report .app/.com cross-zone analysis

[Kate]

In this exercise we are going to compare .app registrations against .com.
The same exercise can be applied to other nTLDs.

Materials needed:

• .com zone file
• .app zone file

I used today's zone files.
The counts are as follows:

• .com: 133051790 unique domains
• .app: 198097 unique domains

The goal is simple. For every .app domain registered and found in the .app zone file, let's find out if the .com 'counterpart' is registered. For the purpose of this analysis the counterpart means this: domain + 'app' + .com
For example if abc.app is registered, we check if abcapp.com is registered. We could also check if abc.com is registered, as there must be a few domains registered in .app that are available in .com (and other extensions)

I will spare you with the scripting here, and cut to the chase.
Out of 198097 .app domains, 45876 'counterparts' are found in the .com zone file. That is 23.16%.
The difference is 76.84%. So that means that three quarters of all registered .app domains are not registered in their .com 'equivalents', if only for defensive registration purposes.

In my humble opinion, it is not a good idea to register a nTLD while leaving the .com counterpart unregistered. Why: bleeding traffic, defensive registration etc.

Also, buying something.app when somethingapp.com is not even registered suggests that it is a dubious investment in the first place, because the demand for the combo does not even exist in .com.
Again, just imho.

Besides, the vast majority of registered domain in .app probably don't make sense, and are not really usable for any practical purpose.

 

[anantj]

That's why spamming is so easy ..... want website development ?

The zone file does not contain whois information!

 

[Vimal Kumar]

And how would that experience be made better thanks to .app...??

IMO Google should plan to give results based on .app extension. Eg, if keyword 'Live Soccer' is being searched, livesoccer.app should appear first, followed by other apps closely matching the keyword. This is a structured way results should throw up. .app should be the way an app is identified. Similarly, there are lakhs of apps which are tough to find as they have similarly named apps. This is a big opportunity for Google to systemize it.

 

[MadAboutDomains]

IMO Google should plan to give results based on .app extension. Eg, if keyword 'Live Soccer' is being searched, livesoccer.app should appear first, followed by other apps closely matching the keyword. This is a structured way results should throw up. .app should be the way an app is identified. Similarly, there are lakhs of apps which are tough to find as they have similarly named apps. This is a big opportunity for Google to systemize it.

It wouldn't be very useful, because livesoccer.app is probably owned right now by a domain hoarder.

Update: YUP! lol

 

[Vimal Kumar]

It wouldn't be very useful, because livesoccer.app is probably owned right now by a domain hoarder.

Update: YUP! lol
Show attachment 88093

lol. What we are discussion is the opportunity Google has to streamline its app. If the keyword domain is not acquired/ developed, then the next closest match results would throw up. Will Google do this? I dont know. Can Google do this? yes it can. There is an issue and there is a likely solution

 

[MadAboutDomains]

lol. What we are discussion is the opportunity Google has to streamline its app. If the keyword domain is not acquired/ developed, then the next closest match results would throw up. Will Google do this? I dont know. Can Google do this? yes it can. There is an issue and there is a likely solution

I reckon they'd struggle, because they own .APP and they've been in trouble before for favouring their own services and search results over others. They can however attempt to influence people to start using .APP domains.

 

[Lawismything]

I reckon they'd struggle, because they own .APP and they've been in trouble before for favouring their own services and search results over others. They can however attempt to influence people to start using .APP domains.

If a keyword like app is used they could introduce a app section which could help a lot. Doesn’t need to be the search result

 

[MadAboutDomains]

If a keyword like app is used they could introduce a app section which could help a lot. Doesn’t need to be the search result

A section displaying apps that use .APP names? If you search on Google for "live soccer apps", it recognises that already and displays results from the play store. Where does .APP come into it I'm a bit confused?

 

[Joe N]

IMO Google should plan to give results based on .app extension. Eg, if keyword 'Live Soccer' is being searched, livesoccer.app should appear first, followed by other apps closely matching the keyword. This is a structured way results should throw up. .app should be the way an app is identified. Similarly, there are lakhs of apps which are tough to find as they have similarly named apps. This is a big opportunity for Google to systemize it.

