Finding and registering an available domain name just became even easier. Now you can do it via Twitter thanks to Tweetname. Founder Philip Kaplan (aka “Pud,” the former CEO of AdBrite) argues that Tweetname makes domain purchasing much simpler than going through other domain registrars like GoDaddy, which requires you to actually go its site. In truth, it is not that complicated but Tweetname aims to make domain registering Tweet-simple. You set it up once and then it does all the work for you.
Once you log into Tweetname for the first time, the site uses OAuth to connect to your Twitter account. You fill out your credentials, including name, address, credit card info, billing info and then Tweetname automatically follows you and arranges for you to follow Tweetname.
After this is set up, you can Tweet a potential domain name via a direct message to Tweetname, and Tweetname within seconds will let you know if it is available (”Success!”) or not (”D’oh”), and will purchase and register the domain for you. Domains, which can be registered under .com .net .org .us .name .biz .info, cost $14.95. You then get an email with all the information about where you can manage the domain. Tweetname provides users a free interface where they can manage their domains, set up email addresses, set up url forwarding, and so on.
UPDATE: Kaplan tells us that after seeing the comments on this post, he has dropped the price of the domains to $11.95 per year.
Here’s a instructional video that shows how Tweetname works:
I’d rather order my Starbucks via twitter.
Yeh I completely agree. Starbucks is a lot easier than this. Why would you think this was going to be a good idea?
Think drunk people. Get them to register a stupid domain name before the sober up and realize it’s just that. Brilliant, actually.
Really really stupid. Trying to get away by charging $14.95 to register a domain name that should be really less from other providers. Another con artist trying to jump on the Twitter game. Both 1&1 and GoDaddy do a really nice job to register Domain Names along with Google. They all charge less with additional services.
In my opinion 1and1, with CEO Oliver Mauss, is a horrible company and many customers have voiced a host of complaints on various blogs.
It should be a warning that when their phone is answered by a recording that tells you if you have gotten a notice from NCO, a collection agency, to press a certain number. If they are a reputable business, why do they have to send so many accounts to a collection agency?
Patrick Frey (Patterico) of the Los Angeles District Attorneys Office alleges his domain was high jacked and put up for auction on SEDO. SEDO is an associate company of 1and1.
Patterico: “I believe I’m facing massive incompetence, thievery, or very possibly a deliberate combination of the two. It feels like evil intent — but not for political reasons. It feels like cyber extortion — people going after the almighty dollar. Commenter’s have pointed out corporate ties between 1&1, which can’t seem to process my timely renewal, and Sedo/Domcollect, which stood to profit from 1&1’s failure. Usually, corporate incompetence does not earn the corporation money — but 1&1 and its related companies have found a way to make money off of their own slipshod procedures.”
Patterico was able to regain his domain.
Also Investigative journalist, Kelli Jack, has written 30 articles about this company and has a suit pending against them. Kelli alleges that 1and1 stole her domain name and sold it. Kelli states: “1and1 should be shut down.” As of today Kelli is working with the Pennsylvania Attorney General.
I have filed complaints with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Trade Commission, Eastern Pennsylvania Better Business Bureau, ICANN, and others. I recommend everyone else having a problem consider doing the same.
The Washington DC, Pennsylvania Better Business Bureau has given 1and1 their lowest rating: “F.” Read comments on the BBB why. Read some customer comments on Red Flag.
Don’t bother trying to access my 2 URL: warthpublishinginc.com, Migraine-Abort.com
They are gone with my money and hundreds of domains I had at 1and1.
Warth Publishing Inc
Hm, I love you Twitter but I would leave my Credit and billing info over you when hell freezes over
Daniel
https://spideroak.com – Free Online Backup and File & Folder Sync
@daniel If you get an Amex, you’re responsible for zero if fraud occurs
It’s 2009 and there are still people who think that they’re responsible if someone puts fraudulent charges on their card?
Google Option works for me.
http://www.goog...%20registration
I have a great idea for http://www.worstpizza.com that I will be using twitter for, it should be exciting
@lapp nice site. Cool idea!
this is just dumb and anyone who uses it from twitter are dumb as well
I see what you did there.
@peterUrban hilarryass. Re: order your starbux via Twitter.
What a lame application! Why would I use tweetname to even find if a domain name is available. instantdomainsearch.com will do it for me pretty easily. And I should decide from which site I’ll buy the domain name, based on the cost structure and various other things. I can’t believe this application coming from a great entrepreneur. Even budding entrepreneurs are creating useful apps out of twitter, one of my fav apps so far is http://www.boilingpage.com that shows the hottest pages on the web based on how popular they are in twitter. Pudd should learn something from these guys
Is this guy also responsible for http://fast140.com?
The “start” buttons are identical…
Shouldn’t Pud wait for Adbrite to be formally added to the deadpool before he forces this upon us?
Another example of how twitter is on the forefront of the globalist, smartist web 2.0 boom. Twitter.com is possibly worth 12 billion. NO recession in the Silicon Valley http://iamned.com/blog/
It’s also possibly worth $-55 million or any other number you care to dream up. Isn’t possibility wonderful? Idiot.
I’m the second wisest human in the world.
