Afterword

ThimphuTech was the first technology blog in Bhutan. We started writing it in 2009, just as broadband and mobile internet started to take off. (Although internet in Bhutan was launched in 1999, it was either super-slow or super-expensive, and was only used by a selected few).

In the blog, we wrote about technology and food, but also about plenty of other stuff. The blog became popular and influential in Bhutan. A companion bi-weekly column -- Ask Boaz -- was published for many years in the Kuensel, Bhutan's national newspaper. (The complete Kuensel columns are available as an ebook, Blogging with Dragons).

We stopped updating the blog when we left Bhutan in 2014, but the information within the posts can still prove useful, and thus we decided to keep it online.

We thank all our readers.
Tashi Delek,
Boaz & Galit.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Google.bt is finally here!

Since it is not yet April Fools' Day, I guess my discovery is not a prank: google.bt has now been launched! Two years ago, we posted on ThimphuTech.com a request for "a small favour from Google", asking Mr. Larry Page to consider purchasing and activating google.bt. Our wish has been granted!

I discovered this while performing my usual searching business on google.com, when suddenly a message popped up:



And indeed, the URL www.google.bt takes you to a legal Google site (the domain was purchased by Google in May 2012). Searching via google.bt will (likely) give more localized results. For example, searching for "Ministry of Education" brings www.education.gov.bt as the first result.


Quick update: it looks like Google's move to google.bt is still in progress. For instance, books.google.bt is still not functional. Let's see how fast the update takes!





7 comments:

  1. it has been made possible thru the efforts of iTechnologies Pvt Ltd and they are bringing in the sreet views to Bhutan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @Tobgay, interesting! How did iTechnologies assist with the www.google.bt search engine? Thanks!

      Delete
  2. It is great indeed.But was just giving a second thought too.Was it possible to buy such domain individually and later sell to such giant form like google so that we can make some quick money?I know google is a copyright name but are we allowed to buy such domain apart from .com?Please let me know.
    If so we can buy many giant companies domain with .bt extension.Just a wild though!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mimi, this is called #cybersquatting, and is illegal in many countries. Good question about #Bhutan!
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybersquatting

      Delete
  3. Cybersquatting is not permitted in Bhutan. In fact it is very strict in Bhutan and domain names can only be bought as per their registered business name. A trade license has to be produced to validate their business name. Even generic names and names of big companies are blocked and not available. The domain name transaction took place directly between Google and the service provider.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Yeshey. I guess I can forget about samsung.bt then...

      Delete

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