ZuneMarketplace.com quietly launched Sunday night. But don’t expect to find Microsoft’s digital media store, dubbed Zune Marketplace, to reside at the domain name—it was snapped up by a self-proclaimed gadget enthusiast.

Microsoft’s highly watched upcoming Zune digital media devices, expected to compete against Apple’s ubiquitous iPod, and its Zune Marketplace are scheduled to become available November 14 (see Microsoft Reveals Zune Price).

But related dot-com domain ZuneMarketplace.com has become the nonprofit forum site of a fan of the upcoming Zune.

London-based web developer Gareth Slinn, 35, snapped up ZuneMarketplace.com from a domain sale and has launched a Zune discussion forum at his new domain.

“It’s not as if I’m short for a few pounds—it’s not like that,” Mr. Slinn said by telephone from his Enfield, North London, residence. “I’ve grown up with Microsoft. I’m a bit of a geek. I’m really into technology. I feel slightly threatened by the whole thing—I’m just one little guy.”

Mr. Slinn runs a small London-based company called Hermish.com.

Zune.net?

A Microsoft representative said Monday that the software giant has no plans forZunemarketplace.com. Microsoft “already owns Zune.net, which is the main hub for Zune,” a Microsoft representative said.

Microsoft declined to comment on the potential legal aspects.

Zunemarketplace.com had been listed for sale a few weeks ago on domain broker Sedo.com. Representatives from Sedo.com confirmed that Zunemarketplace.com was listed for $1,499 by a seller. Mr. Slinn declined to comment on how much he paid for the domain name.

As previously reported, Microsoft acknowledged earlier this month that it had neither Zune.com nor Zunemarketplace.com (see Microsoft Misses Key Zune Domains) domains.

Mr. Slinn was quite pleased that he had found such a premium domain name. “It’s amazing—it’s almost like it’s quite arrogant that they don’t think they need a dot-com,” Mr. Slinn said.

del.icio.us

Digg this

Slash it