Why would you want to couple domain name discovery with purchase? Just because you discover a domain name is available, doesn’t mean you want to buy it. This is stupid. In addition, it adds complexity to an already established process. Why would you highlight this service? It offers no practical benefit.
The truly most worthless use of twitter in a long time!
Check out http://www.cyclan.com
At least we *attempt* to put the data from twitter to good use. And i’m saying “Attempt” in the loosest possible way!
Really, Pud?
Pud just needs to bring back FuckedCompany.com
That was his best creation. Everything else is just weak.
Pup was fired from Adbrite sometime ago – he is no longer “chairman”. I guess that’s why he has time to come up with screwball sites like these.
two words: mini cooper
I was going to say this is a retarded idea.
However I work for a domain registrar and we are yet to be featured on Techcrunch, so who is the idiot?
If you not Godaddy then your nobody. LOL…..
Marketing spin … domain name registration is hardly onerous at the moment. You need to visit the website to manage the domain anyway.
I just don’t get all those loosy startups like tweetname, topify & dozen others trying to sell their useless 10 lines of code products using the twitter hype.
OMG are you serious? I hope they don’t have investors. Be a shame for them to lose their money.
I can register a domain for $7.49 in less then 3 minutes. Why would I use this service.
I have some better ideas if they need someone to bail them out of this dead end venture.
the first useful twitter app i have ever seen, many times when i am in restaurant or cafe with friends and we talk about stuff, great domains come to my mind, and it would be great if i could immediately register them, now i know how
I’d rather pay $8 with godaddy…you gotta be really lazy and clueless to use twitter to register a good domain name.
Why pay $12 to this service when I can do this from 1and1 at $6 to $9?
Have you tried to transfer out your domains from 1and1? That’s where you will see the problem.
“much simpler than going through other domain registrars like GoDaddy, which requires you to actually go its site”
So, dont I still need to go to twitter.com and write the DM (or your preferred twiter client)? This is simpler than going to godaddy.com and typing the domain name?
Pup! Stop screwing around with these dumb sites and pay attention to me!
- Ilona
I can’t believe TC is covering a Pud Kaplan site. *lol*
Just bought a website using tweetname.com – The service is easy to use and well done. I might not always want to buy so it would be nice to check availability without having to buy.
How much did they pay you for this comment?
“I might not always want to buy so it would be nice to check availability without having to buy.”
Seriously man, you look like a shill. No registrar makes you buy when you check name availability, lame justification.
I agree, I just bought tweetnamefail.com and it was fast and easy!
I can get my domain name for only $9.95 at http://www.needname.com. I don’t see the difference anyway.
Regards,
EM @ KING.NET
this is the most ridiculous twitter app I have ever heard of. Too bad it is coming from Pup!
Coming up next, you can now book your airline ticket via twitter for only $100 extra… http://www.tweetairlines.com.
Not every thing that can be done should be done.
my thoughts exactly.
… and just because it can be done on Twitter doesn’t mean it should be done.
Hmm.. not exactly the way I would like to manage domain names…
not a bad idea at all…it actually gave me the lightbulb to come up with wankatwit.com….which allows you, for a recurring monthly fee of $14.95 to connect and share porn pics and vids with fellow wankers on twitter, but only to those who have registered a domain name via tweetname – we are trying to keep the wanker community exclusive…….
update – all wankers can now sign up for $11.99
If pud still ran fuckedcompany this one would join the ranks. . . all the other registrars will implement this soon enough. Silly.
Question is will people rather pay more for “one-time convenience” of registering a domain ? In addition that domain can be auto-renew or with reminder.
This is competitive market where established player capitalize on economies of scale for reduced domain price. Probably reason why Godaddy could offer COM domain for $6.99
Twitter related stuff goes a step to far?
Pup comes up with several of these throwaway sites. The only thing I don’t get is how this one got covered by TC. Also, Pup is no longer even Chairman of AdBrite. “Iggy” canned him.
Why would anyone pay 11.95 for a domain name. I guess newbies?
If you sign up for this service (and seemingly other of Pud’s throwaway Twitter businesses @fast140) you will automatically follow the account (with no warning).
You will also tweet-spam all your friends with no option to opt out (though it’s mentioned briefly in the fine print, you might not notice it).
I have crazy amounts of respect for Pud’s past businesses (like FuckedCompany and Adbrite) and cannot for the life of me understand why someone so reputable is resorting to shady practices. Worse, it’s undermining my trust in third party applications built on Twitter in general and I’m sure I’m not the only one.
Twitter needs to address this, fast.
If Twitter wants people to use third party apps and encourage development of them, it really should address how the oAuth can be used and warn users exactly how an application intends to use their data.
Actually there is a “Send tweet” opt-out on http://www.Tweetname.com
I setup a Twitter whois checker (@WhoisBot) where you simply direct message a domain and it direct messages back whether it’s available. The precondition is you follow @WhoisBot and give enough time for it to auto-follow back. All messages are deleted and not logged on our server and queries internic.
Why would you need this tied into one registrar? I use another service I found on twitter, TXTREGISTRAR.COM and I have a choice of several of the top registrars which means I get MUCH better pricing than 14.95
Anyone can get a reseller account and make the money instead. Next they’ll be tweeting their meat.