Right out of the gate Microsoft fumbled the marketing of the XBox One – their new console that they need to succeed as a catalyst for growth. When choosing a name for a new product, wouldn’t most companies make sure the domain and other social media handles are available? Not Microsoft.
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2013/05/microsoft-doesnt-own-xboxonecom.html
So now Microsoft has to try to wrestle xboxone.com from some guy who bought the domain in late 2011. Kudos to the guy who thought to do that – I hope he settles for a big chunk of the pile of cash Microsoft is spending. Perhaps even worse, if Microsoft wants the Twitter handle Xboxone – they apparently have no recourse – other than to throw a pile of money at whoever has that.
I did a little checking – xboxtwo.com is owned by Microsoft (I had my credit card out just in case..). Someone in China registered xboxthree.com on May 21st-the day of Microsoft’s rollout. That person was thinking faster than Microsoft.
I will be watching with amusement at how this plays out – this doesn’t give me much confidence that Microsoft can execute the launch of this product any better than they did Windows 8.