Collins.com has changed ownership from Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. to Goodrich Corporation. United Technologies acquired Goodrich Corporation in 2011, so UTC actually owns the domain.
United Technologies Corporation acquired Rockwell Collins for $23 Billion in September 2017, which they are still trying to close now. It appears that the EU is set to approve it though soon, as announced today. This domain name, which appears to have been purchased, is potentially connected/related to it? The timing is pretty spot on.
Rockwell Collins currently uses RockwellCollins.com as its main domain name and is associated with about 300 domain names in total. Rockwell Automation, Inc. owns Rockwell.com and is a different company.
Since it appears United Technologies acquired Collins.com from Marsh & McLennan based on whois records, it makes me wonder if Rockwell Collins may rebranded simply as “Collins” and use Collins.com as its main domain name after the sale is complete between UTC and Rockwell Collins?
Rockwell Collins long owned a trademark for “Collins” from 1961 to 2016 but that expired. Although, a new trademark was filed for “Collins” on December 12, 2017 in class 009. They also own this Collins tm from 2016, also in class 009.
It’s hard to say if a rebrand is in the works, or if the Collins.com domain was acquired just as a brand protection move. I’d expect the purchase price to be pretty high though, considering the use of “Collins” by many companies around the world.
We shall soon find out. What are your thoughts?
I think Rockwell would have been a better brand name but it was taken already by another company. My father moved from Waco to Dallas to take a job with Collins Radio in 1967. Thankfully, that’s why my family is in Dallas to this day. I wouldn’t want to be stuck in Waco!