Google's parent "Alphabet" is facing it's identity crisis. The domain owner is a world class automobile manufacturer, BMW!


It is obvious that before choosing a name google ( Alphabet ) should googled the name if it's available or not. If so, Mr. Page and Mr. Brin would have discover that this name is already taken by one of the renowned company BMW the German  automaker. Interestingly BMW does not want to sell this name ( domain ) to google.

At BMW, Alphabet is a subsidiary company which provides services to corporation with vehicle fleets. Micaela Sandstede, a BMW spokesperson in Munich said that "We are not planning to sell the domain.". The website has a "active part" on Alphabet's business, she added.

Not only BMW, lots of small and medium sized company use the name Alphabet. For Instance, There is an Alphabet Energy in Hayward, Calif.; an Alphabet Record Company in Austin, Tex.; an Alphabet Plumbing in Prescott, Ariz.; and numerous preschools, inns and restaurants with some variation of the name.

There is a small recruitment and outsourcing firm in London called Alphabet. The secretary of this company Steve Lockwood said "It's quite flattering that they choose our name. We certainly not going to sue them. Perhaps, if they wants to make a generous offer for the domain we will think about it  "

Y Combinator founder Paul Graham wrote a blog post about domain name importance just days before google's announcement of their new name.

"it is an absolute must for companies to own the .com domain for their names. Domains aren't as important for finding a company's online presence as they used to be, not owning the .com domain 'signals weakness'."

In spite of everything, google doesn't seem very worried because Alphabet already has it's own website: Alphabet . Also Alphabet's CEO Mr. Larry page mentioned in his blog
“Don’t worry,We’re still getting used to the name too!”

Information Source:  

1. http://goo.gl/n3vD1U
 2. http://goo.gl/A83nCJ 

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