• On mySimon: Reservoir Dogs' Mr. Pink Action Figure
July 9, 2007 4:00 AM PDT

Bust A Name: Best domain name helper ever

by Rafe Needleman

All of the good ones are taken. URLs, that is. If you've got a new business or site to set up, it can be difficult and tiresome to find a good domain name that's available. A new site, Bust A Name, makes the process go more quickly.

Bust A Name creates site URLs you can actually buy.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Like Squurl, which I covered a year ago, Bust A Name scans the database of registered domains as you type. You just enter in the domain you want and quickly see if it's available.

You can also type in a few words and let Bust A Name mash them together until it finds an available URL, perhaps with a cute "ster" appended on it or a dropped e-before-r. For example, to set up my fictional online dry-cleaning service, I typed in "phosphor" and "fresh," and immediately found that "freshphosphor.com" is available, as is "phosphr.com." (If you want either, be my guest--as I said, the company is imaginary.)

When you're ready to buy your name, Bust A Name will pop you over to GoDaddy or another registrar.

One downside: If you really want a name that's taken, Bust A Name won't tell you by whom, or when the registration expires.

Found on: Del.icio.us.

Rafe Needleman writes about start-ups, new technologies, and Web 2.0 products, as editor of CNET's Webware. E-mail Rafe.
Recent posts from Webware
Closing chapter of Google Books saga near
Google to acquire AdMob for $750 million
After 5 years, Firefox faces new challenges
Review redux: Flixster movie app for BlackBerry
Popular iPhone movie app flops on BlackBerry
Opera Mobile 10 beta browser: First Look video
Google trying not to cross 'the creepy line'
Integrated retweet on its way to Twitter
Add a Comment (Log in or register)
by mp3indir April 8, 2008 7:09 AM PDT
Good thank u.
Reply to this comment
advertisement

About Webware

Say No to boxed software! The future of applications is online delivery and access. Software is passé. Webware is the new way to get things done.

Add this feed to your online news reader

Webware topics

After 5 years, Firefox faces new challenges

Mozilla helped reshape the Web since releasing Firefox 1.0 five years ago. Now it's got a reawakened Microsoft and Google Chrome to reckon with.

There's a map for that: GPS or smartphone?

Almost every handset comes with mapping software these days, but standalone GPS devices are becoming more affordable than ever.

Inside CNET News

Scroll Left Scroll Right