Apple is coming!Enter the Internet industry with nearly 1,000 domain names!

Apple Inc., founded in 1976, has been in existence for 44 years. It stands as one of the world's most valuable technology companies, currently holding a market capitalization of $1.21 trillion and consistently ranking among the top of the Fortune Global 500 list. However, over the past few years, due to technological advancements and fierce competition within the industry, Apple's core hardware sales—primarily smartphones, tablets, and personal computers—have seen a continuous decline, impacting the company's performance and growth prospects.

According to recent reports from international sources, Apple has announced a significant geographical expansion of its internet services business. The company plans to extend its software store, Apple Music, and other services to dozens of countries in Africa, the Middle East, and various other regions. This marks Apple's largest expansion of internet services in almost a decade, with many of its offerings aiming for global coverage. As a result, Apple has been undergoing a transformation, evolving into a "semi-internet company," with an increasing portfolio of internet services.

In the realm of the internet industry, a crucial factor in securing a position is the choice of domain names. Apple possesses an impressive collection of domain assets that holds great appeal. Just the complete set of brand-related domains for its official website, such as Apple.com, Apple.com.cn, and Apple.com.cn, holds substantial value. A comprehensive inventory of Apple's domain names would likely astonish anyone, including a series of domains related to "iPhone," "icloud," and more.

"Apple" Domain Series

Apple's official website domain, Apple.com, was registered in 1987 and is one of the oldest domains globally. Apple's official website for China, Apple.com.cn, was registered in 2000. In early April 2014, Apple acquired the domain Apple.net. In August 2018, Apple purchased the brand-related domain AppleWallet.com through an expired domain auction on the DropCatch platform. Additionally, Apple owns domains like AppleMusicApple.com, ApplePayApple.com, AppleStoreApple.com, iBooksApple.com, and others following the "service/product+Apple.com" format. Furthermore, Apple holds significant influence in China, with a strong following of "Apple enthusiasts." Acquiring the two-letter domain pingguo.com.cn for China's official website, whether for redirection or direct entry, aligns well with Chinese language habits and would likely capture traffic from various age groups, thereby enhancing brand impact.

"i" Domain Series

Apple holds a total of 818 domains according to WHOIS data. Among these, those beginning with the letter "i" are predominant. Domains like icloud.com, imac.com, iwork.com, ichat.com, and ibook.com, are illustrative of this trend. The affinity for the "i" series of domains stems from Steve Jobs' belief that electronic products were inseparable from the internet. Starting with "i" was indicative of "Internet." In addition, "i" also represents "me" in English. Translated, iPhone and iPad mean "my phone" and "my tablet," respectively. In China, "i" sounds like "ai," which means "love."

After the launch of the iPhone, Apple acquired the domain iPhone.com, registered in 1995, for a sum in the seven-digit range. Apple also possesses domains like iphone.org and iphone.asia. Additionally, Apple successfully arbitrated domains like iPhone4s.com and iPhone5.com.

The cloud computing domain iCloud.com was acquired from Swedish IT service provider Xcerion in April 2011 for $5.2 million. Subsequently, Apple purchased over 170 additional domains related to iCloud from Xcerion, including iCloud.us, iCloud.eu, and iCloud.tv. In 2017, Apple invested around $1.5 million to acquire the iCloud.net domain, a process that spanned five years. With the acquisition of iCloud.net, Apple now holds all iCloud-related domains.

In 2018, the domain ibox.com was sought after by domain investors and various companies. Apple was willing to pay a million dollars to acquire it, but the owner declined, aspiring to establish a significant website independently. A valuable domain's worth goes beyond monetary measurement.

In recent years, Apple has developed various internet services, including Apple News, Apple Pay, Apple Music, and Apple TV+. Among these, Apple Music has garnered industry acclaim. Apple also holds premium domains such as iwatch.com, ipod.com, siri.com, lala.com, mac.com, and me.com, which are brand-related. Domains like apple.car, apple.cars, and apple.auto, directed towards the automotive industry, suggest a potential interest in entering that sector. Arbitrated domains include apole.com, iphonefc.com, ipodcleaner.com, MacBook7.com, and more. Altogether, Apple's strategic approach to domain management positions it well for future challenges.

With numerous quality domains and a commitment to preserving its brand, Apple has navigated its transformation into the internet industry with fewer obstacles. Coupled with continuous updates to the iOS system, Apple has demonstrated a keen understanding of domain selection. As the popularity of Apple's iPhones led to a surge in mobile applications, the company influenced a new era in mobile internet. Should Apple firmly establish itself in the internet sector, its substantial influence would undoubtedly generate significant traffic. For this, Apple would require more quality domains as website entry points. Undoubtedly, premium domains will become increasingly scarce, highlighting their value. The importance of domains is evident as more companies recognize their significance. As the foundation of the internet, domain names serve as keys for early-stage enterprise layout, bringing them closer to success.