Overstock have launched their new online sales channel, O.biz. Overstock is the internet retailer who offer a wide variety of discounted consumer products. Their O.biz will provide quality, brand-name merchandise at discount prices, but focus on bulk and business-related purchases.

Initial offerings through the new site will be in the categories of: Office supplies, Restaurant supplies, Hotel supplies, and Medical supplies. There is also a deep section devoted to Office Furniture with many products offered across the most popular categories (computer workstations, office desks & chairs, file cabinets & book cases).

The O.biz domain name is incredibly quick & easy to type in. The “O” aligns perfectly with Overstock’s brand name, and should provide website users with a convenient, easy-to-remember destination when shopping online for business-oriented supplies.

Stats & Info: Patrick Byrne is the CEO of Overstock.com which was begun in 1999 with first year revenue only $1,835,000. In just nine years, Overstock’s sales have grown to $834,366,743 (2008 revenue).

The company is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah and employees 997 people. Overstock currently offer more than 2 million products online. The National Retail Foundation has ranked Overstock #2 in customer service nationwide providing the company a notable distinction among its peers.

The .BIZ web address was launched in 2002 and currently has over two million domain name registrations worldwide. Created specifically as the internet’s ”business” web address, the extension is now being adopted by professionals, small companies, and large corporations. The .BIZ address is managed by the Neustar Registry.

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The domain name, Miami.us, is currently available to the highest bidder at Sedo’s online auction. Miami is a hotspot, metropolitan destination with tons of big city cachet. At the moment, the reserve price of $15,000 has been met … and only 4 days left to go in the auction.

One thing is for certain, there are many wealthy residents, investors and Miami-area businesses that probably don’t even know Miami.us is on the auction block. The Miami Herald operate the corresponding .com site so one might assume they would have an interest in the outcome. Might some new online media network jump at the chance to give Miami’s millions another choice for online travel, news, entertainment, business, and social networking? We’ll see!

Speaking of Miami.us business uses, one could easily see the local real estate community gobble up this domain and launch one outstanding Miami real estate portal. Being a .US geo domain owner myself, I know the value of the .US namespace to foreign visitors who often assume that anything.us is the official web address here in the United States.

Hats off to Mr. Bruce Murray, listed as the official registrant of Miami.us in the Neustar whois registry. These are interesting times for premium domain enthusiasts. Can someone please get this auction on the 6:00 o’clock evening news? Deep pockets deserve to know.

Quick Update: Mr. Murray reports a pending Sedo sale for his CapeCod.info. He is also the owner of Anaheim.us, a great city & home of every child’s vacation dream … Disneyland.

Geo domains seem to be gathering steam these days. Dubai.info was recently sold via Great Domains for $35,000.

Final Update: Miami.us was purchased for $15,000. The new registrant is Site Method Media, LLC based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. An incredible acquisition for them.

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For the uninitiated, .US is the official country code domain of the United States. It was once reserved exclusively for the U.S. government, public schools and libraries, but finally became available for public registration in April 2002.

When .US availability was announced, scores of internet users and companies positioned themselves to acquire America’s top .US web address. The .US domain space garnered instant appeal. Savvy registrants considered the importance of American patriotism, the need for a .com alternative, and the fact that the U.S. economy was the # 1 business engine of all time. And so our story begins …

In the vast universe of domain name real estate, one occasionally comes across a very rare internet property. A brilliant star above the landscape which draws attention … and sparks imagination.

For me, it is a domain name registered to a man from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His name is Robert DeMartinis. Robert is the sole investor, registrant, and owner of …

One must restrain the hyperbole, and awe, that is often associated with discussing such a premium-quality internet property. The mind races with possibilities. I was actually introduced to the domain industry in 1999 while in bed one night listening to the 11:00 pm news. The TV news anchor announced with enthusiasm that the domain name, Business.com, had been sold for 7.5 million dollars. My mind froze for a second … and then the light bulb turned on. Years later, we now clearly understand the inherent value contained in a premium generic domain.

Business.com went on to be sold again in 2007 as a developed internet business. The purchase price was $345,000,000. It was acquired by telephone directory publisher, R.H. Donnelley, who outbid News Corp., Dow Jones & Company, The New York Times Company, and InterActiveCorp. No small corporate monikers there.

It’s relatively safe to say that Business.com is now permanently out of reach, and will be “occupied” for some time to come. Which leads us back to Mr. Robert DeMartinis and his jewel, Business.us. Make no mistake, Robert is an astute domain investor having acquired his gem through a series of strategic moves that required foresight, impeccable timing, and an odd dash of irony (an amusing story for another day). In case you’re curious, Robert holds other synergistic properties that compliment his portfolio quite well …

• Products.us
• Services.us
• Delaware.biz
• Housing.biz
• … among others.

Mr. DeMartinis, like many of us, is employed in another profession. Family, responsibilities, and the other callings of life often interfere with time needed to explore the next step for one’s portfolio. Sometimes, the next step is just a phone call away. Or, materializes as a unique and unexpected veer in the road ahead … a turn that is not yet seen, but which may arrive suddenly and with refreshing clarity. This mystery, and journey, are half the fun.

Possessing prime internet real estate is a uniquely rare opportunity. One in which impulsivity and haphazard decisions have no place. Mr. DeMartinis knows this, and he is in no hurry. I have no doubt that someday, as time allows, Mr. DeMartinis will fully ponder the paths available to him. For now, keeping one’s options open is a good play.

Until the eventual course of Business.us is one day revealed, I invite you to share your thoughts and speculations …

1. What enterprise, what exotic venture, might come to be launched via Business.us?

2. Is there an existing corporate entity who could elevate their US presence with Business.us?

3. Assuming a large corporate interest within the next 5 years, do you see this domain being acquired by a U.S. company, or a foreign investor? (assuming the foreign entity meets U.S. nexus requirements)

4. Which unique products, services, or business concepts could shape the future identity of Business.us?

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