Domain names similar to 8844, the new height of meters of Mount Qomolangma confirmed on Sunday, have been heatedly registered by Chinese cyber speculators, according to a report in Monday's Beijing Morning News.
Liu Zhijiang, spokesman for the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), said that 8844.com, and even names containing 8849 or 8847, had been preemptively registered several months ago, for the former elevation of the earth's summit was 8848.14 meters, a measurement 30 years ago.
Speculators have been hunting for 8848-related domain names since last March, when the fourth round of comprehensive scientific observation on Mount Qomolangma (Everest) started. They have registered almost every figure around 8848, hoping one of them would match the official figure and be resold at a considerably high price.
According to the CNNIC, at least 7 domain names related to 884443 were registered on Sunday shortly after 8,844.43 meters as the new elevation of the summit was official announced. So far all figures from 8840 to 8851 have been registered.
Wan Chaoyang, operation chief of 8848 Electronic Business Data Co., Ltd., was quoted as saying that the announcement of the new height would bring negative effect to his company's brand value.
"We are not planning to change our company's domain name," Wan said. "8848 has been well known for more than 20 years after all."
The electronic business company provides online business-to-business purchasing services and is preparing to issue shares on the NASDAQ.
(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2005)