Kind of sounds like going back to the days of giving too much strength to EMDs. Want to rank for an app about Honey Roasted Barbecue Peanuts? All you have to do is register HoneyRoastedBarbecuePeanuts.app and you'll rank #1. Kind of a step backwards for Google...

The way .app sites would be ranked would be the same as any other site: based on quality content and backlinks. And in that case, it doesn't matter if you own a .app, .com, .net, or .beer... if you have the best site authority, you rank #1. And so the best and most efficient way to find an app you want to download is still... wait for it... the App Store!

 

[Michael M]

Interesting information @Kate.

I only have a handful of .app domains, but was happy to see the majority were already registered in .com. (DN + "app" .com)

 

[Premiums]

Similar New
Domain Extensions
.app | .mobile | .phone | .mobi

 

[Dave]

The zone file does not contain whois information!

The logic at work here is differentiation of the zone file on a day to day basis. You can determine newly registered domains and automate crawling WHOIS information to retrieve the registrant email address.

 

[rafaelo0]

This reminds me when apps started, most would say "applications are the future of the computing industry" and “This is the future of digital distribution for everything: software, games, entertainment, all kinds of content.”.

They did make a big impact but they weren't the future of the computing industry. I think it's the same with .app to much high expectations.

There will probably be some kind of a market for them but won't be a game changer and certainly won't be the future for the app market.

 

[smartwebby]

Interesting study Kate!

Google is just getting a piece of the "domaining" pie that so many registries are cashing in on (Smart move I feel). I don't think they will use it in either of the scenarios mentioned. However .APP does sound better than much of the junk out there but heavily depends on usage by app developers (who would obviously go for the .COM - if they don't already have it - as soon as they generate enough money). Everyone investing in NGTLDs know that they are gambling unless they have actual development plans. Defensive registrations/purchases by paranoid end users is the only way these gambles can pay off right now imho.

Doesn't Google own the .WEB extension too?... waiting to see what they do with it!!

 

[-EM-]

Search.app is different with searchapp.com
In other words generic/keywords.app are not the same with generic/keyrowrds/app.com
The analyse comparison isn't the great, but it can still be used.
Good work

 

[MadAboutDomains]

Doesn't Google own the .WEB extension too?... waiting to see what they do with it!!

Nope, Google don't own .WEB

 

[vkwebdev]

I was inspired by this thread to make some research. Thanks @Kate

I checked all .app registered domain names to see how many of them have free .com alternatives

For Keyword.app domain name

160 733 KeywordApp.com domains are available to register
view full list in Google Sheets

5 364 Keyword.com domains are available to register
view full list in Google Sheets

5 258 Keyword and KeywordApp.com domains are available to register
view full list in Google Sheets

 

[anantj]

IMO Google should plan to give results based on .app extension. Eg, if keyword 'Live Soccer' is being searched, livesoccer.app should appear first, followed by other apps closely matching the keyword. This is a structured way results should throw up. .app should be the way an app is identified. Similarly, there are lakhs of apps which are tough to find as they have similarly named apps. This is a big opportunity for Google to systemize it.

So essentially you're saying we should go back to the days of EMDs getting a bump in SERPs? And How would it compare to live-soccer.app, live.app (which can be used for live soccer), soccer.app, soccerlive.app and so on? Which one should be placed first and on what basis? Assuming they're all developed with related or the similar content (hypothetical exercise)? Based on your logic, none of the others should rank high even if one of them is superior to the rest. Where should EPLLiveSoccer.app appear for live soccer? Or what about livefootball.app and so on?

Oh and what about if an app does not have the matching .app domain but is really really well designed with high quality official live feeds, no ads, no malware and uses a brandable name with no live or soccer in it's name itself. It should not show up at all right?

 

[JamieHines]

I'm currently listening to 'Bawitdaba' by the great Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiid Rock! So do Google have any real plans for .app? I've heard little since the launch and I tried to listen to their boring conferences on the matter, but I fell asleep... twice. Well, hopefully .app will keep Russia and their .ru and .pro popups at bay. DON'T VISIT PORN SITES KIDS.

 

[Dave]

Kind of sounds like going back to the days of giving too much strength to EMDs.

But Joe.. those were the good old days.

 

[Rhythm8]

What I see clumsy attempts to justify the existence of a TLD.

Then I reckon you really need to stop with the clumsy attempts to justify the existence of .com