TechCrunch is reporting that a company called BranchOut has launched Talk.CO, “a mobile-first web, iOS, and Android messaging app for coworkers.” Prior to BranchOut’s acquisition of the domain name, it was owned by the .CO Registry and listed as one of the Registry’s “Restricted and Reserved” domain names.
I have never used BranchOut before, but it seems to be (or have been) very popular. According to the TechCrunch article, BranchOut had over 33 million users at one point, although that number may be less now due to an issue with Facebook the article cited.
In case you are wondering, Talk.com is owned by someone (or a company) in Arizona. It was previously owned by National A-1 Advertising, but there appears to have been a registrant change in July of 2012.
A high profile startup venture like Talk.CO is very good for the .CO Registry, which continues to work closely with startups. I am sure the terms of the acquisition are private, but the publicity that goes along with a launch like this is priceless.
