- SHOW*
- SOY
- SPOT
- SRL
- TEAM
- TECH
- TOUR
- VIP
- WEB
- WOW
- YOU
- ZIP
All the results with an asterix (*) are one’s Google will have to win an auction to own the TLD rights. Interestingly, Google applied for .car and was the only one, but several will be bidding on .cars. Same goes with .kid – the plural version was bidded on by two others.
There are some notable TLDs Google didn’t apply for: .art, .audio, .cam, .cash, .cat, .chat, .city, .cpm, .cpc, .data, .deal, .directions, .discount, .eco, .family, .forum, .forsale, .foundation, .green, .group, .guide, .happy, .hotel, .humor, .help, .laugh, .ltd, .news,, .online, ..photos, .pics, .places, .reviews, .sale, .serp, .spam, .shopping, .shop, .store, .restaurant, .tickets, .travel, .video, .vote, and .wiki, and .wikipedia (just kidding).