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Microsoft grabs Xbox 8 domains, sends rumour mill into overdrive

Microsoft grabs Xbox 8 domains, sends rumour mill into overdrive

By Sanat Sinha | Updated: 4 July 2012 17:17 IST

As a part of its ongoing marketing strategy, Microsoft seems to be expanding on its acquisition of domain names. Such purchases are always the first to spark of rumours of a new product in the market and a specific name. This time it is the procurement of multiple ownerships, some of which include the domain name Xbox 8.

According to Fusible.com, Microsoft Corporation recently won two disputes over a batch of Xbox-related domains owned by a resident of China who apparently goes by the name "Cheng Juan". The disputed domain names include XboxPhone.com, XboxTablet.com, XboxLiveTV.com, XboxCompanion.com, and surprisingly, Xbox8.us and Xbox8.org.

The first four domain names obtained are understandable enough. But the last to come as a real surprise, especially since we were pondering that Microsoft would release the Xbox 720, according to online leaked documents. So where does this new Xbox 8 enter the picture from?

One view could be that with the onset of the new Windows 8, Microsoft may design and release a new Xbox of the same numerical name so that it appears as one unified set of products, equating the release of the operating system with the console.

Another curious inversion of the number 8 could be the word infinity, which is represented by the number 8 written on its side, ergo leading to the name Xbox Infinity. A far simpler interpretation would be on the basis of the age of the console, which completes its eighth birthday next year.

Despite the wild theories of speculation, it is important to keep in mind that companies often secure domains for products that they aren't even currently working on, and may never even make. Microsoft could just be protecting its trademarks and has no actual plans for a product known as Xbox 8. Apple, for example, recently secured the rights to iPhone5.com when it is currently unknown what the next iPhone will be called.

Only time will tell which of our theories is true. But one thing is for certain: a new console generation from Microsoft will be releasing sooner or later.

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